“Photovoltaic Optiverter – A Novel Hybrid MLPE Technology for Residential and Small Commercial Photovoltaic Applications“ by Dmitri Vinnikov
Dmitri Vinnikov
Abstract
Abstract: In this presentation a novel approach to photovoltaic (PV) module level power electronics called OPTIVERTER (PVOPT) will be introduced and discussed. Functionally, it is a hybrid of PV power optimizer and PV microinverter with such key features as shade-tolerant (or global) maximum power point tracking (MPPT), galvanic isolation, direct AC connectivity, PV module level monitoring and safety cut-off, flexibility of installation and PV power system sizing. Explanations will be provided both from the hardware and software point of view, with the main focus on the realization of the shade-tolerant MPPT, which is a new feature of the PV microinverters. The experimental results and main challenges of the proposed approach will be analyzed and discussed.
Bio
Research Professor Dmitri Vinnikov (IEEE M’07, SM’11) received the Dipl.Eng., M.Sc., and Dr.Sc.techn. degrees in electrical engineering from Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia, in 1999, 2001, and 2005, respectively. He is currently the Head of the Power Electronics Group, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics, Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) and a Guest Researcher at the Institute of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Riga Technical University (Latvia). He is the CTO and co-founder of Ubik Solutions LLC – Estonian start-up company dedicated to innovative & smart power electronics for renewable energy systems. Moreover, he is one of the founders and leading researchers of ZEBE – Estonian Centre of Excellence for zero energy and resource efficient smart buildings and districts. He has authored or coauthored two books, five monographs and one book chapter as well as more than 200 published papers on power converter design and development and is the holder of numerous patents and utility models in this field. His research interests include applied design of power electronic converters and control systems, renewable energy conversion systems (photovoltaic and wind), impedance-source power converters, and implementation of wide bandgap power semiconductors. D. Vinnikov is a Chair of the IES/PELS Joint Societies Chapter of the IEEE Estonia Section.
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