In this document
You will discover which models are used in the electrical simulation and understand the main role each model plays.
The electrical simulation is performed after the optical simulation and serves as the next critical stage in PV energy modeling. It consists of several key steps (Figure 1):
PV conversion model: The PV conversion model takes the global tilted irradiance (GTI) and temperature data from the optical simulation and converts them into detailed DC electrical characteristics on the system's DC side. It does this by generating current-voltage (IV) curves for each inverter input, using physical equations (such as the single diode model) and considering environmental effects, module parameters, cell temperature, and degradation factors.
Inverter model: The Inverter model receives the aggregated DC IV curves from the PV conversion model and determines the optimal working point through Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), always operating within inverter and grid limitations. It converts the extracted DC power into AC output, simulating both the efficiency of the inverter and grid compliance requirements, including active and reactive power components.
Power transmission model: In the last step, the Power transmission model simulates how the AC electrical energy, generated at the inverter output, is delivered to the grid connection point. It models the flow of electricity through transformers, cables, and other network components, taking into account potential losses and limitations along the AC side to ensure an accurate representation of delivered energy.
Figure 1: Electrical simulation sequence.
The models operate sequentially, except for a feedback loop from the grid connection back to the inverters when a dynamic grid power limit is present. This grid power limit affects how the inverters select their operating points. In real-world applications, this feedback is managed through a communication network.