Parameter Estimation of a Grid-Tied Inverter Using In Situ Pseudo-Random Perturbation Sources

Inverters are playing an increasingly important role in the electrical utility grid due to the proliferation of renewable energy sources. Obtaining inverter models with accurate parameters is, therefore, essential for grid studies and design. In this paper, a methodology to estimate the output impedance and parameters of a residential grid-tied inverter is proposed. The methodology is first verified through simulation. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the influence of the filter and controller parameters on the output impedance of the inverter. The simulated output impedance, voltage, and current are used in a parameter estimation methodology to obtain filter and controller parameters. It is shown that up to seven parameters can be estimated accurately. The proposed methodology is further investigated through a practical experiment. Two perturbation sources, the pseudo-random binary sequence perturbation and pseudo-random impulse sequence perturbation, are used, in turn, to perturb a residential grid-tied inverter that delivers up to 1.6 k W with the aim of obtaining its output impedance. The output impedances obtained through both pseudo-random sources are compared. It is shown that a pseudo-random binary sequence perturbation source applied in series between the grid and the inverter under test allows for the best estimation of the grid-tied inverter’s output impedance. A black-box modeling approach aimed at estimating an analytical transfer function of the output impedance from experimental data is also discussed.