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Inverter harmonics

Inverter harmonics

Inverter harmonics

(OP)
Recently we have had some concerns about the cumulative harmonics generated by having several solar inverters on the same distribution circuit. Does anyone know of some references to the expected problems?


 

RE: Inverter harmonics

Do you have a problem or are you just wondering if you'll have a problem?

The spec (UL 1741) for grid-tie inverters limits the THD to about 5% with specific limits on each harmonic (< 4%). Couple this with the fact that each inverter customer will be behind a transformer which will filter out some of those harmonics and you're not likely to have problems, even with a lot of installations.

RE: Inverter harmonics

And add in that you're going to have harmonics of the inverter switching frequency rather than harmonics of the power system frequency.  The power system does a pretty good job of filtering out switching frequency harmonics.

RE: Inverter harmonics

(OP)
We don't know of any problems here yet, however we do not have the number of inverters that other utilities have.

The concern came from one of our distribution engineers, as we were discussing a planned 4 to 5 MW solar instalation.

It would be nice to hear about what problems we can face, rather than be cought by suprise.

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