Development of a fully Automated PV Array Simulator of 100 kW

For automated PV inverter measurements (including MPP-tracking behaviour) PC controlled PV array simulators with high stability are needed. Between 2000 and 2005 two highly stable and fast PC controlled linear PV array simulators of 25 kW and 20 kW with very good operational results were developed, which have the possibility to operate on I-V-curves with largely different fill factors independent of external weather. With this equipment, many inverter tests have been performed at devices between 100 W and 25 kW (3), (4), (5). So far with the available test equipment it was not possible to perform inverter tests at power levels higher than 20 to 25 kW. As 100 kW is an important power limit in many countries, in a research project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the PV laboratory was mandated to develop a corresponding PV array simulator of 100 kW (VOC ≤ 810 V / ISC ≤ 156 A). In this paper, the actual state of development and results of the first tests at full rated power are described. The whole measuring system should be ready for tests with 100 kW-inverters by the end of 2008.