POWER CONVERTER ISLANDING DETECTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to power converters, and in particular to detecting
an islanding conditions based upon current and voltage measurements within the power
converter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Power converters are used to convert power from direct current (DC) power
sources to alternating current (AC) power output for use on local loads or for delivery to a
power grid. Such power converters are instrumental in applications such as for providing AC
power from DC distributed power sources like photovoltaic (PV) cells. With an increased
societal focus on anthropogenic environmental degradation, particularly in relation to green
house gas (GHG) and certain other emissions, there has been an increased trend towards
distributed renewable power generation. For example, in recent years, there has been a steep
increase in the number of homes and businesses that have installed roof top solar cell arrays
that generate power to power a home or business and also provide excess power to the power
grid. Such distributed power generation sources may require power converters that are
relatively efficient, inexpensive, reliable, and have a minimal form factor. Conventional
power converters typically comprise DC filters, boost converters, AC filters, inverters, and
coupling to the power grid.
[0003] In distributed generation or point of use generation of power where a local load
can receive power either from the distributed generation source or the power grid, the local
load can become disconnected from the electric grid and the distributed generation source can
continue to power the local load. This condition is referred to as islanding, where the local
load and the distributed generation source has been "islanded" or electrically separated form
the rest of the power grid.
[0004] Islanding a load can lead to a drift in the local frequency and phase between the
voltage and current delivered to the local load. Additionally, islanded conditions may pose a
hazard to utility workers that may be working on power lines and may not be aware of the
existence of islanded and powered live power lines. Therefore, when an islanding condition
exists, anti-islanding procedures are implemented to prevent the supply of power from the
distributed power source to the local load. Furthermore, Underwriters Laboratory certification
(UL1741) requires power converters to provide a mechanism for detecting an islanding
condition and implement anti-islanding procedures.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one embodiment, an inverter controller can include at least one input terminal
receiving a direct current (DC) voltage signal, a first alternating current (AC) current signal, a
second AC current signal, and an AC voltage signal. The inverter controller can further
include a current regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the DC
voltage signal, the first AC current signal, the second AC current signal, and the AC voltage
signal, wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided as feedback to
change either or both magnitude and frequency of the AC voltage signal, wherein the change
is above a corresponding predetermined threshold when an islanding condition exists.
[0006] In another embodiment, a method of controlling an inverter can include measuring
a direct current (DC) voltage signal, a first alternating current (AC) current signal, a second
AC current signal, and an AC voltage signal. The method can also include receiving a
nominal VAR reference signal and a DC voltage reference signal and determining at least one
component signal based on the DC voltage signal, the first AC current signal, the second AC
current signal, the AC voltage signal, the nominal VAR signal, and the DC voltage reference
signal. The method can further include determining an inverter control signal based at least in
part on the component signal, wherein the at least one component signal is indicative of an
islanding condition and resulting in the inverter control signal controlling the power output
from the inverter when an islanding condition exists.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, a converter system can have at least one power source
providing power to a boost converter providing direct current (DC) power, at least one
current sensor for measuring a first alternating current (AC) current signal and a second AC
current signal, and at least one voltage sensor for measuring a DC voltage signal and an
AC voltage signal. The converter system can also have an inverter converting the DC power
to alternating current (AC) power based on an inverter control signal and an inverter
controller providing the inverter control signal. The inverter controller can includea current
regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the first DC voltage
signal, the first AC current signal, the second AC current signal, and the first AC voltage
signal, wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided in a positive
feedback loop and is indicative of an islanding condition, resulting in the inverter control
signal controlling the power output of the inverter when an islanding condition exists.
[0008] Other embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described in detail
herein and are considered a part of the claimed inventions. Other embodiments, features, and
aspects can be understood with reference to the following detailed description, accompanying
drawings, and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] Reference will now be made to the accompanying tables and drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of an example power system including a
power converter with an inverter that can be operated according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of an example inverter controller
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an example method to detect an islanding condition in
the power system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that
this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0014] Embodiments of the invention may provide apparatus, systems, and methods for
improved detection of an islanding condition. Such improvements may entail, for example,
measuring currents and voltages within the power converter and providing the measurements
to an inverter controller including a current regulator providing a signal that is used in a
positive feedback loop and causes inverter control signals to stop the operation of the inverter
if an islanding condition exists. By doing so, the inverter does not provide AC power when an
islanding condition exists and anti-islanding is implemented. In one aspect, anti-islanding
may be achieved using voltage and current measurements within the power converter itself.
In another aspect, anti-islanding may be implemented by the positive feedback loop of the
current regulator effecting a change in the frequency, phase, or both frequency and phase of
the power output beyond a threshold value to trip the inverter.
[0015] Example embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to
the accompanying figures.
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, a power system 100 that can be operated according to an
embodiment of the invention is described. The power system 100 can include power
converter 10 1, a DC power supply such as a photovoltaic (PV) array 102, a local load RL, a
switch Sgrid and a coupling 114 to a power grid 116 . The power converter 10 1 can include a
DC filter 104, electrically connected to and receiving power from the DC power supply 102,
that can be further electrically connected to a DC boost converter 106. The DC boost
converter 106 can be connected to an inverter 10 8 that outputs AC power to an AC filter 112
with a capacitor C2 shunted from the power to ground between the DC boost converter 106
and the inverter 110 . The inverter 10 8 may further include an inverter controller 110 or
inverter regulator for generating control signals for the operation of the inverter 10 8 and for
controlling the output of the inverter 108. The output of the AC filter 112 can be electrically
connected to both a coupling 114 to a power grid 116 via a switch Sg id, as well as, a local
load RL. In an islanded condition of the power converter 10 1, the output of the AC filter 112
may only be dissipated in the local load RL and not provided to the power grid 116 .
[0017] Although, the DC power source is illustrated as a PV array 102, it can, in other
embodiments, be any DC power source including, but not limited to, a photovoltaic cell, a
fuel cell, and electrolytic cell, or combinations thereof. As a further embodiment, the power
source can be non-DC power sources such as from wind harvesting, water harvesting, or
solar-thermal (solar concentrator) sources. Additional power sources can include a rectified
turbine-generator output where the turbine is driven using any variety of known methods
including, but not limited to, burning of fossil fuels and other hydrocarbons, nuclear,
hydroelectric, or combinations thereof.
[0018] The DC input filter 104 can include an inductor Ldc and a capacitor C c- One
purpose of the DC input filter 104 can be to prevent current with the chopping frequency of
the boost converter 106 to flow to the power source 102 and thereby disrupt the operation of
the power source 102. The inductor Ldc and capacitor c may be appropriately sized to filter
out the chopping frequency of the boost converter 106. The DC input filter 104 may also be
implemented by any known alternative configuration other than the LC configuration shown.
[0019] One purpose of the DC boost converter 106 may be to step up DC voltage. In
other words, the DC boost converter 106 may accept power at a certain DC input voltage and
output the power at a voltage greater than the DC input voltage.
[0020] One purpose of the capacitor C2 may be to filter out any high frequency
components at the output of the DC boost converter 106, prior to the signal being provided to
the inverter 108. DC power with a boosted voltage is provided to the inverter 108 and the
inverter 108 converts the DC power to AC power at its output. The inverter 108 can be
controlled by the inverter controller 110 and the inverter controller 110 is described in greater
detail in conjunction with FIG. 2 below.
[0021] One purpose of the AC filter 112 may be to condition the output power of the
inverter 108 to filter out any high frequency components from the inverter 108 output such as
the chopping frequency of the inverter 108. The AC filter 112 may include an inductor Lac, a
capacitor Cac, and a resistor RAC . The AC Power output of the AC filter 112 may further be
consumed by the local load RL and also provided to the power grid 116.
[0022] The switch Sg i may selectively disconnect the power from the inverter 108 to the
power grid 116. When Sg i is closed, AC power from the inverter 108 may be supplied to the
power grid 116 via the coupling 114. Therefore, in a non-islanding condition the power
converter 101 may be connected to the power grid 116 with an inductive coupling 114 and
may therefore see a relatively inductive loading. However, in an islanded condition, the
power converter 101 may provide power only to the local load RL and as a result see a
relatively resistive loading. The difference in loading of the power converter 101, in one
aspect, can be exploited to discriminate between an islanded and a non-islanded condition.
[0023] During operation of the power system 100, various voltage and current
measurements may be made and provided to the inverter controller 110. These measurements
may be made using various current and voltage sensors as are well known in the art. The
measurements may include a DC voltage, DC feedback voltage (VdcFbk) measured at the input
to the inverter 108, a first AC current, AC line feedback current (L lpbk) measured at the
output of the inverter 108, an AC voltage, voltage feedback (VFbk) measured at the output of
the AC filter, and a second AC current, feedback current (iFbk) also measured at the output of
the AC filter. The relative value of these current and voltage measurements may be indicative
of whether the power converter 101 is in an islanded state and therefore may be used to
monitor for and react to an islanded condition.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, an example inverter controller 110 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is described. In one aspect, the inverter controller 110
can receive the voltage and current measurements as described above in a time series and
manipulate the measurements to generate inverter control signals. The inverter control signals
may be signals to modulate solid state switches (not shown) within the inverter 110. Such
signals may further be pulse width modulation (PWM) signals for gating bridges including
insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) within the inverter 110. The generated signals may
further cause the inverter 110 to stop functioning or trip when the power converter is in an
islanded condition.
[0025] The generation of the inverter control signals will now be discussed with
continuing reference to FIG. 2. V Fbk and IFbk can be provided to demodulator blocks 120 and
122, respectively to provide decomposed signals of both measurements VFbk and IFbk n a
rotating reference frame. The demodulators 120 and 122 may in one aspect accept angular
information from a phase lock loop (PLL) 124 to generate a quadrature signal to produce an
orthogonal decomposition of the input signals VFbk and IFbk- The VFbk measurement may be
decomposed in to two orthogonal signals V xFbk and V yFbk and the IFbk measurement may be
decomposed in to two orthogonal signals IxFbk and IyFbk-
[0026] Signals V ¾k and V y ¾k can be provided to a magnitude calculation block 126 to
determine the magnitude of V Fbk as V regF bk. Additionally, V ¾k, V y ¾k, IxFbk, and Iy ¾k can be
provided to a VAR calculation block 128 to determine the cross product of current and
voltage as a signal VAR Fbk. Signal Vy ¾k is also provided to the PLL 124 to generate angular
information that is used by the demodulators 120 and 122, as well as demodulator 132 and
rotator 144.
[0027] Measurement V dcFbk may be subtracted from a DC reference voltage V dCRef that is
provided to the inverter controller 110 and the difference can be provided to a DC voltage
regulator 130. The measurement L_I bk is provided to the demodulator 132. Demodulator 132
operates similarly to the demodulators 120 and 122, where the input measurement L_I bk can
be decomposed into two orthogonal signals L_I k and L_I k. The L_I k signal is
subtracted from the output of the DC voltage regulator 130 and the difference can be
provided to a current regulator 134 that generates a command signal L_Vxcmd- The current
regulator can be any one of known regulator types including, but not limited to proportional
(P), proportional integral (PI), proportional integral derivative (PID), or combinations thereof.
In one aspect, L_V cmd may be the net current regulator 134 output or the sum of all the
component outputs.
[0028] Continuing on with FIG. 2, a nominal voltage current reactive (VAR) reference
signal may be provided. The nominal VAR reference signal may be provided in example
from a utility company to control the amount of reactive power on the power grid 116. The
nominal VAR reference may be summed with a signal from a feedback loop to generate a
command signal VARcmd- The VAR Fbk signal may be subtracted from the VARcmd signal and
provided to a VAR regulator 136 to provide another command signal V egcmd. The VAR
regulator 136 can regulate how much reactive power is provided to the power grid 116. The
VregF bk signal may be subtracted from the V egcmd signal and provided to an AC voltage
regulator 138. The signal L_IyFbk can be subtracted from the output of the AC voltage
regulator and provided to a current regulator 139. Like current regulator 134, the current
regulator 139 may be of any known type and may generate several component signals, such
as an integral signal or a derivative signal. One or more of the component signals of the
current regulator 139 may be summed with the product of the output of the DC voltage
regulator 130, nominal reactor inductance, and nominal grid frequency and the product of the
output of the AC voltage regulator 138 and the nominal reactor resistance to produce a
command signal L_Vycmd The use of regulator outputs, as discussed here, with product
signals may be referred to as regulator feed forwards.
[0029] The commands signals L_Vycmdand L_Vxcmd the rotating reference frame may
be provided to the rotator 142 to generate a signal combining both L_Vycmdand L_Vxcmd to
generate a command signal Ucmd the non-rotating reference frame. The command signal
Ucmd can then be provided to a modulator 144 to generate inverter control signals. The
inverter control signals at the output of the modulator 144 can be, for example, a PWM signal
for gating a bridge of the inverter 108.
[0030] One or more of the component signals of the current regulator 139 can be
provided to a filter, such as a bandpass filter 140 and fed back and summed with the nominal
VAR reference to generate the VARcmd signal. In effect, a feedback loop can be provided by
feeding one or more of the component signals of the current regulator 139 back to the VAR
regulator 136 via the bandpass filter 140. In one aspect, the feedback loop may be a positive
feedback loop. In one embodiment, the component signal of the current regulator 139 that is
fed back in the positive feedback loop may be the integral component.
[0031] In one aspect, the feedback loop of the component signal of the current regulator
139 may perturb or accelerate a perturbation in the frequency or magnitude of the output
power of the inverter 108 when an islanding condition exists. The deviation in the frequency
or magnitude of the inverter output signal beyond a corresponding predetermined threshold
may effect the modulator 144 to stop generating inverter control signals or generating
inverter control signals that reduce or substantially stop the inverter 108 from outputting
power at its output. Therefore, the output power of the inverter can be effectively reduced
based on measurements of voltages and currents within the power converter 101. In other
embodiments, the feedback loop of the component signal of the current regulator 139 may be
fed back through the bandpass filter 140 to either the VAR regulator 136, the AC voltage
regulator 138, or the current regulator 139.
[0032] It should be noted, that in a multiphase power system 100, the inverter controller
110 may receive measurements for each of the phases of the power system 100 and provide
control signals for each of the phases of the power system 100. For example, in a three phase
power system, the inverter controller 110 may receive a DC voltage V cFbk , as well as, a first
AC current L_IFbk A, L_IFbk B, and L_IFbk_c , an AC voltage VFbk A, VFbk B, and VFbk_c, and a
second AC current IFbk A, iFbk B, and, IFbk c measurements corresponding to each of the phases
A, B, and C of the power system. The inverter controller 110 may further generate
intermediary signals corresponding to each of the phases and provide control signals for each
phases UCmd_A, UCmd_B, and UCmd _c of the power system.
[0033] In other embodiments, the inverter controller 110 as depicted in FIG. 2 may be
provided for each phase of the inverter 108. In other words, if the inverter 108 provides three
phase power with each phase having a relative phase of 120°, there may be three separate
inverter controllers 110 as depicted in FIG. 2, each one controlling each phase of the inverter
108 output.
[0034] In further embodiments, the inverter controller 110 as depicted in FIG. 2 may only
use a single AC current measurement, along with the DC voltage measurement, and AC
voltage measurement to generate inverter control signals. In such a case, the second AC
current signal may be estimated rather than measured.
[0035] It should also be noted, that the circuit topology of the inverter controller 110 may
be modified in various ways in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. For
example, in certain embodiments, one or more circuit components may be eliminated or
substituted with equivalent or nearly equivalent circuit elements. Additionally, in other
embodiments, other circuit elements may be added to or present in the inverter controller 110.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, an example method 200 of providing an inverter control
signal is depicted. The method 200 can be implemented using the circuits, apparatus, and
systems as disclosed in reference to FIGs. 1 and 2. At block 202, a DC voltage signal, a first
AC current signal, a second AC current signal, and an AC voltage signal may be measured.
As discussed in reference to FIG. 1, the DC voltage may be VdcFbk measured at the input of
the inverter 108, the first AC current signal may be L lpbk measured at the output of the
inverter 108, the second AC current signal may be Ipbk measured at the output of the AC filter
112, and the AC voltage signal may be VFbk measured at the output of the AC filter 112. At
block 204, a nominal VAR signal and a DC voltage reference signal may be received. The
two signals, Nominal VAR Reference and VdcRef may be received at the inverter controller
110 as illustrated in FIG. 2. At block 206, a component signal may be determined based in
part on the measured DC voltage signal, first AC current signal, second AC current signal,
and AC voltage signal, as well as, the nominal VAR signal. The determination of the
component signal may be according to the mechanism discussed in reference to FIG. 2. At
block 208, an inverter control signal is determined based in part on the component signal.
The inverter control signal is then provided to the inverter to control the power output of the
inverter at block 210.
[0037] At block 212, it is determined if an islanding condition exists. If an islanding
condition exists, then the inverter control signal may be modified so that the inverter
substantially does not output power at block 214 and the resulting control signal is provided
to the inverter to control the output power of the inverter at block 210.
[0038] In one embodiment, an islanding condition may be detected at the modulator
block 144 of the inverter controller 110, for example based on the value of the component
signal. In one aspect, the frequency of the inverter 108 output may be perturbed above an
upper predetermined threshold value or below a lower predetermined threshold value when
an islanding condition exists. Such a divergence from a nominal frequency may be detected
at the inverter controller 110, followed by the inverter controller 110 modifying the inverter
control signals to substantially reduce or stop outputting power at the output of the inverter
108 in accordance with block 214 of method 200. The deviation in frequency from a nominal
value, and in particular beyond either an upper threshold or lower threshold, may be effected
by or accelerated by the positive feedback loop of the component signal of the current
regulator 138 of the inverter controller 110. In other words, the feedback loop of a component
signal, such as the integral component, of the current regulator 138 may force the mechanism
of generating an inverter control signal of the inverter controller 110 to push the fundamental
frequency of the of the inverter output power beyond a limit and cause the inverter to "trip"
or substantially stop outputting power when an islanding condition exists. As an example, if
the nominal fundamental frequency is 60 Hz, an upper predetermined threshold value may be
about 63 Hz and a lower predetermined threshold frequency may be about 57 Hz.
[0039] In another embodiment, the magnitude of the inverter 108 output may be
perturbed above an upper predetermined threshold value or below a lower predetermined
threshold value when an islanding condition exists. Such a divergence from a nominal
magnitude may be detected at the inverter controller 110, followed by the inverter controller
110 modifying the inverter control signals to substantially reduce or stop outputting power at
the output of the inverter 108 in accordance with block 214 of method 200. The deviation in
magnitude from a nominal value, and in particular beyond either an upper threshold or lower
threshold, may be effected by or accelerated by the positive feedback loop of the component
signal of the current regulator 138 of the inverter controller 110. In other words, the feedback
loop of a component signal, such as the integral component, of the current regulator 138 may
force the mechanism of generating an inverter control signal of the inverter controller 110 to
push the magnitude of the of the inverter output power beyond a limit and cause the inverter
to "trip" or substantially stop outputting power when an islanding condition exists.
[0040] In yet other embodiments, both the frequency of the inverter output and the
magnitude may be perturbed above a corresponding upper predetermined threshold value or
below a corresponding lower predetermined threshold value. In such a case, either or both
frequency or magnitude of the inverter 108 output may in part be used to "trip" the inverter.
[0041] It should be noted, that the method 200 may be modified in various ways in
accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. For example, one or more operations
of method 200 may be eliminated or executed out of order in other embodiments of the
invention. Additionally, other operations may be added to method 200 in accordance with
other embodiments of the invention.
[0042] While certain embodiments of the invention have been described in connection
with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to
be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the
contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they
are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
[0043] This written description uses examples to disclose certain embodiments of the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice
certain embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems
and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of certain embodiments of
the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those
skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if
they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if
they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal
language of the claims.
CLAIMS
The claimed invention is:
1. A converter system for a photovoltaic array comprising:
at least one power source providing direct current (DC) power;
at least one current sensor for measuring at least one alternating current (AC) current
signal;
at least one voltage sensor for measuring a DC voltage signal and an AC voltage
signal;
an inverter converting the DC power to alternating current (AC) power based on an
inverter control signal; and,
an inverter controller providing the inverter control signal, the inverter controller
comprising:
a current regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the first
DC voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, and the first AC voltage signal,
wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided in a positive
feedback loop and is indicative of an islanding condition, resulting in the inverter control
signal controlling the power output of the inverter when an islanding condition exists.
2. The converter system of claim 1, further comprising a filter in the positive feedback
loop of the one or more of the at least one component signal.
3. The converter system of claim 1, further comprising a phase lock loop (PLL) for
determining the phase angle of one of the at least one AC current signal and the AC voltage
signal.
4. The converter system of claim 3, further comprising at least one demodulator for
demodulating at least one AC current signal and the AC voltage signal and at least one rotator
for rotating at least one signal,
wherein the phase angle is provided to the at least one demodulator and the at least
one rotator.
5. The converter system of claim 1, wherein the system further receives a nominal
voltage current reactive (VAR) reference signal and the component signal is further based in
part on the nominal VAR reference signal.
6. The converter system of claim 1, further comprising a magnitude calculator for
calculating the magnitude of the AC voltage.
7. An inverter controller comprising:
at least one input terminal receiving a direct current (DC) voltage signal, at least one
alternating current (AC) current signal, and an AC voltage signal;
a current regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the DC
voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, and the AC voltage signal; and,
wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided as feedback to
change either or both magnitude and frequency of the AC voltage signal, wherein the change
is above a corresponding predetermined threshold when an islanding condition exists.
8. The inverter control of claim 7, further comprising a modulator outputting an inverter
control signal to control the first AC current signal based on at least the component signal.
9. The inverter control of claim 8, wherein the inverter control signal controls the
inverter to output substantially no output power when the change in one of the magnitude and
frequency of the AC voltage is above the corresponding predetermined threshold.
10. The inverter control of claim 7, further comprising a filter in a positive feedback loop
of the one or more of the at least one component signal.
11. The inverter control of claim 7, further comprising a phase lock loop (PLL) for
determining the phase angle of the AC voltage signal.
12. The inverter control of claim 11, further comprising at least one demodulator for
demodulating at least one of the signals at the at least one input terminal and at least one
rotator for rotating at least one signal,
wherein the phase angle of the AC voltage signal is provided to the at least one
demodulator and the at least one rotator.
13. The inverter control of claim 7, wherein the inverter control further receives a
nominal voltage current reactive (VAR) reference signal and the at least one component
signal is further based in part on the nominal VAR reference signal.
14. The inverter control of claim 7, further comprising a magnitude calculator for
calculating the magnitude of the AC voltage.
15. A method of controlling an inverter comprising:
measuring a direct current (DC) voltage signal, at least one alternating current (AC)
current signal, and an AC voltage signal;
receiving a nominal VAR reference signal and a DC voltage reference signal;
determining at least one component signal based on the DC voltage signal, the at least
one AC current signal, the AC voltage signal, the nominal VAR signal, and the DC voltage
reference signal; and,
determining an inverter control signal based at least in part on the component signal,
wherein the at least one component signal is indicative of an islanding condition.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the power output from the
inverter when an islanding condition exists.
17. The method of claim 15, further providing at least one current sensor and at least one
voltage sensor to measure the DC voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, and the
first AC voltage signal.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is
provided in a positive feedback loop.
19. The method of claim 18, further providing a filter in the positive feedback loop of the
one or more of the at least one component signal.
20. The method of claim 15, further providing a phase lock loop (PLL) for providing a
phase angle of one of the at least one AC current signal, and the AC voltage signal and
determining the inverter control signal based partly on the phase angle.