A Cross Correlation Control Approach for
Multifunctional SPV System
Bhim Singh, Fellow, IEEE, Sanjay Kumar, Shailendra Dwivedi, Student Member, IEEE, Ikhlaq Hussain, Member,
IEEE and Chinmay Jain, Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India
bsingh@ee.iitd.ac.in, sanjaykumar1224@gmail.com, er.dwivedi88@gmail.com, ikhlaqb@gmail.com and
chinmay31jain@gmail.com
Abstract This work presents a two stage grid connected
three-phase, four-wire (3P4W) SPV system using cross
correlation control algorithm. This system not only feeds
the power to the grid but it also helps in power factor
correction and harmonics elimination. The proposed
system includes the SPV string, a DC-DC boost converter,
a voltage source converter (VSC), ripple filter and
linear/nonlinear loads. For extracting maximum power
from the PV string, a perturb and observe based MPPT
algorithm is utilized. The fourth leg of the VSC is utilized
for mitigation of neutral current at PCC in a 3P4W
distribution network. A prototype of proposed system is
realized in the laboratory and proposed control algorithm
is experimentally verified on this developed system.
KeywordsSPV System, MPPT Control, Cross Correlation
Control Approach,Power Quality.
I. INTRODUCTION
The world electricity demand is constantly increasing and
the reserves of exhaustive sources of energy like coal, natural
gas etc. are diminishing. Moreover, the fossil fuel based power
generating stations are major sources of toxic emissions and
greenhouse gases. Such problems have made the world focus
on sustainable sources of energy production, for example wind,
solar, bio-gas, tidal energy, geothermal energy, hydro power
generation etc [1]. Solar energy is abundantly available and can
be harnessed in many ways. Various issues regarding
harnessing solar energy are discussed in [2]. It can be utilized
for cooking, heating water, making food (photosynthesis &
agriculture) and many more. Through the solar photovoltaic
(SPV) technology, sunlight can be used to generate electricity.
SPV has been introduced in late 80s and has gained high
importance by mid 90s. Earlier solar PV cells have been quite
inefficient with the efficiency as low as 5-6% and highly
costly. However, with increased technological research and
advancements, the efficiency of SPV, at present, has reached
15-16% and the price is also reducing gradually. Today, SPV is
viewed as one of the promising alternatives to the fossil fuel
based electricity generating systems, as there are no toxic
emissions, no greenhouse gases' emission, no fuel cost
involvement, least maintenance cost, no water usage etc.
However, the technology is yet in developing phase and there
are many challenges which still need to be addressed such as,
intermittency, high initial cost, low efficiency, less reliability,
978-1-5090-0128-6/16/$31.00 2016 IEEE
1
power quality (PQ) problems etc. Apart from these, there are
numerous problems in grid supportive SPV systems [3].
The SPV systems can be used for supplying electricity to the
grid, just like other generating stations. Such systems are called
grid or utility connected SPV systems. When the power is
produced and consumed locally by an area, the system is
known as standalone or isolated SPV generation system. If the
households have their own small rating SPV generators for
individual use or supply to the utility, it is known as rooftop
SPV generating system. Off-grid systems necessarily need
energy storage devices as the solar power is intermittent in
nature, whereas in the grid connected systems the energy
storage is not compulsory which makes it more cost feasible
comparatively. Therefore, grid connected SPV systems are
gaining popularity and widespread acceptability [4]-[5].
A two stage grid tied SPV system includes SPV array, one
or several converters, a power conditional unit, and three-phase
grid [6].There are many MPPT algorithms [7]-[9] proposed by
the researchers. The cost of solar PV array is very high hence
once the solar inverter is installed the focus is to obtain the
peak power from it. P & O based algorithm is utilized to obtain
the peak power from the SPV generator.
To improve the power quality of the distribution system,
many researchers have proposed the various control algorithms
[10]-[17], which are based on estimation of reference grid
current. Neural network and PLL based control algorithms are
widely used for grid synchronization in three phase grid
interfaced SPV system. In this paper, a cross correlation
control algorithm is proposed for PFC, mitigation of harmonic
current, compensation of reactive current and load balancing.
Fundamental component of load current is extracted by
utilizing cross correlation coefficient followed by a numerical
integration. The implementation of SPV system is adequate
under unbalanced and steady state condition. The SPV system
is not only supply the extracted power into the distribution
network but it also feeds the reactive current demanded
through loads. Moreover, an extra leg is utilized for neutral
current compensation. When the load is unbalanced, then it
feeds the zero and negative sequences to the grid. But to
maintain the grid currents balanced and sinusoidal these
sequences are compensated by the VSC. Now a days, most of
the local loads are nonlinear like (SMPS, printers, fax
machines etc.). Because of these loads, harmonic distortion of
the grid current is not within the limits. But by utilizing this
algorithm, total harmonic distortion is brought down within Where k and S represent the duty cycle and a factor to govern
IEEE 519 standard [18]. the perturbation. The perturbation is depending on the slope
II. SYSTEM LAYOUT of (dVpv dI pv ) which is zero at MPP
Fig.1 shows the circuit layout of grid supportive 3P4W dPpv d(I pv Vpv ) dVpv
solar SPV system. The SPV system includes the SPV = = Vpv + I pv (2)
dI pv dI pv dI pv
generator, a DC-DC boost converter, a grid tied VSC and
ripple filter connected at PCC. The nonlinear loads for three Slope of ( V p v I p v ) and perturb slope of (dVpv dI pv ) are
phases are realized by three current fed single-phase rectifiers. estimated to obtain the error and MPP is tracked by reducing
The proposed SPV system with cross correlation algorithm is the error to zero.
found quite suitable. The Solar PV array is designed by the
number of parallel and series modules. The VSC is generally B. Control Algorithm for VSC
coupled at the PCC (Point of Common Connection) across the Figs.2 shows the cross correlation based technique for
AC inductors. estimation reference grid currents and in-phase and quadrature
voltage templates. For estimation of reactive and active power
components of load currents, fundamental components are
utilized. These reactive and real components of load currents
are estimated for generation of switching pulses for the grid
tied VSC. Sensed voltages (Vsa, Vsb, Vsc), load currents (iLa, iLb,
iLc), and Vdc are the essential variables for the proposed
technique.

1) Estimation of Unit Voltage Templates

Phase voltages are determined from sensing of only two
line voltages. The magnitude of terminal voltage (Vt) and unit
voltage vectors are determined as,
The quadrature voltage vectors are estimated as,
Fig.1 System configuration
2( Vsa 2 + Vsb 2 + Vsc 2 )
Vt = (3)
III. CONTROL ALGORITHM 3
Fig.2 shows the basic control structure of the presented V V V
uap = sa , ubp = sb , ucp = sc (4)
system. There are two main sections of the control techniques. Vt Vt Vt
These are P & O technique and cross correlation technique to
control the VSC. P & O technique extracts the peak power ubp ucp 3uap (u bp ucp )
uaq = + , ubq = + ,
from the SPV generator and VSC feeds this energy to the 3 3 2 2 3
distribution network. In this section, complete descriptions of (5)
3uap (u bp ucp )
these two controls are elaborated in details. ucq = +
2 2 3
A. MPPT Control
P & O technique with modified step size is used for MPPT 2) Determination of Fundamental Active and Reactive
in the given system. In past few years, various MPPT Components
techniques have been proposed to track the extracted power.
All methods vary in complexity, accuracy, speed, etc. Perturb By utilizing coefficient of cross correlation, fundamental
and observe technique is highly efficient and popular due to active and reactive power components are evaluated. Let the
ease of implementation. It includes a perturbation in the duty voltage of phase a is Vsa(t) and load current is considered as
ratio of the boost converter at frequent, but continuous iLa(t).The instantaneous expression of voltage and load current
intervals. The challenging part of P&O technique lies in setting for phase a is given as,
the step size, as minor perturbation utilizes large time to reach The norms of vsa(t) and iLa(t) are given as,
MPPT point while big perturbation would make system vsa ( t ) = Vma sint
oscillatory and unstable. This drawback of P&O method is i La ( t ) = I La1sin ( t 1) + I La3sin ( 3t 3 ) (6)
overcome by using variable step. The perturbation is sizeable if
step size is not near to MPP point. A minor perturb size is + I La5sin ( 5t 5 )
utilized when near to MPP point. The equation governing P&O 1
t

2
may be written as, Vsa (t) = V
sa
(t)dt
Ts t Ts
dP (7)
k(n) = k(n 1) S( ) (1) 1
t

2
dpv i La (t) = i (t)dt
La
Ts t Ts

Fig. 2 Estimation of reference grid currents By aggregating amplitudes of all three active components, the
Where time period for one cycle is denoted as Ts. The average active component is determined. And it is used to
multiplication of vsa(t) and iLa (t) is explained as, estimate the three-phase grid current as,
1
t I LpA = (I Lpa + I Lpb + I Lpc ) / 3 (12)
[ Vsa (t),i La (t)] = vsa (t).iLa (t)dt (8)
Ts t Ts I LqA = (I Lqa + I Lpb + I Lqc ) / 3 (13)
The coefficient of cross correlation is expressed as, 3) Evaluation of Active Component of Grid currents
rap = [ Vsa (t),iLa (t) ] / Vsa (t) . iLa (t) (9) By estimating, sensed DC bus voltage and reference DC bus
voltage (v*dc) an error voltage is computed. This voltage error
Fundamental active component of load current (iLpa) of Phase
is fed to the PI regulator which is utilized to correct the
a is expressed as,
voltage error. The output of PI regulator plays an important
I Lpaf (t) =
[ Vsa (t),iLa (t)] .Vsa (t) (10)
role for correction of DC bus voltage error.
2
Vsa (t) vdcer = v*dc vdc (14)
After computing fundamental component (iLpaf) by using The nth sample of PI regulator for regulating DC link voltage
sample and hold block, quadrature template (wqa) in-phase of grid tied VSC is as follows,
template (wpa) and absolute block an actual fundamental active
and reactive powers value of phase a are determined. I wp ( r ) = I wp ( r 1) + K p {Vdcer ( r ) Vdcer ( r 1)}
(15)
Uniformly from phase b and c (iLpb, iLpc) are also estimated. + K i Vdce
(iLqa) is computed after 90o delay of terminal voltage
(vsqa,vsqb,vsqc). By using (6) fundamental reactive current Where Iwp(r) is active component of grid current of the DC bus
component is expressed as, voltage and Kp and Ki are the gains of the PI controller.
The PI controller output is estimated as Iwp and the active
Vsqa (t),i La (t)
I Lqaf (t) =
component of grid current is represented as Irp which is given
.Vsqa (t) (11)
Vsqa (t)
2 as,
Irp = I wp + I LpA
Similarly iLqb and iLqc are also estimated. (16)

3
 4) Evaluation of Reactive Component of Grid currents (Displacement Power Factor) of supply current is -1 as
presented in Fig. 3 (m) confirming the unity power factor
The reactive component of grid current is determined by
operation. Figs.3 (n)-(o) show the load active and reactive
utilizing another PI regulator. The error of the PCC voltage
powers of phase a and b. Figs. 3 (p)-(r) show the active and
(Vt) and reference voltage (Vt*) is given to the PI regulator.
reactive power supplied by solar PV VSC of three phases.
The nth sample of this PI regulator is as follows,
VSC feeds the required reactive power by the loads.
I wq ( r ) = I wq ( r 1) + K pq {Ve ( r ) Ve ( r 1)} + K iqVe ( r ) (17)
Where Ve is a voltage error which is equal to (Vt*-Vt). Kpq and
Kiq are the gains of PI regulator.
Then (Irq) is determined as,
I rq = I wq I LqA (18)
5) Generation of Gating Pulses for Grid Tied VSC
(a) (b) (c)
By utilizing in phase, quadrature unit vectors and reactive
current component, reference active and reactive current
components are computed as,
isap* = I rp u ap , isbp* = I rp u bp , iscp* = I rp u cp (19)

isaq* = I rq u aq , isbq* = I rq u bq , iscq* = I rq u cq (20)

From (19) and (20), Estimation of reference grid currents are as
follows, (d) (e) (f)

isa* = i*sap + i*saq , i*sb = i*sbp + i*sbq , i*sc = i*scp + i*scq

(21)
isn* = isa* + i*sb + i*sc
For generating gating pulses, reference grid currents (i*sa,
i sb, i*sc, i*sn) and sensed grid currents (isa, isb, isc, isn) are
*

compared. The error in current is given to PWM hysteresis

controller.
(g) (h) (i)
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The SPV system is developed in the laboratory with grid
integration. The prototype includes of solar PV array simulator
(AMETEK ETS60017DPVF) which attributes same
characteristics as roof top solar PV array, two level VSC,
ripple filter, interfacing inductors, diode bridge rectifier as
nonlinear load, DSP (Digital Signal Processor dSPACE1103),
Hall effect current sensors (EL50P1 BB), Hall effect voltage (j) (k) (l)
sensors (EM010 BB). For recording the behavior of proposed
system, a 4 channels DSO and power analyzer (43B) are used.
The sensed signals are given to the ADC channels of DSP.
The details of hardware data is given in Appendices.

A. Experimental Performance of SPV System under

Unbalanced Linear Loads
(m) (n) (o)
Fig. 3 shows test results of the SPV system under unbalanced
linear loads. It can be observed that all three phase grid
currents as shown in Figs. 3 (a)-(c)) are balanced and
sinusoidal whereas that of load currents are unbalanced as
shown in Figs. 3 (e)-(g). The load current in phase c is made
zero to realize an unbalanced loading scenario. A markable
neutral current in the load neutral conductor is observed
however, grid neutral current is zero as shown in Fig.3 (d) and (p) (q) (r)
Fig. 3 (h). Figs.3 (i)-(l) show the VSC currents of the proposed Fig. 3 Test results under unbalance linear loads (a)-(d) vsab with isa ,isb , isc and
system. It supplies the currents which makes the supply isn (e)-(h) vsab with iLa , iLb , iLc and iLn (i)-(l) vsab with ivsca, ivscb , ivscc and ivscn
currents balanced at unity power factor. The DPF (m)-(o) Grid power and load powers (p)-(r)VSC power.

4
B. Experimental Response of Proposed System under
Balanced Nonlinear Loads
Fig. 4 shows experimental results at balanced nonlinear
loads. Figs.4 (a)-(c) show vsab with isa, iLa, and iVSCa. Only one
phase quantities are shown as other phases have similar
voltage and current under balanced loading condition. It is
realized that grid current is sinusoidal while the load current is
non-sinusoidal and VSC supplies the solar active current and
harmonics currents to mitigate the harmonics current of the
load. Figs.4 (d)-(f) show vsab with isn, iLn, and iVSCn.
Extra leg of VSC is utilized for compensation of load
neutral current which results in approximately zero neutral
current in supply. The total harmonic distortion and harmonic
spectra of isa, iLa, and iVSCa are displayed in Figs.4 (g)-(i)
respectively. The THD of the load current is very high as
37.1%. However, THD of grid current is meeting with IEEE-
519 standard [18] which is less than 5%. The VSC supplies
harmonics of load current therefore its THD is higher as
compared to grid current.
C. Experimental Performance of SPV System under Dynamic
Conditions
Fig. 5 (a) shows the sudden decrease in solar insolation from
1000 W/m2 to 500 W/m2. Under this condition, it is realized
that DC bus voltage is retained to its reference value of 700 V
and the magnitude of the VSC current is decreased as solar
insolation decreases. Fig. 5(b) displays the response of the
presented system under sudden increased in insolation from
500 W/m2 to 1000 W/m2. Under this condition, VSC current is
(a) (b) (c)
(d) (e) (f)
(g) (h)
Fig. 4 Test results of proposed system at balanced nonlinear loads (a)(c)vsab
with isa, iLa and ivsca(d)(f) vsab with isn, iLn and ivscn (g)(i) Harmonic spectra of
isa, iLa and ivsca
increased which can be seen in Fig. 5 (b) and solar energy
supplied to the three phase grid is increased.
Figs. 6 (a)-(b) show the response of proposed system at
sudden load insertion of phase c load. It is realized in Fig. 6
(a), that the grid current in phase c is sinusoidal even when
load current is non-sinusoidal. The magnitude of the grid
current decreases when load of line c is inserted as after load
insertion the energy delivered to the distribution network
reduces. Fig. 6 (b) shows the neutral current of supply, load
and VSC. It is easily adopted that supply neutral current is
zero irrespective of changes in load neutral current. No
appreciable effect of load insertion is observed on DC link
voltage. A vice versa explanation can be used for Fig.7.
D. Salient Intermediate Signals
Figs.8 (a)-(c) show the significant intermediate signals at
sudden through of load. It can be observed in Fig.8 (a), at
sudden through of load, all the signals i.e. iLc, Vsc, P1c
(projection of iLc on Vsc), and I1c (mean value of P1c in half
cycle) of that particular phase goes down to zero with in half
cycle. The dynamic response is satisfactory. In Fig.8 (b), it is
noticed that as load current goes to zero the cross correlation
coefficient suddenly reduces to zero. The dynamic performance
for estimated fundamental current (iLpcf) is quite satisfactory.
Fig. 8 (c) shows the average active power component of load
current. As load of line c is removed, averaged active power
component of three phases decreases.
(a) (b)
Fig.5 (a)-(b) Response of the proposed configuration under varying insolation
(a) (b)
Fig. 6(a)-(b) Response of the SPV system under sudden load insertion
(i)
(a) (b)
Fig. 7 (a)-(b) Response of the SPV System under sudden load throw
5
 The magnitude of the reference grid current (isc*) increases
after the load is thrown. The reference grid current is also
balanced and sinusoidal. So power supplied to the grid is
increased.
(a) (b)
(c)
Fig.8 (a)-(c) Various intermediate signals at sudden through of load
V. CONCLUSIONS
The SPV grid supportive energy system with cross
correlation technique has been implemented in real time with
3P4W distribution network while feeding active power to 3P
AC grid. The cross correlation coefficient has been utilized for
filtering purpose moreover ease to implement. The proposed
cross correlation based synchronization method has been
implemented in order to meet the grid requirements such as
power quality (PQ) improvement, distortion free signals and
under variable solar intensity. Test results have been
demonstrated to analyze the responses and power quality
issues.
APPENDICES
Parameters of the Proposed System:
Voc = 32.8 V, Isc = 3.8 A, Vmp = 27.8 V, Imp = 7.5 A., Ns = 54,
ns = 21, np= 2. Lb = 5 mH, fswb= 10 kHz. Vs = 415 V, f = 50 Hz,
fs = 10 kHz, Vdc= 700 V, Cdc= 2200 F, interfacing inductor Lf
= 3.5 mH, PI Regulator: Kpd= 2.5, Kid=1.5, Ls= 2 mH, Rs=
0.05 , loads: 60 resistance series with 100 mH, Nonlinear
load: bridge rectifier with inductance=190 mH, R = 59 Cf=
6 F, Rf= 6 .
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