Revision: Date:

Transformer-Less Power-One 001 29-Jan-2010

Application note Inverters and parallel use

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction 2
2. Anti-Islanding protection 2
3. DC Injection 3
4. Ground Fault 3
5. Use of Isolation transformers 5
6. Three phases Inverter systems 7
7. Why Isolation transformers are necessary 9

Prepared by Guido Fiesoli

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

1. Introduction

Power-One’s Aurora Inverters are one of the first Transformer-Less (TL)

inverters in the market with their output disconnection capability based on
mandatory safety tests defined by VDE0126. In adhering to the German
standard we also meet the the American UL1741 standards and several other
country’s specific safety standards.

Safety tests may be summarized in three different chapters:

- Anti-Islanding Protection
- DC Injection Control
- Ground Fault

The main advantage for TL inverters is the maximized efficiency.

With respect to isolated inverters, that intrinsecally avoid DC injection, TL
Inverters need to control DC injection.

The Aurora Inverters, when used in multiple inverter systems, in parallel and
powered from a same floating source, need to observe basic installation rules
described in this document.

2. Anti-Islanding protection

Isolated operation of a portion of the electric power grid is not allowed.

In case of intentional or unintentional service interruption by the public utility,
the inverter system shall sense the “islanding” event and immediately cease
energizing the grid.
This sensing and protection mechanism is called “Anti-Islanding” protection.

Germany and the USA have pioneered the introduction of specific

requirements to prevent islanding phenomena and developed the methods
used to test and validate the Anti-Islanding protection system implemented in
the inverter.

Power-One’s Aurora inverters use a resonant load testing method allowed by

both VDE0126 and UL1741.
WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

3. DC Injection

The DC Injection may be classically avoided by the use of isolation

transformers.
Aurora TL inverters controls this parameter as detailed in the section detailing
ground fault protection

4. Ground Fault

Safety protection requirements on the DC side are more stringent in case of

TL systems because, in this case, the AC mains voltage is superimposed to
the DC component of the generating source with respect to ground.
For TL generators the VDE0126 requires a protection system equivalent to a
differential circuit breaker with advanced functions.

From an electrical point of view the Leakage Current derives from a loss of
insulation between some point of the system and grounding earth.
It can be represented as impedance to ground with RC (capacitive/resistive)
behaviour, not constant due to electrical and environmental parameters such
as voltage, current, humidity and temperature.

Aurora Inverters features the following testing capabilities:

DC/DC 1
+ L
DC/DC 2
N

- R.iso
DC + AC
GFCI

Figure 1 – Safety testing featuring

1) Preventive measurement (before connecting to the grid) of the source

Insulation Resistance (pure DC resistance measurement) with respect
WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

to ground (R.Iso). Grid connection allowed only if R.Iso exceeds a pre-

defined safe limit (see table below).
2) Real time monitoring of the RMS value for the leakage current to
ground (AC+DC component) with a sophisticated “dynamic” protection
scheme (Advanced Differential Switch). Together with a “static”
absolute limit of 300mA the sensing circuit is able to detect leakage fast
rising transients down to 30mA/sec, as potentially causing electric
shock.
3) Redundancy: each measurement is performed and controlled by 2
separate dsp’s, each driving a separate grid interface protection device
(relay). The system disconnects from the grid not only when a limit is
exceeded as detected by one dsp, but also in case of high mismatch on
the measurement results from both dsp’s
AURORA,
Limits in acc. to Trip time
Parameter all country
VDE0126 (VDE 0126)
deviations
Leakage Current (AC+DC) ILEAK ≥ 300mA < 300ms ILEAK > 280mA
Δ ILEAK ≥ 30mA/sec < 300ms
Leakage Current (AC+DC) Δ ILEAK ≥ 60mA/sec < 150ms Featured
Fast transients Δ ILEAK ≥ 150mA/sec < 40ms
No grid
Source insulation resistance R.Iso
≥ 1kΩ/V (but ≥ 500kΩ) connection if > 1MΩ
(before connection) below the limit

In reference to the output external disconnection device Power-One,

recommends to use Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Id=300mA in
order to avoid false tripping and consequent loss of energy production.

Failing in DC Injection, Ground Fault or Anti-Islanding results in a

disconnection from the grid.

Disconnection from the grid is realized by means of a combination of

electromechanic relays and sensing and protection circuitry with certified
threshold levels and tripping delay times.

Aurora inverters incorporate 4 relays (see schematic below) in order to

ensure not only the INTRINSIC SAFETY (relay coil powered directly from the
AC mains; in case of fault or loss of mains this ensure the opening and

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

disconnection from the grid), but also the REDUNDANCY (according to the
most stringent German standard VDE 0126).

DSP1 DSP2

DC

A
C
Grid Interface Protection Device

Figure 2 – Grid disconnection devices

Each couple of relay is controlled by two totally independent sensing/trigger

circuits (DSP1 and DSP2, according to VDE 0126).

AURORA Inverter checks the status (insulation) of each relay BEFORE

enabling the connection to the grid.

R.Iso test is mutually influenced by inverters used in multiple parallel

configurations and shall be disabled in those inverters provided by output
isolation transformers.

5. Use of Isolation transformers

Aurora TL Inverters in number of N used in multiple parallel configuration,

powered from a same floating source, need to be integrated with at least N-1
isolation transformers (not provided by Power-One) used at each AC output
of every inverter with the exception of one that can be directly connected to
the grid.

In the case shown in Fig.2 it is necessary to disable the R.Iso measurement

in the inverters from 2 to N (the isolated inverters) in order to avoid false
alarms of Riso low (E025). This is possible by the use of the Advanced menu
in “Aurora Installer” software.

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

Ask factory for Advaced menu password mentioning the S/N of the unit to be
disabled.

At least N-1 isolation transformers are necessary also if N inverters are

connected to different phases of the same grid.

Isolation transformers are not necessary for different inverters connected to

the same grid but powered from different and isolated from each DC source.

In case of usage of N Wind Interface Boxes joined to each inverter, from the
same generating three phases AC source, these are not isolated devices but
just passive rectification stages, as such the need for isolation transformers
does not change, so N-1 transformers are still needed.

Figure 3 - Isolation of paralleled inverters

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Application note Inverters and parallel use

6. Three phases Inverter systems

In case of multiple single phase inverters working from a same DC source

and used to export energy into a three phase grid, the isolation transformer
can be just one, three phase type, with all the primary windings isolated from
each other and the Y output with or without the Neutral output connected to
the grid Neutral.

DC side AC side
R S T N
DC +
Aurora Inverter
1

DC -

Aurora Inverter
2

Aurora Inverter
3

Figure 4 – 3PH/4W Y (480Vac) inverter system with single phase inverters and 3PH isolation
transformer

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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Transformer-Less Power-One 001 29-Jan-2010
Application note Inverters and parallel use

In the USA the solution is described in Fig.5.

DC side AC side
L1 L2 L3
DC +
Aurora Inverter
1

DC -

Aurora Inverter
2

Aurora Inverter
3

Figure 5 – 3PH/3W Δ (208Vac) inverter system with single phase inverters and 3PH isolation
transformer

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
Page : 8 of 9
 Revision: Date:
Transformer-Less Power-One 001 29-Jan-2010
Application note Inverters and parallel use

7. Why Isolation transformers are necessary

A simplified block representation of two inverters used in parallel is here

below showed without isolation transformer.
L N
Aurora Inverter 1
in
VDC (1)

CM
VDC(1)

in
Aurora Inverter 2
VDC (2)

CM
VDC(2)

The common mode voltages with respect to ground, forced by the inverters
pulse width modulation function, VDC(1)CM and VDC(2)CM, are theoretically
identical, but in reality, due to component spread, tolerances and
unsyncronized PWMs, they are certainly slightly different.

If supplying this system with a floating single DC source

VDCin = VDCin(1) = VDCin(2) .

In case of missing transformer the dynamic difference between the two

“sources” induces an unwanted recirculating current , causing malfunctions
and possible failures, as may happen with two voltage sources in a closed
loop without limitation.

An apparently insignificant voltage may cause high recirculating currents.

Isolation transformer interrupts these uncontrolled recirculating currents.

WARNING!
This document and the information contained in it is PROPRIETARY INFORMATION of Power-One. Reverse engineering of any or all
of the information in this document is prohibited.
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