IEC TS 63106-2:2022
(Main)Simulators used for testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment - Recommendations - Part 2: DC power simulators
Simulators used for testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment - Recommendations - Part 2: DC power simulators
IEC TS 63106-2:2022 provides recommendations for Low Voltage (LV) DC power simulators used for testing photovoltaic (PV) power conversion equipment (PCE) to utility interconnection or PV performance standards. This document primarily addresses DC power simulators used for testing of grid-interactive PCE, also referred to as grid-connected power converters (GCPCs). It also addresses some uses of DC power simulators for testing stand-alone and multi-mode PCEs.
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Standards Content (sample)
IEC TS 63106-2
Edition 1.0 2022-03
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Simulators used for testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment –
Recommendations –
Part 2: DC power simulators
IEC TS 63106-2:2022-03(en)
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IEC TS 63106-2
Edition 1.0 2022-03
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
colour
inside
Simulators used for testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment –
Recommendations –
Part 2: DC power simulators
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-1093-5
Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.
® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – IEC TS 63106-2:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................... 5
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 7
1 Scope ............................................................................................................................. 8
2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 8
3 Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 9
4 PCE types with respect to DC voltage levels ................................................................. 10
4.1 General ................................................................................................................ 10
4.2 Module level PCE ................................................................................................. 11
4.3 String level PCE ................................................................................................... 11
4.4 Central PCE ......................................................................................................... 11
5 Test setup for utility interactive inverters ....................................................................... 11
5.1 General ................................................................................................................ 11
5.2 Test setup examples ............................................................................................ 11
5.3 System configuration options ................................................................................ 12
5.3.1 General ......................................................................................................... 12
5.3.2 PV array ........................................................................................................ 12
5.3.3 PV array simulator......................................................................................... 13
5.3.4 DC power supply ........................................................................................... 13
6 General recommendations for DC power simulator ........................................................ 13
6.1 General ................................................................................................................ 13
6.2 DC output voltage accuracy and ripple ................................................................. 14
6.3 I-V curve stability for EUT testing ......................................................................... 14
6.3.1 General ......................................................................................................... 14
6.3.2 DC irradiance change rate ............................................................................. 15
6.4 DC power simulator performance and characteristics for utility interaction tests ... 16
6.5 Additional tests conducted with DC power simulators ........................................... 34
6.5.1 General ......................................................................................................... 34
6.5.2 PCE operational stability with sudden irradiance changes (due tomovement of sun between clouds) ................................................................ 35
6.5.3 Automatic start and stop operation with gradual irradiance changes(representing morning and evening conditions) ............................................. 36
6.5.4 PCE DC to AC power conversion efficiency measurement ............................. 36
6.5.5 PCE maximum power point tracking efficiency measurement ........................ 36
6.5.6 PCE total power conversion efficiency measurement ..................................... 37
6.6 Avoidance measures of transient impact to EUTs ................................................. 37
Annex A (informative) DC I-V curve dynamic accuracy against MPPT control ...................... 38
A.1 General ................................................................................................................ 38
A.2 Example of DC I-V curve stability for MPPT properties ......................................... 38
A.2.1 MPPT control ................................................................................................ 38
A.2.2 Recommended stability of operation on the I-V curve .................................... 39
A.2.3 Recommended I-V curve resolution ............................................................... 39
A.2.4 Use of DC power supply as an input of EUT .................................................. 39
Annex B (informative) DC power simulator stability against utility- frequency ripple
voltage/current ..................................................................................................................... 41
B.1 General ................................................................................................................ 41
B.2 Example of twice the utility- frequency ripple voltage/current ................................ 41
B.2.1 Twice the utility frequency ripple voltage/current ........................................... 41
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B.2.2 Stability of I-V curve for the DC ripple ........................................................... 42
Annex C (informative) PV array simulator I-V curve stability against quick power change
in UVRT test ......................................................................................................................... 44
C.1 General ................................................................................................................ 44
C.2 DC voltage/current shift by withdrawing power change in UVRT test .................... 44
Annex D (informative) DC I-V curve stability against low irradiance at sunrise and sunset ... 47
D.1 General ................................................................................................................ 47
D.2 Example of a DC I-V curve stability against slow irradiance change rate in the
morning and evening – I-V curve with low irradiance periods and EUT inputvoltage/current transition ...................................................................................... 47
Annex E (informative) DC I-V curve behaviour in rapidly varying irradiance conditions ........ 49
E.1 General ................................................................................................................ 49
E.2 I-V curve response to varying irradiance ............................................................... 49
E.2.1 Irradiance sudden change on I-V characteristics of the PV array (anexample) ....................................................................................................... 49
E.2.2 Recommendation of irradiance quick change rate for test of the EUT by PVarray simulator .............................................................................................. 49
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 52
Figure 1 – Examples of ports .................................................................................................. 9
Figure 2 – Examples of fundamental setup of EUT test system ............................................. 12
Figure A.1 – Voltage and current swing by MPPT control on I-V curve around MPP.............. 38
Figure A.2 – Current and voltage swing by MPPT control on I-V curve below MPP ............... 39
Figure A.3 – Current and voltage swing by MPPT control on I-V characteristic curve of
DC power supply .................................................................................................................. 40
Figure B.1 – DC current and voltage ripple on single-phase GCPC ....................................... 41
Figure B.2 – DC current and voltage ripple on three-phase GCPC with UVRT test ................ 42
Figure B.3 – DC ripple I-V swing on I-V curve of PV array .................................................... 43
Figure C.1 – DC input voltage/current transition on zero-voltage ride through test – AC
voltage sudden reduction ..................................................................................................... 45
Figure C.2 – DC input voltage/current transition on zero-voltage ride through test – AC
voltage sudden recovery ...................................................................................................... 46
Figure C.3 – DC input voltage/current transition on UVRT test – AC voltage sudden
decrease .............................................................................................................................. 46
Figure D.1 – DC input voltage/current transition area in the morning and evening ................ 47
Figure D.2 – DC input voltage transition pattern example in the morning .............................. 48
Figure E.1 – DC input voltage/current quick transition and MPPT ......................................... 50
Figure E.2 – Irradiance quick change example ..................................................................... 50
Figure E.3 – Irradiation change rate for PV array and wind orientation ................................. 51
Table 1 – Grid qualification/Requalification – In-range AC voltage beforeconnection/reconnection ....................................................................................................... 17
Table 2 – Grid qualification/Requalification – In-range AC frequency beforeconnection/reconnection ....................................................................................................... 18
Table 3 – Power capability: Nameplate P, Q, S under normal and near-normal gridconditions ............................................................................................................................. 19
Table 4 – Power capability: Limitation of P/Q/S/PF by setpoint ............................................. 20
Table 5 – Power capability: Ramp rate or soft start time-developing magnitude by set rate . 21
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Table 6 – Grid protection tests – AC over-voltage (OV) and under-voltage (UV) trip tests ..... 22
Table 7 – Grid protection tests: OF/UF trips ......................................................................... 22
Table 8 – Grid protection tests: Anti-islanding ...................................................................... 23
Table 9 – Grid protection tests: Rate of Change of Frequency (ROCOF) trips ....................... 24
Table 10 – Grid protection tests: Open phase ....................................................................... 24
Table 11 – Power quality tests: Current harmonics, inter-harmonics, THDi ........................... 25
Table 12 – Power quality tests: Flicker (continuous) ............................................................. 26
Table 13 – Power quality tests: Current inrush (at connection switch close) ......................... 27
Table 14 – Power quality tests: AC output current imbalance ............................................... 27
Table 15 – Power quality tests: Transient over-voltage (TrOV) on load dump ....................... 28
Table 16 – Grid support tests: UV/OV ride-through with/without Iq injection .......................... 29
Table 17 – Grid support tests: UF/OF ride-through ............................................................... 30
Table 18 – Grid support tests: ROCOF ride-through ............................................................. 30
Table 19 – Grid support tests: Phase-jump ride-through ....................................................... 31
Table 20 – Grid support tests: P (f), PF (P, V), Q (V), P (V) .................................................. 32
Table 21 – External command response tests: Magnitude accuracy for P/Q/S/PF bysetpoint ................................................................................................................................ 33
Table 22 – External command response tests: Response to external setpoint changes
(response time, settling time test) ......................................................................................... 34
Table 23 – Test items and DC power simulators application for PCE .................................... 35
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INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SIMULATORS USED FOR TESTING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER
CONVERSION EQUIPMENT – RECOMMENDATIONS –
Part 2: DC power simulators
FOREWORD
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indispensable for the correct application of this publication.9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC TS 63106-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar photovoltaic energy
systems. It is a Technical Specification.The text of this Technical Specification is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
82/1954/DTS 82/1999/RVDTS
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in the
above table.The language used for the development of this Technical Specification is English.
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This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available at
www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are described
in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.A list of all parts in the IEC TS 63106 series, published under the general title Simulators used for
testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment – Recommendations , can be found on the
IEC web site.The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the specific
document. At this date, the document will be• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
IEC TS 63106-2:202 © IEC 2022 – 7 –
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this document is to establish terminology, create a framework for, and provide
guidance regarding the electrical performance of DC power simulators used to test photovoltaic
(PV) power conversion equipment (PCE) for compliance with grid interconnection or PV
performance standards.Along with IEC TS 63106-1, it provides guidance for the selection or development of power
simulators used within a test and evaluation system for PV PCEs.Testing laboratories are responsible for selecting the appropriate test items and procedures as
well as defining the required performance for adequate evaluation of utility interactive PV PCEs,
considering utility power requirements, local codes and regulations.It is intended for this document to be used in conjunction with parallel PCE standards developed
for specific performance or grid-interaction requirements.---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
– 8 – IEC TS 63106-2:2022 © IEC 2022
SIMULATORS USED FOR TESTING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER
CONVERSION EQUIPMENT – RECOMMENDATIONS –
Part 2: DC power simulators
1 Scope
The purpose of this part of IEC TS 63106 is to provide recommendations for Low Voltage (LV) DC
power simulators used for testing photovoltaic (PV) power conversion equipment (PCE) to utility
interconnection or PV performance standards.NOTE Low Voltage refers to DC voltage 1 500 V and less.
In this document, the term “DC power simulator” refers to any source that is used during testing to
provide DC power to the Equipment Under Test (EUT). That includes, but is not limited to, PV
array simulators designed to simulate the DC output I-V curve of a photovoltaic array operating in
real-world conditions.This document primarily addresses DC power simulators used for testing of grid-interactive PCE,
also referred to as grid-connected power converters (GCPCs). It also addresses some uses of DC
power simulators for testing stand-alone and multi-mode PCEs.There are many types of tests that can be conducted by utilizing a DC power simulator. Certain
tests require the use of a PV array or PV array simulator, such as measurements of the PCE’s PV
input static and dynamic characteristics related to maximum power point tracking, while other tests
may be appropriate to conduct with a static DC power supply. Test requirements and procedures
are specified in IEC standards and local utility grid requirements, selected by the system integrator,
PCE manufacturer, network operator, utility, or third-party inspector.2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.IEC 61683, Photovoltaic systems – Power conditioners – Procedure for measuring efficiency
IEC TS 61836, Solar photovoltaic energy systems – Terms, definitions and symbolsIEC 62116, Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters – Test procedure of islanding prevention
measuresIEC 62891, Maximum power point tracking efficiency of grid connected photovoltaic inverters
IEC TS 62910:2020, Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters – Test procedure for under
voltage ride-through measurementsIEC TS 63106-1:2020, Simulators used for testing of photovoltaic power conversion equipment –
Recommendations – Part 1: AC power simulatorsEN 50530, Overall efficiency of grid connected photovoltaic inverters
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IEC TS 63106-2:202 © IEC 2022 – 9 –
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC TS 61836, and the
following apply.ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
DC power simulator
system or device able to source and/or absorb DC power, for use in testing of PCE
Note 1 to entry: In this document, DC power simulator is the general term including PV array, conventional DC power
supply or PV array simulator.3.2
PV array simulator
type of DC power simulator that implements the key characteristics of the I-V curve of real
photovoltaic module types, having a maximum power point, operating voltage, and available
current that vary with load and irradiance3.3
power conversion equipment
PCE
electrical device converting one kind of electrical power from a voltage or current source into
another kind of electrical power with respect to voltage, current and frequency[SOURCE: IEC 62109-1:2010, 3.66]
3.4
port
terminal or set of terminals where the PCE connects to conductors of an external power, control,
or communications systemNote 1 to entry: See Figure 1 for examples of ports.
Figure 1 – Examples of ports
3.5
equipment under test
EUT
PCE that is tested by connecting and supplying DC and AC power to each port
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– 10 – IEC TS 63106-2:2022 © IEC 2022
3.6
AC output power port
port used to connect to a public low voltage AC mains power distribution network or other low
voltage AC mains installation3.7
DC input power port
port used to connect the PCE to the DC power simulator during testing, or a PV array or other DC
source in the installation3.8
type test
conformity test performed on one or more items representative of the production
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-151:2001, 151-16-16]
3.9
maximum power point
MPP
operational voltage and current point on the output characteristic of photovoltaic module or array
that delivers the largest output power depending on solar irradiance and temperature
3.10maximum power point tracking
MPPT
PCE control function to survey the maximum input DC power point on the characteristic of
photovoltaic modules power generation3.11
under voltage ride through
UVRT
PCE operational durability for the situation of low voltage supply by the AC power system
3.12open circuit voltage
open circuit voltage that appears at the output terminal of photovoltaic module or array under solar
irradiation3.13
short circuit current
short circuit current that appears at the output terminal of photovoltaic module or array under solar
irradiation4 PCE types with respect to DC voltage levels
4.1 General
PV PCE may be connected to PV modules or arrays in a variety of ways.
The maximum limit of the operating DC voltage range of PV PCE takes into account the absolute
maximum value of the open circuit voltage of the array under any condition (irradiance,
temperature, etc.).Therefore, an upper limit of 1 500 V for the DC voltage range of a PCE test system is sufficient.
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4.2 Module level PCE
Module level PCE is connected to a single PV module with operating voltages typically in the DC
voltage 65 V to 100 V range.However, some DC to DC converters are used in series connection, so it may be necessary for
the DC power simulator to be able to superimpose the system voltage (e.g. DC 1 000 V), with
respect to earth, depending on the test purpose.4.3 String level PCE
String level PCE is connected to series strings of PV modules, with operating and system voltages
typically from DC voltage 600 V to 1 500 V maximum.4.4 Central PCE
Central PCE is connected to a large number of series strings of PV modules in parallel, with
operating and system voltages typically from DC voltage 600 V to 1 500 V maximum.
5 Test setup for utility interactive inverters5.1 General
In order to realize valid and reproducible testing, the DC power source should be appropriate for
the test being performed. This may mean utilizing an actual PV array, a conventional DC power
supply, or a PV array simulator depending on the needs of the specific test under consideration.
In order to realize valid and reproducible testing, the AC power source should also be appropriate
for the test being performed. Recommendations for AC power simulators are addressed in
IEC TS 63106-1.5.2 Test setup examples
Figure 2 illustrates basic configuration examples for the EUT test system. Here, EUT is the PV
PCE under tes...
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