ABSTRACT
A modular system concept for grid-connected photovoltaic systems is being developed within the scope of a research project of universities with an industrial partner. This project is supported by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Solar Nordrhein-Westfalen. An important goal of the project is the low-cost production of modular inverters. Apart from devising a highly efficient RF power section, at present a unit is being designed for open and closed loop control on the basis of an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). For this purpose, first of all a special evaluation board (EB) emulating the entire functional scope of the ASIC was developed. Highly flexible parameter configuration is a primary criterion for the design of the integrated circuit, so that the control unit can easily be adapted to changing boundary conditions. This paper introduces the development steps, the functional principles and the structure of the ASIC.
