Common mode voltage in case of transformerless PV inverters connected to the grid

For safety reasons grid connected PV systems include galvanic isolation. In case of transformerless inverters, the leakage ground current through the parasitic capacitance of the PV panels, can reach very high values. A common-mode model based on analytical approach is introduced, used to predict the common-mode behavior, at frequencies lower than 50 kHz, of the selected topologies and to explain the influence of system imbalance on the leakage current. It will be demonstrated that the neutral inductance has a crucial influence on the leakage current. Finally experimental results will be shown for the NPC topology, emphasizing the low leakage current for the case of a grid connection without galvanic isolation.