Steady-state performance of DC motors supplied from photovoltaicgenerators with step-up converter

A simple step-up converter circuit consisting of a single power transistor and an inductor is used as an interface between a PV (photovoltaic) generator and a shunt DC motor driving a centrifugal water pump. The step-up converter allows maximum power output from the PV generator to the motor at all insolation levels. Steady-state performance of the motor is vastly improved as its input voltage and current are stabilized by the regenerative action of the converter. The PV generator operates at maximum power regardless of insolation variations. The converter duty ratio can be set at a fixed optimal value which is valid for all insolation levels. This remarkable property makes this device economically attractive since it is easy to build and does not require any insolation-dependent control as compared to other peak-power tracking devices     

Optimum matching of ohmic loads to the photovoltaic array

Optimum matching of loads to the photovoltaic (PV) generator is most desirable for more accurate sizing, higher system performance and maximum utilization of the costly solar array generator. The quality of load matching depends on the PV array characteristics, the load characteristics, and the insolation profile. A matching factor is defined as the ratio of the load energy to the array maximum energy over a one day period. Optimum matching is achieved by determining the optimal array parameters with respect to the load parameters. Optimization is done using direct-search techniques. Results show that the theoretical optimum matching factor for an ohmic load is 94.34%. For an electrolytic load the matching factor could reach 99.83%. A maximum power tracker can be eliminated if optimum matching is achieved.     

MATCHING OF SEPARATELY EXCITED DC MOTORS TO PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATORS FOR MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT

This paper addresses the matching of separately excited dc motors to photovoltaic generators (PVG) for maximum power output. The dc motor is used to drive a centrifugal water pump. A PVG is a nonlinear device having insolation dependent I–V (current–voltage) characteristic, and hence a natural mismatch exists between the motor loads and the PVG. Therefore, considering the high initial cost of PVG, it is of vital importance to develop an appropriate matching process, to utilize PVG efficiently. In this article a procedure is developed to express the field current of the motor directly in terms of the maximum power point current and voltage of the PVG. It is shown that by adjusting the field current according to the developed relation, the motor is forced to follow the maximum power trajectory of the PVG, i.e. the input power of the motor is always equal to the maximum output power of the PVG at any available solar insolation. The effect of temperature on the I–V characteristic of the PVG is neglected at this stage. Finally a general expression is proposed relating the optimum field current directly to the available insolation level, which may be used as base for best matching.     

ANN based peak power tracking for PV supplied DC motors

This paper presents an application of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for the identification of the optimal operating point of a PV supplied separately excited dc motor driving two different load torques. A gradient descent algorithm is used to train the ANN controller for the identification of the maximum power point of the Solar Cell Array (SCA) and gross mechanical energy operation of the combined system. The algorithm is developed based on matching of the SCA to the motor load through a buck-boost power converter so that the combined system can operate at the optimum point. The input parameter to the neural network is solar insolation and the output parameter is the converter chopping ratio corresponding to the maximum power output of the SCA or gross mechanical energy output of the combined PV system. The converter chopping ratios at different solar insolations are obtained from the ANN controller for two different load torques and are compared with computed values.     

Performance analysis of a PV powered DC motor driving a 3-phaseself-excited induction generator

Photovoltaic (PV) powered DC motors driving dedicated loads (e.g. water pumps) are increasingly used in the remote rural areas of many developing countries. The key to their success is simplicity (direct coupling, no DC-AC inversion, no storage batteries, etc.). In this paper, a PV powered DC motor is used to drive an isolated three-phase self-excited induction generator (SEIG). It is found that due to the unique torque-speed characteristics of the SEIG, utilization efficiency is close to maximum at all insolation levels with no peak-power tracking. The proposed arrangement is useful as part of an integrated renewable energy system (IRES), which takes advantage of the inherent diversity of wind and insolation in most developing countries to improve power quality. The SEIG is driven by wind turbine, DC motor, or both. Performance of the system under different insolation conditions is analyzed     

The Quality of Load Matching in a Direct-Coupling Photovoltaic System

The quality of load matching in a photovoltaic system determines the quality of system performance and the degree of the solar cells utilization. In a matched system, the operation of the load-line is close to the maximum power-line of the solar cell (SC) generator. Some load-lines inherently exhibit a relatively good matching when they are directly connected to the SC generator; for others, the matching is rather poor, and therefore, requires the inclusion of a maximum-power-point-tracker (MPPT) in the system. This present study deals with the performance analysis of six common types of loads that are directly connected to the SC generator, and defines a factor that describes the quality of matching of the load to the solar cells. The results of the study indicate the compatibility of the different loads when powered by solar cells, and will assist the designer of the photovoltaic system in considering whether to include an MPPT. The quality of load matching is defined here as the ratio of the load input power to the SC generator maximum power as a function of the solar insolation, or as a function of the solar time. The six loads are: an ohmic load, a storage battery, an ohmic load and storage battery, a water electrolyzer, a power conditioner--constant power load, and a dc motor driving volumetric and centrifugal pumps.     

Enhancement of grid-connected photovoltaic system using ANFIS-GA under different circumstances

In recent years, many different techniques are applied in order to draw maximum power from photovoltaic (PV) modules for changing solar irradiance and temperature conditions. Generally, the output power generation of the PV system depends on the intermittent solar insolation, cell temperature, efficiency of the PV panel and its output voltage level. Consequently, it is essential to track the generated power of the PV system and utilize the collected solar energy optimally. The aim of this paper is to simulate and control a grid-connected PV source by using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic algorithm (GA) controller. The data are optimized by GA and then, these optimum values are used in network training. The simulation results indicate that the ANFIS-GA controller can meet the need of load easily with less fluctuation around the maximum power point (MPP) and can increase the convergence speed to achieve the MPP rather than the conventional method. Moreover, to control both line voltage and current, a grid side P/Q controller has been applied. A dynamic modeling, control and simulation study of the PV system is performed with the Matlab/Simulink program.     

Improvement of induction motor drive systems supplied byphotovoltaic arrays with frequency control

The overall efficiency of an induction motor drive system, powered by a PV array, drops significantly when the insolation condition varies away from its nominal level. This problem can be overcame using a control method in which the frequency of the inverter's PWM control signal is adjusted according to the insolation and temperature conditions. The motor speed, and therefore, the power delivered to the load, are adjusted by controlling the inverter's frequency. This eliminates the mismatch between the maximum power that is available from the source and the power that is required by the load. Simulation results presented in this paper show that using the proposed control system allows the induction motor drive system to maintain its optimum efficiency and deliver consistently more power to the load when insolation and temperature vary from the nominal level. This method also offers an improvement in the system stability     

Optimum matching parameters of an MPPT unit used for a PVG‐powered water pumping system for maximum power transfer

Photovoltaic generator (PVG)‐powered water pumping has the potential to bring potable water to millions of people in developing countries. However, due to the high initial cost of PVG units, sophisticated load matching is required between the water pumping system and PVG, in order to be able to extract maximum available power from an available PVG unit at all solar radiation levels. This requires an intermediate circuitry between the PVG unit and the motor driving the water pump, which is usually termed as maximum power point trackers (MPPT). This present paper therefore investigates the optimum matching parameters of a power conditioning circuit, which is composed of a double step‐up dc–dc converter (DSUC). This MPTT circuit is used for interfacing a permanent magnet (PM) motor‐driven water pumping system to a PVG for extracting maximum available power from PVG, hence maximizing the energy utilization efficiency and price–performance ratio of the whole system. It is shown that two key parameters of the DSUC, which are the duty cycle and chopping frequency, are dominating the performance of the whole system, and they are interrelated and load dependent. Therefore, optimum values of these parameters need to be determined. An example system is provided in which a complete modelling is presented in time domain and through numerical experiments it is demonstrated how the optimum values of these two key matching parameters can be determined for a given system. The MPPT circuit used in this investigation is suitable for optimum matching of all types of loads to PVG units, provided that an optimum frequency–duty cycle pair is determined for the choppers in DSUC for every 5% bands of solar radiation between 20 and 100%. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of magnetic field constant of DC permanent magnet motor powered by photovoltaic for maximum mechanical energy output

The DC permanent magnet motor coupled with centrifugal pump has the better matching when directly powered by photovoltaic (PV) array. The important parameter of DC permanent magnet (DC PM) motor is magnetic field constant. The method for the determination of optimum magnetic field constant of DC PM motor, when powered by PV, has been obtained, and its analysis has been carried out for different magnetic field constants. It has been found that the maximum output is available at the output-energy-weighted average value of magnetic field constant. The parameter, magnetic field constant, should be properly selected during the design of DC PM motor in order to extract the maximum power from PV array.     

An improved maximum power point tracker using a step-up converter with current locked loop

It is well known that for a given solar radiation intensity and solar cell temperature there exists a Maximum Power Point at which the power generated from the PV panel is at its maximum. A system designer is interested in optimal matching of the load to the PV generator so that the maximum power can be obtained during operating period. A Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) using a step up converter with a current locked loop is developed. Its performance is compared with the literature (the step down power converter using PWM technique), under different solar irradiance and ambient temperatures. It showed an improvement in the output power by 22.5% (average) over a wide range of solar irradiation in a day.     

Matching of DC motors to photovoltaic generators for maximum dailygross mechanical energy

The matching to solar-cell generators of both separately excited and series DC motors driving pumping loads is addressed. It is shown that the maximum gross mechanical power can be obtained at slightly higher voltages and slightly lower currents compared to the maximum electrical-power points on the solar-cell generator characteristics at different insolation levels. Guidelines for constructing the loci of the motor voltage-current points for maximum mechanical power and for determining the optimal motor parameters to match the solar generator are derived in terms of the mechanical load characteristics and the solar array parameters. Results of applying these design criteria to practical case studies enabled the assessment and comparison of both kinds of motors, especially as far as the daily utilizable output mechanical energy is concerned. The superiority of the separately excited motors in such systems is quantitatively indicated. The results are also compared to corresponding information available in the literature     

A method for optimal sizing of an electrolyzer directly connected to a PV module

A method for optimal sizing of an electrolyzer directly connected to a PV module or array is presented. By combining the electrolyzer cells in series and in parallel it is possible to closely match the electrolyzer polarization curve to the curve connecting PV system’s maximum power points at different irradiation levels. The method presented here is based on linear approximation of both curves. With such a method it is possible to achieve the power transfer efficiency of up to 99%. The effect of PV temperature on optimum electrolyzer sizing is also investigated. The optimum electrolyzer size decreases with the increase of the PV temperature for the same PV system size. It was found that it is better (in terms of the system efficiency and the hydrogen generation rate) to size the EL system for a higher PV operating temperature.     

Hybrid PV/fuel cell system design and simulation

In this paper, a hybrid Photovoltaic (PV)-fuel cell generation system employing an electrolyzer for hydrogen generation is designed and simulated. The system is applicable for remote areas or isolated loads. Fuzzy regression model (FRM) is applied for maximum power point tracking to extract maximum available solar power from PV arrays under variable insolation conditions. The system incorporates a controller designed to achieve permanent power supply to the load via the PV array or the fuel cell, or both according to the power available from the sun. Also, to prevent corrosion of the electrolyzer electrodes after sunset, i.e. when its current drops to zero, the electric storage device is designed so as to isolate the electrolyte from the electrolysis cell.     

A study of a two stage maximum power point tracking control of a photovoltaic system under partially shaded insolation conditions

A photovoltaic (PV) array shows relatively low output power density, and has a greatly drooping current–voltage (I–V) characteristic. Therefore, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is used to maximize the output power of the PV array. Many papers have been reported in relation to MPPT. However, the current–power (I–P) curve sometimes shows multi-local maximum point mode under non-uniform insolation conditions. The operating point of the PV system tends to converge to a local maximum output point which is not the real maximal output point on the I–P curve. Some papers have been also reported, trying to avoid this difficulty. However, most of those control systems become rather complicated. Then, the two stage MPPT control method is proposed in this paper to realize a relatively simple control system which can track the real maximum power point even under non-uniform insolation conditions. The feasibility of this control concept is confirmed for steady insolation as well as for rapidly changing insolation by simulation study using software PSIM and LabVIEW.     

Analysis of optimum matching of a DC series motor driven centrifugal pump to a photovoltaic generator

Direct coupling between a photovoltaic (PV) generator and a monoblock DC series motor connected with ventilator load torque centrifugal pump has been analyzed theoretically as a function of the no flow motor-pump speed (w₀) and the water head of the pump. The value of w₀ is directly related with motor terminal voltage which has been derived. The condition of the maximum motor-pump efficiency has been deduced mathematically in terms of the speed-torque constant K₁ at a given w₀ for different water heads. The variation of w₀ and perfectly matched motor constant (M₀) have been calculated at various solar insolation and different water heads. From these theoretical studies, the optimum matching condition has been suggested according to the requirements. One optimally matched monoblock DC series motor and centrifugal pump, of 125 W, was chosen for study. The calculated coupling efficiencies such as electrical energy, mechanical energy, and hydraulic energy of the pump, have been discussed. Some of these results are also compared to information available in the literature.     

A fuzzy based method for leveling output power fluctuations of photovoltaic-diesel hybrid power system

A Photovoltaic system’s output power fluctuates as insolation varies with weather condition. Fluctuating PV power causes frequency deviations when large PV power is penetrated in the isolated utility. In this paper, a fuzzy based method for leveling the fluctuations of PV power in a PV-diesel hybrid power system is proposed. By means of the proposed method, output power control of PV system becomes possible considering power utility conditions and the conflicting objective of output power leveling and maximizing energy capture is achieved. Here, fuzzy control is used to generate the output leveling power command. The fuzzy control has three inputs of average insolation, variance of insolation, and absolute average of frequency deviation. First, the proposed method is compared with the method where captured maximum power is given to the utility without leveling. Second, the proposed method is compared with a conventional method where captured maximum power is leveled by using an energy storage system and is given to the isolated utility. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective in leveling PV power fluctuations and is feasible to reduce the frequency deviations of the isolated power utility.     

Two-loop controller for maximizing performance of a grid-connectedphotovoltaic-fuel cell hybrid power plant

Maximizing performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV)-fuel cell hybrid system by use of a two-loop controller is discussed. One loop is a neural network controller for maximum power point tracking, which extracts maximum available solar power from PV arrays under varying conditions of insolation, temperature, and system load. A real/reactive power controller (RRPC) is the other loop. The RRPC achieves the system's requirements for real and reactive powers by controlling incoming fuel to fuel cell stacks as well as switching control signals to a power conditioning subsystem. Results of time-domain simulations prove not only the effectiveness of the proposed computer models of the two-loop controller but also its applicability for use in stability analysis of the hybrid power plant     

A Coordinated Control Method for Leveling PV Output Power Fluctuations of PV–Diesel Hybrid Systems Connected to Isolated Power Utility

A Photovoltaic (PV) system's power output is not constant and fluctuates depending on weather conditions. Fluctuating power causes frequency deviations and reduction in reliability of the isolated power utility or microgrid when large output power from several PV systems is penetrated in the utility. In this paper, to overcome these problems, a simple coordinated control method for leveling the fluctuations of combined power output from multiple PV systems is proposed. The conflicting objective of output power leveling and acquisition power increase is achieved by means of the proposed method. Here, output power command is generated in two steps: central and local. Fuzzy reasoning is used to generate the central leveling output power command considering insolation, variance of insolation, and absolute average of frequency deviation. In local step, a simple coordination is maintained between central power command and local power commands by producing a common tuning factor. Power converters are used to achieve the same output power as local command power employing PI control law for each of the PV generation systems. The proposed method is compared with the method where a modified maximum power point tracking control is used for smoothing the short-term change in each of the PV system's output. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective for leveling output power fluctuations and feasible to reduce the frequency deviations of the isolated power utility to maintain reliability.      

Optimum load matching in direct-coupled photovoltaic powersystems-application to resistive loads

The load matching factor is used as a measure for the quality of load matching to a photovoltaic (PV) array. An optimization approach is used to solve the load matching problem with the objective of maximizing the load matching factor, and consequently the PV output energy. This approach is then applied to resistive loads (with and without an internal EMF) connected to the array. Results show that optimum matching can be achieved by carefully selecting the array parameters with respect to the load parameters. The temperature of the array has little effect on the optimum matching factor. However, the optimum matching parameters are greatly affected by the array temperature. A maximum power tracker may not be achieved