Development of a microcontroller-based, photovoltaic maximum powerpoint tracking control system

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize the photovoltaic array output power, irrespective of the temperature and irradiation conditions and of the load electrical characteristics. A new MPPT system has been developed, consisting of a buck-type DC/DC converter, which is controlled by a microcontroller-based unit. The main difference between the method used in the proposed MPPT system and other techniques used in the past is that the PV array output power is used to directly control the DC/DC converter, thus reducing the complexity of the system. The resulting system has high-efficiency, lower-cost and can be easily modified to handle more energy sources (e.g., wind-generators). The experimental results show that the use of the proposed MPPT control increases the PV output power by as much as 15% compared to the case where the DC/DC converter duty cycle is set such that the PV array produces the maximum power at 1 kW/m² and 25°C     

Integrated photovoltaic maximum power point tracking converter

A low-power low-cost highly efficient maximum power point tracker (MPPT) to be integrated into a photovoltaic (PV) panel is proposed. This can result in a 25% energy enhancement compared to a standard photovoltaic panel, while performing functions like battery voltage regulation and matching of the PV array with the load. Instead of using an externally connected MPPT, it is proposed to use an integrated MPPT converter as part of the PV panel. It is proposed that this integrated MPPT uses a simple controller in order to be cost effective. Furthermore, the power converter has to be very efficient, in order to transfer more energy to the load than a directly-coupled system. This is achieved by using a simple soft-switched topology. A much higher conversion efficiency at lower cost will then result, making the MPPT an affordable solution for small PV energy systems     

Modeling and Control of PV Charger System With SEPIC Converter

The photovoltaic (PV) stand-alone system requires a battery charger for energy storage. This paper presents the modeling and controller design of the PV charger system implemented with the single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC). The designed SEPIC employs the peak-current-mode control with the current command generated from the input PV voltage regulating loop, where the voltage command is determined by both the PV module maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control loop and the battery charging loop. The control objective is to balance the power flow from the PV module to the battery and the load such that the PV power is utilized effectively and the battery is charged with three charging stages. This paper gives a detailed modeling of the SEPIC with the PV module input and peak-current-mode control first. Accordingly, the PV voltage controller, as well as the adaptive MPPT controller, is designed. An 80-W prototype system is built. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is proved with some simulation and experimental results.     

A high-efficiency single-phase three-wire photovoltaic energy conversion system

A single-phase three-wire photovoltaic energy conversion system with single-stage structure using a novel maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is presented. An equivalent model of the proposed system is derived to analyze the characteristics of the system and to design the controller. Owing to the linear relation of the PV array parameters versus insolation, the model is easy to analyze. The proposed system employs a three-leg inverter to control the MPPT process, the line current, and neutral line current. A current-controlled MPPT algorithm controls the MPPT. A neutral line-mode controller maintains a utility neutral line current of zero. A line-mode controller controls the line current so as to provide power to the utility with a unity power factor. The proposed system acts as a solar generator on sunny days and functions as an active power filter on rainy days. Computer simulation and experimental results demonstrate the accuracy and the superior performance of the proposed technique.     

A low‐cost photovoltaic emulator for static and dynamic evaluation of photovoltaic power converters and facilities

In testing maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms running on electronic power converters for photovoltaic (PV) applications, either a PV energy source (PV module or PV array) or a PV emulator is required. With a PV emulator, it is possible to control the testing conditions with accuracy so that it is the preferred option. The PV source is modeled as a current source; thus, the emulator has to work as a current source dependent on its output voltage. The proposed emulator is a buck converter with an average current mode control loop, which allows testing the static and dynamic performance of PV facilities up to 3 kW. To validate the concept, the emulator is used to evaluate the MPPT algorithm of a 230‐W experimental microinverter working from a single PV module. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiinput converter with power factor correction, maximum power point tracking, and ripple-free input currents

A multiinput converter for photovoltaic (PV) power system applications with power factor correction (PFC), maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and ripple-free input currents (RFIC) is proposed in this paper. With phase-shifted pulse-width-modulation (PWM) control, the multiinput converter can draw power from the utility line and PV arrays individually or simultaneously and deliver it to the load. In addition, an almost unity power factor for the utility line and an MPPT for PV arrays can also be achieved. Moreover, the upper power switches of each input-stage circuit in the proposed converter are operated with zero-current-switching (ZCS) at turn-off transition and the lower ones are operated with zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) at turn-on transition. Hence, the switching losses of the power switches can be reduced. Experimental measurements are demonstrated to verify the performance of the proposed multiinput converter.     

基于电流控制的光伏太阳能充电器系统研究

提出一种基于电流控制的最大功率点跟踪方法用于光伏太阳能充电器,以DC/DC变换器中的Boost电路作为开关充电器,系统由一个光伏电池模块、一个基于Boost变换器开关电池充电器和电池组成.采用光伏电池输出电流控制实现系统的最大功率点跟踪,调整占空比,从而使太阳电池阵列输出功率最大,以输出稳定的电压对蓄电池进行充电,可以提高蓄电池使用寿命,有效地提高独立光伏系统的综合效率,降低整个系统的成本.     

An Efficient Wind–Photovoltaic Hybrid Generation System Using Doubly Excited Permanent-Magnet Brushless Machine

With ever-increasing concerns on energy issues, the development of renewable energy sources is becoming more and more attractive. This paper first reviews both the wind power and photovoltaic (PV) power generation techniques and their maximum-power-point tracking (MPPT) methods. Then, a new stand-alone wind–PV hybrid generation system is proposed for application to remote and isolated areas. For the wind power generation branch, a new doubly excited permanent-magnet brushless machine is used to capture the maximum wind power by using online flux control. For the PV power generation branch, a single-ended primary inductance converter is adopted to harness the maximum solar power by tuning the duty cycle. The experimental results confirm that the proposed hybrid generation system can provide high efficiency with the use of MPPT.      

Maximum Power Point Tracking Scheme for PV Systems Operating Under Partially Shaded Conditions

Current-voltage and power-voltage characteristics of large photovoltaic (PV) arrays under partially shaded conditions are characterized by multiple steps and peaks. This makes the tracking of the actual maximum power point (MPP) [global peak (GP)] a difficult task. In addition, most of the existing schemes are unable to extract maximum power from the PV array under these conditions. This paper proposes a novel algorithm to track the global power peak under partially shaded conditions. The formulation of the algorithm is based on several critical observations made out of an extensive study of the PV characteristics and the behavior of the global and local peaks under partially shaded conditions. The proposed algorithm works in conjunction with a DC-DC converter to track the GP. In order to accelerate the tracking speed, a feedforward control scheme for operating the DC-DC converter is also proposed, which uses the reference voltage information from the tracking algorithm to shift the operation toward the MPP. The tracking time with this controller is about one-tenth as compared to a conventional controller. All the observations and conclusions, including simulation and experimental results, are presented.     

An enhanced scanning-based MPPT approach for DMPPT systems

In this paper, an improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) approach being low parameter dependency, simple structure and limited search interval has been presented for distributed MPPT photovoltaic (PV) systems. Basically, this approach is based on scanning of power–voltage (P-V) characteristic curve of PV modules in a limited duty ratio interval which makes tracking operation simple, fast and efficiently available in both uniform irradiance and partial shading conditions (PSCs). By limiting the scanning interval of maximum and minimum values of duty ratio via some analyses related to P-V characteristic for PSCs, global MPPT (GMPPT) is achieved in an efficient way. So as to validate performance of the proposed approach, a single-ended primary inductance converter has been used in both simulation and experimental studies. PV simulator has been used as a PV source to obtain different module characteristics with different number of bypass diodes and PV power levels. Both simulation and experimental results clarify that improved MPPT approach realises GMPPT effectively. Due to the high performance results, this approach can be an alternative technique in module-integrated converters, smart modules and PV power optimisers in which single module is used.     

不同负载条件下光伏接口MPPT变换器的小信号建模及实验验证

在分布式光伏发电系统中,光伏电池一般通过DC-DC变换器与后级相连,以实现输出最大功率跟踪（MPPT）.由于光伏电池的本质电流源特性,使得输入电压反馈控制光伏接口MPPT变换器为电流源变换器,会呈现出与常见电压源变换器截然不同的动态特性.以前置电容Boost变换器为研究对象,重点探讨电流源MPPT变换器的频率响应特性.首先,建立了开环和输入电压闭环两种控制方式下系统的小信号模型,并揭示不同负载类型对于系统频率响应的影响;其次,对MPPT变换器的端口阻抗进行了建模分析,指出影响闭环输入、输出阻抗特性的重要因素,为接口电路的后续稳定性设计提供理论指导;最后,搭建实验室电路样机,通过频域和时域测试结果验证了理论分析的正确性.     

基于双并联Boost电路的光伏系统最大功率点跟踪控制方法

光伏电池的输出功率取决于外界环境（温度和光照条件）和负载状况,需采用最大功率点跟踪（MPPT）电路,才能使光伏电池始终输出最大功率,从而充分发挥光伏器件的光电转换效能.在比较了常用光伏发电系统控制的优缺点后,依据MPPT控制算法的基本工作原理,主电路采用双并联Boost电路,具有电压提升功能,并且能够提高DC-DC环节的额定功率和减小直流母线电压的纹波.针对传统扰动观察法存在的振荡和误判问题,提出了一种新型的基于双并联Boost电路的改进扰动观察法最大功率跟踪策略.在Matlab/Simulink下进行了建模与仿真,仿真结果表明,当外界环境发生变化时,系统能快速准确跟踪此变化,避免算法误判现象的发生,通过改变当前的负载阻抗,使之与光伏电池的输出阻抗等值相匹配采满足最大功率输出的要求,使系统始终工作在最大功率点处,并且在最大功率点处具有很好的稳态性能.最后通过实验验证了该算法的有效性.     

Combined low-cost, high-efficient inverter, peak power tracker andregulator for PV applications

A novel compound power converter that serves as a DC-to-AC inverter, maximum power point tracker (MPPT), and battery charger for stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) power systems is introduced. A theoretical analysis of the proposed converter is performed, and the results are compared with experimental results obtained from a 1.5 kW prototype. The overall cost of PV systems can thus be reduced by using load management control and efficiency-optimization techniques. Power flow through the converter is controlled by means of a combination of duty cycle and output frequency control. With load management, large domestic loads, such as single phase induction motors for water pumping, hold-over refrigerators, and freezers, can be driven by day at a much higher energy efficiency. This is due to the high efficiency of the inverter with high insolation, and because the inverter uses the energy directly from the solar array. The battery loss component is thus reduced     

Design and implementation of a single-phase three-wiretransformerless battery energy storage system

This paper presents a single-phase three-wire (1φ3w) transformerless battery energy storage system (BESS). Its power circuit is simple, since it consists of only one power converter. It has three legs to provide 1φ3w 220/110 V output without the use of a transformer. For switching control, the BESS is decoupled into differential-mode and common-mode subsystems. Each subsystem has its own inner-loop current-forced switching control mechanism; their current commands at various operating modes are generated by outer-loop controllers. The controllers of the differential mode are designed to control the main voltage (220 V) source, while achieving the desired functions of BESS. As to the common-mode subsystem, its controllers are used to maintain the voltage balance of two subcircuits (110 V circuits) when the utility grid fails, and to keep the current in neutral line of utility grid at zero when the utility grid is in normal condition. The operation principle of the proposed BESS and the design of controllers in various operating modes are described in detail. Some experimental results are provided to show the performance of the proposed BESS     

Novel maximum-power-point-tracking controller for photovoltaicenergy conversion system

A novel maximum-power-point-tracking (MPPT) controller for a photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion system is presented. Using the slope of power versus voltage of a PV array, the proposed MPPT controller allows the conversion system to track the maximum power point very rapidly. As opposed to conventional two-stage designs, a single-stage configuration is implemented, resulting in size and weight reduction and increased efficiency. The proposed system acts as a solar generator on sunny days, in addition to working as an active power line conditioner on rainy days. Finally, computer simulations and experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed technique     

Real-Time Identification of Optimal Operating Points in Photovoltaic Power Systems

Photovoltaic power systems are usually integrated with some specific control algorithms to deliver the maximum possible power. Several maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods that force the operating point to oscillate have been presented in the past few decades. In the MPPT system, the ideal operation is to determine the maximum power point (MPP) of the photovoltaic (PV) array directly rather than to track it by using the active operation of trial and error, which causes undesirable oscillation around the MPP. Since the output features of a PV cell vary with environment changes in irradiance and temperature from time to time, real-time operation is required to trace the variations of local MPPs in PV power systems. The method of real-time estimation proposed in this paper uses polynomials to demonstrate the power–voltage relationship of PV panels and implements the recursive least-squares method and Newton–Raphson method to identify the voltage of the optimal operating point. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is successfully demonstrated by computer simulations and experimental evaluations of two major types of PV panels, namely: 1) crystalline silicon and 2) copper–indium–diselenide thin film.     

基于推挽电路的光伏电池最大功率点追踪系统

太阳能光伏阵列的输出特性受外界环境因素的影响,为了使光伏阵列工作在最大功率点,因此经常在系统中加入最大功率追踪器。文中论述了一种利用推挽电路对光伏电池进行最大功率点追踪(MPPT)的控制器,以TMS320LF2407DSP为控制核心。通过Matlab仿真,结果表明控制器能够准确追踪最大功率点。     

Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Multistring PCS With PV Current Variation Reduction Control

In this paper, a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) multistring power conditioning system with PV input current reduction control is proposed. An improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for the multistring converter is suggested. The suggested MPPT algorithm tracks the maximum power point even though measurement errors exist. To reduce the PV current variation introduced by the inverter, a PV current variation reduction control is suggested. This PV current variation reduction control reduces the PV current variation without additional components. The low current variation reduces the filter size and improves the MPPT efficiency. All algorithms and controllers are implemented on a single-chip microcontroller. Experimental results obtained on a 3-kW prototype show high performance such as a MPPT efficiency of 99.7%, an almost unity power factor, a power efficiency of 96.7%, and a total harmonic distortion of 2.0%.     

Comparative study of maximum power point tracking algorithms

Maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) play an important role in photovoltaic (PV) power systems because they maximize the power output from a PV system for a given set of conditions, and therefore maximize the array efficiency. Thus, an MPPT can minimize the overall system cost. MPPTs find and maintain operation at the maximum power point, using an MPPT algorithm. Many such algorithms have been proposed. However, one particular algorithm, the perturb‐and‐observe (P&O) method, claimed by many in the literature to be inferior to others, continues to be by far the most widely used method in commercial PV MPPTs. Part of the reason for this is that the published comparisons between methods do not include an experimental comparison between multiple algorithms with all algorithms optimized and a standardized MPPT hardware. This paper provides such a comparison. MPPT algorithm performance is quantified through the MPPT efficiency. In this work, results are obtained for three optimized algorithms, using a microprocessor‐controlled MPPT operating from a PV array and also a PV array simulator. It is found that the P&O method, when properly optimized, can have MPPT efficiencies well in excess of 97%, and is highly competitive against other MPPT algorithms. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于模糊理论的光伏发电最大功率点跟踪控制策略研究

介绍了光伏电池的特性,最大功率点跟踪原理和Boost变换电路,提出了一种基于模糊逻辑控制的最大功率点控制策略,即将光伏电池和Boost电路作为一个整体,通过检测负载功率的变化,来调整控制开关占空比,简化了系统。仿真结果表明,当外部环境发生变化的时候,系统能够迅速跟踪此变化,使系统始终工作在最大功率点附近,并具有较好的稳定性。