A hybrid global maximum power point tracking of partially shaded PV system under load variation by using adaptive salp swarm and differential evolution – perturb & observe technique

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, a new global maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is proposed with the integration of salp swarm algorithm (SSA), differential evolution (DE), and perturb and observe (P&O) algorithms. In the proposed method, algorithm control parameters are tuned adaptively to avoid the unnecessary power oscillations even after reaching global peak (GP) region by SSA due to the dependence of algorithm control parameter on iteration count maximum. In order to identify the GP region accurately with few search agents, SSA is integrated with modified DE. Further in the GP region identified, tracking is shifted to variable step P&O which results in more accurate tracking of maximum power point (MPP) with reduced power oscillations in the steady-state tracking. In order to get the rapid tracking of MPP during load changes direct duty ratio calculation is adapted without reinitializing the GP region identification stage. The robustness of the proposed method is tested with complex shading conditions and load variations. The main features of the proposed algorithm: fast, accurate, and low power oscillations during tracking are tested with MATLAB/Simulink model and by using hardware prototype developed.