A Modified Hybrid Maximum Power Point Tracking Method for Photovoltaic Arrays Under Partially Shading Condition

Wei Zhang,Guopeng Zhou,Hao Ni,Yunlian Sun

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2950375

Abstract

To ensure the photovoltaic (PV) arrays under partial shading condition(PSC) could still output maximum power quickly and efficiently, this work presents a modified hybrid maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method, which applies artificial neural network (ANN) to the modified perturb and observe (MP&O). Instead of using expensive illumination intensity sensors directly, the illumination intensity on each module in the PV array can be obtained indirectly by sampling the specific points of their own cheaper voltage-current sensors. ANN uses indirect illumination intensity to predict the optimal voltage areas of the global maximum power point (GMPP). Based on the areas, MP&O adopts a adaptive step size strategy to obtain GMPP. By modeling and simulation in Matlab/Simulink, it is shown that the tracking time and efficiency of the proposed method in this work can reach 0.026s and 99.87% respectively. Compared with other methods, the method has faster speed, higher efficiency, smaller fluctuation and lower complexity.

Highlights

In the current background of global energy shortages, as an inexhaustible source of clean energy, solar energy has been widely concerned [1]–[3]
It can be concluded that different illumination intensity patterns correspond to different current-voltage(I-V) characteristic curves of the PV array, while both the global maximum power point (GMPP) of the characteristic curves and the number of the knee-point vary from pattern to pattern
A modified proposed hybrid maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for PV arrays under PSC are proposed for reducing the tracking range based on study of characteristics of PV arrays

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In the current background of global energy shortages, as an inexhaustible source of clean energy, solar energy has been widely concerned [1]–[3]. The progress of finding the optimal voltage is regarded as maximum power point tracking(MPPT) [4]–[6]. Power point (GMPP) under partial shading condition(PSC) and leading to a mass of power losses [9]–[12]. To overcome these shortcoming, intelligent methods including Genetic Algorithm(GA), Fuzzy Control(FC), Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO), Artificial Neural Network(ANN), etc., are put forward. W. Zhang et al.: Modified Hybrid MPPT Method for PV Arrays Under Partially Shading Condition. This work presents a modified hybrid MPPT method that combines ANN with MP&O for PV arrays under PSC.

STRUCTURE AND MODELING OF PV ARRAY

ANN SECTION

SIMULATION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

COMPARISON STUDY OF THE PROPOSED METHOD

Findings

CONCLUSION