A Water Cycle Approach for Maximum Power Point Tracking through an Interleaved Boost Converter

Abstract

In this work, an Interleaved Boost Converter (IBC) is developed for Sun Powered E-vehicles (SPEVs) to reduce input/output filters, improve dynamic characteristics, and minimize device stress compared to conventional designs. The IBC achieves these goals by utilizing current control loops and lowering the size of passive components, resulting in excellent efficiency and reduced input/output voltage variation. To ensure an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and support vehicle movement under erratic conditions, an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller is essential in the PV battery system. However, under non-ideal conditions such as shading, irradiance, temperature, and inclination angle variations, PV systems may experience multiple power peaks, making it challenging to identify the global peak. To address this issue, a unique Water Cycle Optimized Perturb and Observe (WCO-PO) method is proposed in this work. The proposed technique demonstrates shorter computation time, rapid convergence rate, and minimal variations after reaching the MPP (Maximum PowerPoint) in various weather scenarios, as demonstrated using MATLAB/Simulink software. The test results are presented with a comparison of the proposed approach against other methods, showcasing the advantages of the Water Cycle approach in MPPT through an Interleaved Boost Converter.