Comparative study of maximum power point tracking control for PV arrays system integration process

Abstract

Given the stochastic nature of solar energy, integrating PV arrays with energy storage systems (ESSs) is crucial for a consistent power supply. Effective maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is of great importance in this context. The significance lies not just in achieving high energy efficiency but also in ensuring overall system safety and reliability, as rapid and stable power tracking control alleviates power stress on ESSs. Challenging factors like parameter uncertainty from the PV array linearization process, dynamic DC bus variations induced by pulsed power loads, and sudden irradiance variation under cloudy weather, make the maximum output power of PV arrays largely dependent on the effectiveness of the control laws. Therefore, this paper presents a comparative study for MPPT control using PV-interfaced DC/DC converters. The aim is to demonstrate the advantages of employing average large-signal model-based sliding mode-type controllers in PV system integration with health-conscious objectives. A comprehensive system-level control-oriented modeling process is presented, followed by the theoretical background of three types of controllers (classical proportional–integral (PI)-type controller, μ-synthesis-based robust controller, and sliding mode controller) for practical applications. Extensive tests with real experimental data reveal sliding mode-type controllers’ superiority in various integration scenarios. For example, with random solar irradiance variation over 0.5 s, they achieve a 54.75% reduction in energy loss, outperforming the commonly used PI-type counterparts.