Experimental Modeling of a New Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Fuzzy Controller Based Maximum Power Point Tracking from a Photovoltaic System

Abstract

Conventional control methods, which follow the maximum power point (MPP), suffer from being slow or inaccurate during sudden changes in irradiance and temperature. These problems can be solved using artificial intelligence algorithms. The current study proposes a new multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for maximizing the overall output performance of a photovoltaic system. The MDOF-FLC was compared to the simplified universal intelligent PID controller (SUI-PID) using the MDOF concept and the normal FLC. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed MDOF-FLC controller has a 37.8% and 58.1% faster response with a better rise time compared to the SUIPID controller and the normal FLC, respectively. At the same time, the error, measured by the integral time absolute error (ITAE), was 29.4% and 62.5% lower, respectively.