Improved teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm-based maximum power point trackers for photovoltaic system

Abstract

This paper presents an improved teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm (ITLBO) for designing and implementing the maximum power point trackers (MPPT) incorporated with a photovoltaic (PV) module to extract the maximum power from the PV generating unit. The proposed algorithm is based on a population-based optimization algorithm to design a practical circuit of MPPT controller based on Arduino microcontroller. A modification in the teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm is considered where the best learner is considered as a teacher in the learner phase. The ITLBO-MPPT is physically implemented with Arduino Uno microcontroller which is presented as an open source. An experimental circuit comprising a PV module, a converter controlled via Arduino which is programmed by the proposed algorithm, ITLBO, is implemented, and the results are tabulated via three days of different operating conditions. A significant improvement in the global maximum power point is obtained via the proposed approach compared with that obtained via PSO and TLBO.