Improving the Performance of MPPT Coupled Inductor SEPIC Converter using Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA) Under Partial Shading Condition

Abstract

Renewable energy growing fast, causing solar PV to be widely used in everyday life. The power generated by solar PV is strongly influenced by environmental and weather conditions. The problem becomes important to be resolved, so that solar panels require controls that can keep the power is in maximum condition such as Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control. This control able to maximize the output power from solar PV in normal condition. Unfortunately, there are problems that arise for MPPT control when solar PV are shaded by objects. Under normal conditions without shadows, solar PV have only one peak power that is Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP). However, with the shadow on the surface of the solar PV it will cause the emergence of several peak power on the solar PV that is called GMPP and Local Maximum Power Point (LMPP). This causes the conventional MPPT controler can be fail to determine the GMPP and will be trapped at LMPP. Therefore, this research will proposed (FPA) Flower Pollination Algorithm method as MPPT control under partial shading condition. The FPA method is chosen to solve partial shading problems in solar PV, so it can reach GMPP without being trapped in LMPP. The FPA method will be implemented through hardware using Coupled Inductor SEPIC converter. Based on the experimental results, the performance of MPPT using FPA method is superior when compared with P&O method. The FPA can improve 40% power with 2,2 second tracking under partial shading condition.