Optimized Voltage Search Algorithm for Fast Global Maximum Power Point Tracking in Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

This paper introduces an improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm, the optimized voltage search algorithm (OVS). The OVS is used to search for the global maximum power point (GMPP) under partial shading conditions (PSCs) for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The proposed algorithm aims to optimize the search areas of the power–voltage curve and can be implemented by determining different search areas during the GMPP tracking. After determining these search areas, the proposed algorithm optimally searches these areas with multiple forward and optional backward processes as required. These multiple forward processes can skip more unnecessary voltage intervals than other MPPT methods, thereby reducing voltage search intervals and GMPP tracking time. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated against seven other MPPT algorithms: the search-skip-judge, section-dividing point (SDP), skipping adaptive perturbation and observation, modified maximum power trapezium (M-MPT), high-performance, voltage track optimizer, and plain hybrid M-MPT and SDP algorithms. These MPPT algorithms were validated on the basis of simulation and experimental results, which demonstrated that the proposed algorithm exhibited a shorter tracking time, fewer computational iterations, shorter voltage scanning intervals, and longer voltage skipping intervals than those of the other algorithms under PSCs.