Real time partial shading detection and global maximum power point tracking applied to outdoor PV panel boost converter

Abstract

PV panels power conversion are strongly depending on chopper structure and maximum power point tracker algorithm, such as perturb and observe or increment conductance. In certain operating conditions these algorithms become inaccurate. The aim of this paper is the PV panel operation under partial shading. Until now it is solved by intelligent techniques (ANN, Fuzzy logic …) where the result cannot be explained and inaccurate under desert climate. It is proposed a new global maximum power point tracking based on detection and analyzing partial shading phenomena affecting PV panels characteristics behavior. The proposed DA-GMPPT permits a partial shading detection, once it appears and the location of the other maximum power points. Using this proposal the whole PV power system works at its optimal power point for any type of partial shading, even under aging effect.