Robust reconfiguration strategies for maximum output power from large-scale photovoltaic arrays under partial shading conditions

Abstract

Extraction of maximum power from large scale solar photovoltaic power systems is the most challenging and demanding research in the current scenario. Solar photovoltaic panels are highly susceptible to a phenomenon known as partial shading. Partial shading increases mismatch losses and reduces the output of the solar photovoltaic system The output reduction in the partially shaded array is proportional to the shaded area, shaded panel’s placement within the array, panel connections, shade geometry, etc. There are several approaches for reducing Partial shading effects in the literature. The most efficient approach to mitigating the mismatch losses due to Partial shading in large-scale solar photovoltaic systems is the reconfiguration technique, which distributes shaded panels more evenly and increases the maximum power output. The current work utilizes a set of reconfiguration rules for selecting the location of shaded panels within an array that allows for multiple reconfiguration options. The results show that the proposed reconfiguration has obtained an improved Performance enhancement ratio of 25% in one shading pattern i.e. short wide shading, Performance enhancement ratio of 6.4% in short narrow and centre shading and Performance enhancement ratio of 5.9% in long narrow shading. The proposed reconfiguration was found to be the most suitable, simple, and cost-effective solution for large size of solar photovoltaic system under all shading conditions.