Study of maximum power point tracking algorithms for efficiency growth of photovoltaic cells

Abstract

Subject of Research.The paper considers simulation model of the electro generating installation based on photovoltaic converters. It is known that photovoltaic cells have rather low conversion efficiency of energy therefore performance improving of the designed energy system can be partially reached by means of controlled intermediate converters. The main goal of this paper is model implementation of a solar power system and also comparative analysis of the different maximum power point tracking algorithms which are used to control energy system with the purpose to increase power efficiency of all system. Method. All algorithms considered in the paper are based on the search for an extremum on the volt-power characteristic of a photovoltaic converter. Implementation of the most popular methods of maximum power point tracking is considered: "Perturbation and observation" and "Increasing conductivity". An algorithm based on the theory of fuzzy logic is proposed for application aimed at the growth of photovoltaic cells efficiency as an alternative method for traditional algorithms. Main Results. The model of solar panel control system is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. Three methods for maximum power point tracking within this photovoltaic system are considered and implemented. Comparative analysis of operation of different control algorithms is carried out for different levels of solar radiation intensity. Practical Relevance. The algorithms can be implemented in real power systems for improvement of their overall performance.