Switching Matrix Enabled Optimal Topology Reconfiguration for Maximizing Power Generation in Series–Parallel Organized Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

Mismatch losses (ML) problem can directly reduce the power generation of a photovoltaic (PV) array as well as complicate maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms by causing multiple peaks to appear in the P-V characteristic. Hence, PV array reconfiguration techniques have become highly popular to minimize the ML of PV arrays. In this article, an optimal dynamic topology reconfiguration method based on a switching matrix is presented for series–parallel (SP) interconnected PV array to mitigate the ML, thereby maximizing the power generation of the PV array. The design of the switching matrix is presented that enables each string of the PV array to be divided into two sections to carry out the efficient dynamic topology reconfiguration with improved flexibility and scalability. The proposed reconfiguration method is assessed and compared with the SP scheme and the recently developed cross diagonal view method. The effectiveness of the proposed solution for the TCT scheme is also confirmed through simulation experiments. The numerical results indicate that the multiple peaks on P-V curves can be reduced and MPPT can be implemented with a simple control algorithm. Additionally, the maximum power generation improved by 20.13% and 14.39% on average compared to the SP scheme and TCT scheme, respectively, for different mismatch conditions of partial shading and random PV module failures.