Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking System Research Articles

Dynamic Boost Based DMPPT Emulator

The Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT) approach is a promising solution to improve the energetic performance of mismatched PhotoVoltaic (PV) systems. However, there are still several factors that can reduce DMPPT energy efficiency, including atmospheric conditions, the efficiency of the power stage, constraints imposed by the topology, the finite rating of silicon devices, and the nonoptimal value of string voltage. In order to fully explore the advantages offered by the above solution, the implementation of a Boost based DMPPT emulator is of primary concern, especially if it behaves as a controlled voltage or current source. The repeatability of experimental tests, the tighter control of climatic conditions, the closing of the gap between the physical dimensions of a PV array and the space available in a university lab, the simplicity with which new algorithms can be tested, and the low maintenance costs are just some of the benefits offered by an emulator. This paper describes the realization and use of a Boost based Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT) emulator and shows its high flexibility and potential. The device is able to emulate the output current vs. voltage (I-V) characteristics of many commercial PhotoVoltaic (PV) modules with a dedicated Boost DC/DC converter. The flexibility is guaranteed by the ability to reproduce both I = f ( V ) and V = g ( I ) characteristics at different values of not only the irradiance levels but also the maximum allowed voltage across the switching devices. The system design is based on a commercial power supply controlled by a low-cost Arduino board by Arduino (Strambino, Torino, Italy). Data acquisition is performed through a low-cost current and voltage sensor by using a multichannel board by National Instruments. Experimental results confirm the capability of the proposed device to accurately emulate the output I-V characteristic of Boost based DMPPT systems obtained by varying the atmospheric conditions, the rating of silicon devices, and the electrical topology.

Analysis and Optimization of Flexible MCPT Strategy in Submodule PV Application

Distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) can effectively increase the power generation ability of photovoltaic (PV) systems in mismatch conditions. To further recover mismatch power loss inside PV panels, submodule realization is developed as an improved penetration of DMPPT concept. This paper proposes an optimized submodule level DMPPT system with a flexible time-sharing maximum current point tracking algorithm which detects the output current of series-connected dc-dc converters. Comparing with current PV optimizer and other submodule DMPPT solutions, the proposal can always guarantee that each PV submodule outputs individual true maximum power regardless of irradiance cases while eliminating the need for several MPPT units and current sensors in the system. Enormous potential of single control IC can be fully developed with fewer components (voltage sensors, current sensors, and relevant AD/DA units) for further integration in PV application.

Review of grid‐tied converter topologies used in photovoltaic systems

This study provides review of grid-tied architectures used in photovoltaic power systems, classified by the granularity level at which maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is applied. Grid-tied PV power systems can be divided into two main groups, namely centralized MPPT (CMPPT) and distributed MPPT (DMPPT). The DMPPT systems are further classified according to the levels at which MPPT can be applied, i.e. string, module, submodule, and cell level. Typical topologies for each category are also introduced, explained and analyzed. The classification is intended to help readers understand the latest developments of grid-tied PV power systems and inform research directions.

Photovoltaic optimizer boost converters: Temperature influence and electro-thermal design

ObjectivePhotovoltaic (PV) systems can operate in presence of not uniform working conditions caused by continuously changing temperature and irradiance values and mismatching and shadowing phenomena. The more the PV system works in these conditions, the more its energy performances are negatively affected. Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT) converters are now increasingly used to overcome this problem and to improve PV applications efficiency. A DMPPT system consists in a DC–DC converters equipped with a suitable controller dedicated to the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) of a single PV module. It is arranged either inside the junction-box or in a separate box close to the PV generator. Many power optimizers are now commercially available. In spite of different adopted DC–DC converter topologies, the shared interests of DMPPT systems designers are the high efficiency and reliability values. It is worth noting that to obtain so high performances converters, electronic components have to be carefully selected between the whole commercial availability and appropriately matched together. In this scenario, an electro-thermal design methodology is proposed and a reliability study by means of the Military Handbook 217F is carried out. MethodThe developed DMPPT converters design method is constituted by many steps. In fact, beginning from installation site, PV generators and load data, this process selects power optimizers commercially available devices and it verifies their electro-thermal behavior to the aim to identify a set of suitable components for DMPPT applications. Repeating this process many times, many different feasible solutions can be found. An elaboration step follows to the “optima” power optimizer recognition among the whole obtained converters. In this case, a multi-objective optimization, consisting in the maximization of the solutions European efficiency and in the minimization of their cost, is executed and all not dominated solutions with respect to at least one of the two objectives are selected. The strength of the described method is represented by accurate PV generators and optimizer devices models. In detail, in the developed models particular attention is reserved to the thermal factor and to the quantification of the temperature action on devices parameters and performances. In fact, in such multiple and continuous changing working conditions, the temperature influence on components behavior can considerably vary their properties causing the whole converter performances worsening. The other important aspect, the converter reliability, is estimated by the reliability prediction model Military Handbook 217F. ResultsThe proposed tool is applied to Diode Rectification (DR) boosts and Synchronous (SR) boosts design. To completely characterize the obtained solutions their efficiency, cost and reliability performances are evaluated. In detail, Pareto fronts in terms of European efficiency and cost are identified for the SR and DR cases. Among the whole not dominated solutions, a SR converter characterized by a European efficiency of 97.1% and a DR boost characterized by a European efficiency of 95.5% are chosen. Their cost is comparable and equal about to $11. Then their reliability performances are evaluated by means of the Military Handbook 217F Notice 2. The carried out analysis shows that, for the same device cost, the SR solution represents the best one if efficiency is the most critical aspect. DR boost is, instead, the optimum solution if reliability represents the tighter requirement. ConclusionThe proposed DMPPT converters methodology permits to design families of feasible power optimizers. This process is applied to two boost versions, so two sets of power optimizers are obtained and a trade-off solution is chosen for each set. To correctly select the more suitable optimizer, a characterization in terms of efficiency, cost and reliability is carried out. In detail, the SR optimizer is characterized by lower losses and higher efficiency than the DR one. On the other hand, the DR boost results more reliable than the SR converter. So the optimum solution has to be chosen on the base of the most critical requirement. Practical implicationThe developed method can represent a useful tool to design DMPPT optimizers able to assure high level performances in terms of economical and technical aspects. It can be applied to many commercially available PV generators and, without loss of generality, it can be used with different DC–DC converter topologies.

Distributed maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic arrays: Novel approach and system analysis

One of the major drawbacks of photovoltaic (PV) systems is represented by the effect of module mismatching and of partial shading of the PV field. Distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) is a very promising technique that allows the increase of efficiency and reliability of such systems. Modeling and designing a PV system with DMPPT is remarkably more complex than implementing a standard MPPT technique. In this paper, a DMPPT system for PV arrays is proposed and analyzed. A dc and small-signal ac model is derived to analyze steady-state behavior, as well as dynamics and stability, of the whole system. Finally, simulation results are reported and discussed.