Optimal Maximum Power Point Tracking Research Articles

Optimizing Photovoltaic Systems: A Decision Matrix Approach for Selecting the Optimal Maximum Power Point Tracking Technique

Numerous strategies exist for improving maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques, which vary in terms of tracking speed, accuracy, sensor usage, complexity, and cost. Due to the importance of sustainable energy use and related challenges, it is essential to choose an appropriate algorithm that can reliably provide energy without exhausting resources. While much research has examined the benefits and drawbacks of different MPPT algorithms, guidance on selecting the best suited algorithm for a particular solar system application is lacking. For a fair and thorough comparison, this study analyzes four MPPT algorithms, including two artificial intelligence-based techniques, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, and a conventional technique. A decision matrix model and requirement analysis are used to determine their suitability for a standalone PV application, using particularly ranked evaluation criteria, which include tracking efficiency, implementation costs, rise time, settling time, tracking error and variance. Simulation results show that the perturb and observe technique has the fastest settling and rise times and high tracking efficiency for varying irradiance and temperature levels, with little implementation effort required for a stand-alone photovoltaic application.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF P&O AND PSO MPPT ALGORITHMS FOR PV SYSTEMS UNDER PARTIAL SHADING

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are devices that transform photon energy into electrical energy. The output power of the PV modules is influenced by the intensity of solar radiation and the ambient temperature. Non-uniform shading can cause variations in the extent of sunlight absorbed by PV modules, resulting in a decrease in power output. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are employed to optimize the power output of PV modules by operating them at their maximum power point (MPP). The main objective of the study is to investigate the performance analysis of Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) MPPT strategies in uniform and partially shaded conditions with equally and unequally different irradiance differences. Simulation studies were conducted on the PV circuit model using Matlab/Simulink, and the results were evaluated. MPPT algorithms are compared based on their tracking efficiency and convergence speed when solar radiation conditions vary. The findings of the simulation indicate that the P&O is unable to determine global MPP and gets trapped in one of the local MPPs. However, the PSO is very effective in tracking MPP under different partial shading patterns with more than 96% tracking efficiency. In the first partial shading configuration where the sunlight intensity of the PV modules is uniformly distributed, the PSO technique has reduced steady-state oscillations around the MPP. However, the P&O technique demonstrates superior response time and convergence speed in comparison to the PSO technique.

Design of MPPT for Buck-boost Converter based on GA to Optimize Solar Power Generation

Maximizing power in the Solar Power Plant system was something that needs attention. Indonesia was a tropical country that has two seasons, where the changing weather or cloud movements are always erratic, especially in the southern region of Java Island. To overcome this problem, an inverter equipped with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is used. Currently the switching system in MPPT is still not optimal with a system efficiency of around 90%. In this study, the installation of MPPT was carried out which aims to maximize power in the solar photovoltaic (PV) system due to fluctuations or instability of sunlight at PT. Jatinom Indah Agri, Blitar City. The maximum power generated by solar photovoltaic could be achieved by using the combination of DC - DC converter and artificial intelligence. In this research, modeling of the solar PV system was made using MATLAB software, where the design of the solar PV system consists of a PV module with capacity 240W, DC to DC converter, battery and MPPT. The MPPT based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been tested and compared with MPPT based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and conventional MPPT, where MPPT based on GA works well in finding the maximum power point in the solar photovoltaic system. it was found that MPPT GA produces a maximum power point close to PV power with an efficiency of 92%, while MPPT PSO has an efficiency of 85% and for conventional MPPT it was 79%. In selecting the method for designing MPPT, a method is needed that has a wide range of sample data. This is due to the fluctuating characteristics of the irradiation value received by solar PV.

New Hybrid MPPT Technique Including Artificial Intelligence and Traditional Techniques for Extracting the Global Maximum Power from Partially Shaded PV Systems

This research aimed to increase the power captured from photovoltaic (PV) systems by continuously adjusting the PV systems to work at the maximum power point under climate changes such as solar irradiance change and temperature change and by tracking the global maximum power under partial shading conditions (PSCs). Under the effect of partial shading (PS), the PV curve has many local maximum peaks (LMPs) and one global maximum peak (GMP) which is dynamic because it changes with time when the shading pattern (SP) changes. The traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are unable to track the Dynamic GMP and may fall into one of the LMPs. Many modern MPPT methods have been introduced that can track the Dynamic GMP, but their effectiveness can be improved. In this respect, this work introduces a new optimal MPPT technique to enhance the performance of the maximum power point tracking of solar cells under environmental changes and partial shading conditions. The proposed technique combines three well-known and important MPPT techniques, which are the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Variable Step Perturb and Observe (VSP&O), and Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC). Artificial Neural Network gives a voltage near the optimum voltage, Variable Step Perturb and Observe updates the voltage to get close to the optimum voltage, and Fuzzy Logic Controller updates the step size of the (P&O) technique. The proposed hybrid ANN-VSP&O-FLC technique showed its ability to track the Dynamic GMP accurately and quickly under the variation in the shading patterns with time and its ability to follow maximum power efficiently and quickly under climate changes. The proposed hybrid ANN-VSP&O-FLC technique also showed very low distortions in waveforms and very low oscillations around the steady state. The proposed hybrid ANN-VSP&O-FLC technique was compared to the most recent and effective MPPT techniques in terms of steady-state behavior, tracking speed, tracking efficiency, and distortions in waveforms, and the comparison showed that it is superior to them, with lower distortions in waveforms, a faster tracking speed (less than 0.1 s), higher tracking efficiency (greater than 99.65%), and lower oscillations around the steady state (less than 2 Watts).

Design and performance analysis of hybrid optimization MPPT controller for proton exchange membrane fuel cell system with DC-DC converter

At present days, the hybrid Electric Vehicle (EV) utilizing the fuel stack power generation network. Most of the fuel cell output characteristics are nonlinear fashion. Also, its operating point fluctuates based on the input temperature of the fuel stack. So, the receiving of peak voltage from the fuel source is less. To enhance the voltage delivering capability of the fuel stack, an adaptive Cuckoo Search Controller (CSC) based fuzzy logic method is included in the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) block. The proposed controller is compared with the other basic hybrid controllers which are Perturb & Observe based Artificial Neural Network (P&O with ANN) controller, plus Hill Climb dependent ANN controller (HC with ANN). The major features of proposed power point finding controller are few steady state distortions, few voltage ripples, high tracking convergence speed, plus less iterations required for catching the MPP position. The fuel stack generation voltage is less. In order to increase the voltage of the proposed network, the boost converter is applied. The entire system is studied by the use of MATLAB/Simulink software.

Arithmetic optimization algorithm based maximum power point tracking for grid-connected photovoltaic system

This paper suggests an optimal maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control scheme for a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system using the arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA). The parameters of the proportional-integral (PI) controller-based incremental conductance (IC) MPPT are optimally selected using AOA. To accomplish this study, a 100-kW benchmark PV system connected to a medium distribution utility is constructed and analyzed employing MATLAB/SIMULINK. The optimization framework seeks to minimize four standard benchmark performance indices, then select the best of the best among them. To verify the efficacy of the recommended methodology, a comprehensive comparison is conducted between AOA-based PI-IC-MPPT, modified incremental conductance MPPT (MIC), grey wolf optimization (GWO), genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based MPPT. The proposed control approach has achieved a reduction of 61, 3, 4.5, and 26.9% in the rise time and a decrease of 94, 84.7, 86.6, and 79.3% in the settling time compared with MIC, GWO, GA, and PSO in extracting MPPT of the proposed system, respectively.

Optimal maximum power point tracking of wind turbine doubly fed induction generator based on driving training algorithm

The operation of wind power system at optimum power point is a big challenge particularly under uncertainty of wind speed. As a result, it is necessary to install an effective maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller for extracting the available maximal power from wind energy conversion system (WECS). Therefore, this paper aims to obtain the optimal values of injected rotor phase voltage for doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to ensure the extraction of peak power from wind turbine under different wind speeds as well as to get the optimal performance of DFIG. A new metaheuristic optimization approach; Driving Training Algorithm (DTA) is used to crop the optimal DFIG rotor voltages. Three different scenarios are presented to have MPPT, the first one is the MPPT with unity stator power factor, the second one is the MPPT with minimum DFIG losses, and the third scenario is MPPT with minimum rotor current to reduce the rating of rotor inverter. The MATLAB environment is used to simulate and study the proposed controller with 2.4 MW wind turbine. The optimum power curve of wind turbine has been estimated to get the reference values of DFIG mechanical power. The results ensured the significance and robust of the proposed controller to have MPPT under different wind speeds. The DTA results are compared with other two well-known optimization algorithms; water cycle algorithm (WCA) and particle swarm optimizer (PSO) to verify the accuracy of results.

Design of high voltage gain converter for fuel cell based EV application with hybrid optimization MPPT controller

From the previously available articles, the fuel cell dependent power supply systems are increasing every year. Also, these systems are playing a major focus on the microgrid renewable energy networks. However, the fuel cell gives less output power extraction at different operating temperature values. In addition, the working point of the fuel cell vary with respect to the hydrogen supply, and water membrane content. In order to achieve the high output power of the fuel stack, a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is used to track the peak power point of the proposed system. In this article, Artificial Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) controller is utilized in order to generate the smooth output voltage waveform of the fuel cell stack. The optimization of ANFIS controller have been done by using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The advantages of ANFIS based MPPT controller are high output power extraction, and less distortions of converter voltages. Here, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) device is used as a source. The features of PEMFC are fast start-up, and high efficient. The PEMFC generates less voltage which is enhanced by using the interleaved non-isolated boost converter. The proposed fuel cell based interleaved system is analyzed by using the MATLAB/Simulink software.

Optimizing Step-Size of Perturb & Observe and Incremental Conductance MPPT Techniques Using PSO for Grid-Tied PV System

A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique plays an important role to ensure maximum photovoltaic (PV) output power is extracted under stochastic weather conditions. The research to date tends to focus on developing a standalone optimization MPPT algorithm rather than looking into a hybrid MPPT algorithm. This paper introduces particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the maximum PV output power and to determine the best design variable for penalising the step size of the conventional methods namely the perturb and observe (PO) and the incremental conductance (IC). With the help of the hybrid MPPT algorithm (PSO+IC and PSO+PO), the step size is no longer fixed, and it is changing according to the solar irradiance. To evaluate the proposed hybrid algorithm, a single-stage grid connected PV system is designed for several different scenarios with various weather conditions. The performance of the hybrid MPPT algorithm and the conventional methods is compared. The results demonstrate that the hybrid MPPT algorithm is remarkably better than the conventional methods in terms of the output power ripple and the settling time.

A comparative study between deterministic and two meta-heuristic algorithms for solar PV MPPT control under partial shading conditions

• Under partial shading conditions, adequate tuning of firefly and particle swarm optimization maximum power point tracking algorithms converge to the global maximum power point irrespectively of the starting voltage value. • Under partial shading conditions, there is no guarantee that perturb and observe algorithm will converge to the global maximum power point even for different starting voltage values. • The sensitivities of the parameters of firefly algorithm in improving the performance of the algorithm are investigated to find the best possible control parameters. • Firefly algorithm based maximum power point tracking performed slightly well than particle swarm optimization based maximum power point tracking for most irradiance patterns investigated in this paper. During partial shading conditions (PSC), the PV modules in a solar PV array become reverse biased and act as a load, resulting in hotspot issues. This can significantly decrease the efficiency of the solar PV. The general way to deal with PSC is to connect bypass diodes across the non-shaded PV module. However, this will alter the uniform characteristics of the PV array, resulting in multiple power peaks i.e., a multi modal landscape. The conventional gradient-based Perturb and Observe (PnO) algorithm generally used for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in solar PV is ineffective in finding the maximum power during PSC because it is prone to converge to local optimum due to its nature of searching in a multimodal landscape. However, in this article an attempt is made to show how the PnO behaves in a multimodal landscape considering different starting points. Robust stochastic algorithms that are based on a population of search agents are used to guarantee convergence to the global MPP. In this paper, the maximum power point under PSC was tracked using two meta-heuristic algorithms namely, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the firefly algorithm (FA). The performances of these algorithms in tracking the maximum power point are evaluated. The efficiency, standard deviation (STD), and root mean square error (RMSE) of the PSO and FA algorithms are compared to those of the PnO algorithm. The PSO was found to have the lowest RMSE, and the FA had the lowest STD. The efficiency of the PSO and FA were relatively the same. Simulation results show that PSO and FA-based MPPT algorithms can efficiently track the global maximum power point (GMPP) irrespectively of the starting points. On the other hand, PnO is shown to be unreliable under PSC even with different starting points.

MPPT Control Algorithm Based on Particle Swarm Optimization and Adaptive Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control

Aiming at the problem of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of photovoltaic arrays in photovoltaic power generation systems, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) MPPT method combined with adaptive linear active disturbance rejection control (A-LADRC) algorithm was proposed and designed. In this method, PSO is used to track the maximum power point (MPP), and then the A-LADRC controller was used to track the reference voltage. The controller enhances the anti-interference ability against various external disturbances in the MPPT process and accelerates the response speed of the system. Compared with the perturbation observation method (P&O), traditional PSO and LADRC, the proposed method has good tracking performance and an anti-interference ability under various external disturbances.

Power enhancement using improved maximum power point tracking for solar photovoltaic systems under partial shading

Abstract One of the key reasons contributing to a reduction in the performance of a solar photovoltaic (SPV) system is the presence of partial shade on the solar panels. It is necessary to use maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in SPV systems to get around the non-linear behaviour of photovoltaic panels. This research analyses the reduction in power output of SPV systems caused by partial shading. In the latter part of the paper, the improved dynamic behaviour-based ant colony optimization MPPT approach under the effect of module-level partial shading is implemented in MATLAB®/Simulink®. Various partial shading levels were applied to SPV modules to evaluate the system performance. The proposed system follows the maximum power point with 99.9% accuracy and a response time of 2 ms. The addition of a weight coefficient accelerates the convergence of the algorithm.

Comparative Study Of P&O and PSO Particle Swarm Optimization MPPT Controllers Under Partial Shading

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a vital and essential requirement for photovoltaic (PV) systems under normal irradiance and partial shading conditions (PSCs). Although, perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm does not map the global maximum power point (GMPP), whereas the algorithm for particle swarm optimization (PSO) tracks it efficiently. This paper explores the rapid determination of GMPP under PSCs using a proposed particle swarm optimization MPPT technique which operates in conjunction with a boost converter. To achieve this analysis, MATLAB/SIMIULINK is used. The results of the simulation illustrate the high tracking performance of the proposed technique under various irradiance patterns.

Optimized servo-speed control of wind turbine coupled to doubly fed induction generator

<p>Optimal control of any variable speed wind turbine needs maximum power point tracking (MPPT) coupled to doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) for better power generation. This paper offers a novel direct power servo-speed control of wind turbine. This latter is based on DFIG optimal hysteresis MPPT inverter current control combined with space voltage modulation (SVM) inverter voltage technique, thus providing a stable and continuous energy flow to power grid. In this design, the asynchronous machine stator is directly connected to the grid. Bidirectional power converter, acting as frequency converter, is rotor circuit located. Rectifier supplies rotor windings with voltages and reference frequency resulting from control procedure of the power exchange between the stator and grid. Inverter is directly controlled by means of SVM technique to maintain direct current (DC) bus voltage constant. Simulation results show that the proposed configuration improves power converters efficiency due that rotor circuit needs less power than stator circuit which is injected into the grid.</p>

Hierarchical Pigeon-Inspired Optimization-Based MPPT Method for Photovoltaic Systems Under Complex Partial Shading Conditions

This article proposes a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method based on the variant of the pigeon-inspired optimization (PIO) algorithm for photovoltaic systems under partial shading conditions (PSCs). The proposed method integrates the hierarchical network behavior of pigeon flock and revises the map and compass operator of the original PIO algorithm to improve optimization efficiency. In addition, the landmark operator is used to perform a small-scale search to achieve fast tracking. Based on the combination of these mechanisms and dual-mode dynamic tracking scheme, the proposed hierarchical pigeon-inspired optimization (HPIO) MPPT method has a powerful search ability to deal with PSCs. To verify the superiority of the proposed HPIO MPPT method, it is compared with other existing advanced MPPT methods in simulation and experiments. Compared with traditional MPPT techniques based on artificial intelligence, the proposed HPIO MPPT method has a higher success rate in tracking GMPP and excellent tracking speed under PSCs. And the HPIO method also shows excellent performance under complex PSC with multiple clusters and load-variation conditions.

Application of Effective Wind Speed Estimation and New Sliding Mode Observer in Wind Energy Conversion System

The wind speed information measured by the wind speed sensor in the wind turbine generator may differ from sufficient wind speed. Therefore, this paper proposes a new effective wind speed calculation method and applies it to the optimal maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of wind energy. After estimating the turbine torque and its rotor speed, the process reverses the turbine’s aerodynamic model. The extended state observer (ESO) based on sliding mode control is used to estimate the aerodynamic torque, which solves complex and challenging tuning of the traditional ESO parameters, and replaces the conventional PI controller, thereby improving the anti-interference and robustness of the system. The sliding mode observer (SMO) is used to estimate the rotor speed. While satisfying the conditions of Lyapunov’s inequality, the design of the SMO is discussed in detail. The wind speed estimation method proposed for evaluating permanent magnet semidirect drive wind turbine and its application performance in maximum power tracking. The simulation was carried out in MATLAB/Simulink; the simulation confirmed that the estimated wind speed under different wind conditions is accurate. Compared with the traditional PI control, the utilization rate of wind energy is increased by 2%, which can be used for the MPPT control of the wind energy conversion system.

Artificial Intelligence of Things-Based Optimal Finite-Time Terminal Attractor and Its Application to Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Arrays in Smart Cities

The combination of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) and photovoltaic power generation can save energy and reduce carbon emissions and further promote the development of smart cities. In order to obtain the maximum power output from photovoltaic (PV) arrays, we can use optimal maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique with AIoT sensing to improve system efficiency. The optimal MPPT technique is the finite-time terminal attractor (FTTA) based on the gradient particle swarm optimization (GPSO), which can be applied to track the maximum power of a PV array system. The FTTA not only provides fast finite-time convergence but also attenuates steady-state errors, making it ideal for nonlinear system applications. The GPSO is used to search the control parameters of the FTTA, which is able to find the global best solution. This avoids unmodeled dynamic behavior of the system excited by the quiver, which slows down the control convergence and prematurely traps the system into a local optimum. The MATLAB computer software is used to simulate the proposed PV maximum power point tracking system. The results show that more accurate and better tracking control of the PV array can be produced under partial shading conditions and then improve the steady-state and transient performance.

MPPT algorithm in single loop current-mode control applied to dc–dc converters with input current source characteristics

This paper proposes a novel current-mode Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) approach applied to photovoltaic systems. The proposed MPPT is implemented in three stages with fixed and variable current-perturbation steps to improve its robustness and performance. Issues related to the MPPT current saturation during sudden drops in solar irradiance are addressed, as well as the solution based on an adaptive stage to overcome this limitation. Besides, the feasibility of the proposed MPPT is tested experimentally in three different dc converter topologies with single-loop current control, applied to off-grid photovoltaic battery charging systems. To determine the optimal MPPT operating design, the control sampling frequency and perturbation-update MPPT frequency are tested using the MPPT static efficiency as a figure of merit, obtaining a good compromise in 2 kHz and 4 Hz, respectively. The experimental setup tested for the three dc converters reached the efficiency values of 97.87% for Boost, 95.85% for SEPIC and 95.89% for Ćuk.

A Fast-Tracking Hybrid MPPT Based on Surface-Based Polynomial Fitting and P&O Methods for Solar PV under Partial Shaded Conditions

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems depends directly on solar irradiation, so drastic variations in solar exposure will undoubtedly move its maximum power point (MPP). Furthermore, the presence of partial shading conditions (PSCs) generates local maximum power points (LMPPs) and one global maximum power point (GMPP) in the P-V characteristic curve. Therefore, a proper maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is crucial to increase PV system efficiency. There are classical, intelligent, optimal, and hybrid MPPT techniques; this paper presents a novel hybrid MPPT technique that combines Surface-Based Polynomial Fitting (SPF) and Perturbation and Observation (P&O) for solar PV generation under PSCs. The development of the experimental PV system has two stages: (i) Modeling the PV array with the DC-DC boost converter using a real-time and high-speed simulator (PLECS RT Box), (ii) and implementing the proposed GMPPT algorithm with the double-loop controller of the DC-DC boost converter in a commercial low-priced digital signal controller (DSC). According to the simulation and the experimental results, the suggested hybrid algorithm is effective at tracking the GMPP under both uniform and nonuniform irradiance conditions in six scenarios: (i) system start-up, (ii) uniform irradiance variations, (iii) sharp change of the (PSCs), (iv) multiple peaks in the P-V characteristic, (v) dark cloud passing, and (vi) light cloud passing. Finally, the experimental results—through the standard errors and the mean power tracked and tracking factor scores—proved that the proposed hybrid SPF-P&O MPPT technique reaches the convergence to GMPP faster than benchmark approaches when dealing with PSCs.

Model predictive control of grid-connected PV power generation system considering optimal MPPT control of PV modules

Because of system constraints caused by the external environment and grid faults, the conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and inverter control methods of a PV power generation system cannot achieve optimal power output. They can also lead to misjudgments and poor dynamic performance. To address these issues, this paper proposes a new MPPT method of PV modules based on model predictive control (MPC) and a finite control set model predictive current control (FCS-MPCC) of an inverter. Using the identification model of PV arrays, the module-based MPC controller is designed, and maximum output power is achieved by coordinating the optimal combination of spectral wavelength and module temperature. An FCS-MPCC algorithm is then designed to predict the inverter current under different voltage vectors, the optimal voltage vector is selected according to the optimal value function, and the corresponding optimal switching state is applied to power semiconductor devices of the inverter. The MPPT performance of the MPC controller and the responses of the inverter under different constraints are verified, and the steady-state and dynamic control effects of the inverter using FCS-MPCC are compared with the traditional feedforward decoupling PI control in Matlab/Simulink. The results show that MPC has better tracking performance under constraints, and the system has faster and more accurate dynamic response and flexibility than conventional PI control.