Algorithms for Tracking of Maximum Power Point in Solar Energy System

Authors:

Charu Pathak (Manav Rachna University, Faridabad)

Shivani Aggarwal (Manav Rachna University, Faridabad)

Keywords: Maximum power point tracking, solar power

Abstract:

Renewable energy generation has experienced consistent growth in the last two decades, motivated by the concerns of climate change and high oil prices, and supported by renewable energy legislation and incentives, with a close to $150 billion investment in 2007[1].Photovoltaic (PV) offers an environment friendly source of electricity of which fuel is sunshine. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is very commonly used because of its fast dynamic response and well regulated PV output voltage under widely varying atmospheric conditions.

PV array has non-linear I-V characteristic and output power depends on environmental conditions such as solar irradiation and temperature. There is a point on I-V, P-V characteristic curve of PV array called as Maximum Power Point (MPP), where the PV system produces its maximum output power. Location of MPP changes with change in environmental condition. The purpose of MPPT is to adjust the solar operating voltage close to MPP under changing environmental conditions. In order to continuously gather the maximum power from the PV array, they should operate at their MPPT despite of the inhomogeneous change in environmental conditions. The two most commonly algorithms for PV applications as they are easy to implement are Perturb and Observe (P & O) Incremental Conductance (Inc. Con.).

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