A Scheme-Based Review of MPPT Techniques With Respect to Input Variables Including Solar Irradiance and PV Arrays’ Temperature

Abstract

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques have been vastly researched and developed in order to obtain the maximum terminal power of photovoltaic (PV) arrays in the solar renewable energy system. The aim of this paper is to present a new principal scheme-based review of the categorised MPPT methods (conventional, novel, and hybrid) with respect to the deployment of their input variables (solar irradiance, PV arrays' temperature, and PV arrays' terminal voltage and current), where MPPT methods are categorised to six different schemes. For each scheme, previous MPPT studies are extracted from literature and analysed. Then the critical benefits and limitations of the six presented MPPT schemes are compared and discussed. It is concluded that those MPPT schemes deploying the measured external variables would be able to track the global maximum power point with high reliability; however, their implementation cost and applicability remains as a challenge due to increasing the sensor deployment cost and complexity. The conclusion of this paper will help new researchers to deliberately select an appropriate MPPT scheme based on their projects' objectives and limitations, prior to selecting an optimisation algorithm for MPPT.

Optimized Global Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Systems Based on Rectangular Power Comparison

“…The other extreme to the distributed MPPT is the centralized system, wherein one single inverter controls an entire array of series and parallel connected PV modules. The tracking of global maximum power in these commercial systems either relies on slow scanning based algorithms [8] or incorporates expensive irradiance and temperature sensors dispersed throughout PV array [9]. An ideal optimized hardware solution would be to have GMPPT implemented at the intersection between distributed and centralized PV systems, which is at the level of a PV string.…”

“…However, these methods remain highly computationally intensive [35] and the accuracy of the output depends on the learning dataset and the initial conditions [29]. Another drawback of these methods is that these algorithms require periodic tuning [9]. A detailed review of the global maximum power tracking performance of the recently introduced algorithms is summarized extensively in [9].…”

“…Another drawback of these methods is that these algorithms require periodic tuning [9]. A detailed review of the global maximum power tracking performance of the recently introduced algorithms is summarized extensively in [9].…”

“…The third class of GMPPT algorithms are model-based, which incorporate global peak prediction based on the real time irradiance and temperature measurements, along with array modelling parameters [36]- [38]. However these methods need expensive sensors for light and temperature estimation [9]. Further modification to this method has been carried out in terms of the introduction of empirical relationships [39].…”

Efficiency Improvement Scheme for PV Emulator Based on a Physical Equivalent PV-Cell Model

“…The transistor method reduces the component count, it has a high-power loss issue; the same issue that the diode method faces. Many MPPT methods have been presented and used in recent years, such as perturb and observe (P&O), fraction open-circuit voltage (FOCV), fraction short-circuit current (FSCC), incremental conductance (InC), hill climbing (HC) [15]- [17].…”