Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques

Abstract

An essential objective for many photovoltaic (PV) applications is represented by the so‐called maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Under uniform irradiance and ambient temperature conditions, the power versus voltage characteristic of a PV array is characterized by the presence of a unique point, termed maximum power point (MPP), where the power provided by the array itself attains its maximum value. Any other operating point leads to the extraction of a smaller PV energy. Therefore, in order to avoid the waste of PV energy, the working of the array in its MPP is mandatory. Since the position of the MPP continuously changes in time as a function of irradiance and temperature, it is necessary to continuously track it. Such an objective can be obtained by using proper MPPT control techniques. A large number of papers have appeared in the scientific literature during the last 15 years on the issue of MPPT, and as a result it may be difficult to decide the best technique for a given application. Therefore, this survey may hopefully be beneficial to students, researchers, and practitioners in PV systems. The article overviews the representative PV MPPT algorithms, organized into four main groups. The first group contains the so‐called “hill climbing” techniques, the second group contains the “curve fitting” techniques, the third group contains the “dynamical” techniques, and the fourth group includes all the techniques that do not belong to the first three groups.

A Novel MPPT Technique for Single Stage Grid-Connected PV Systems: T4S

“…In this figure, V PV_ref and V PV are reported for both of the MPPT techniques. It is clear for the P&O case, at steady-state, V PV_ref ≈ V PV oscillates around the MPP by assuming, as expected, the following three values: V MPP -∆V PV , V MPP , and V MPP + ∆V PV [18]. Instead, in the T4S case, V PV_ref ≈ V PV exhibits a piecewise linear behavior with values belonging to the range [V MPP and V MPP + ∆V PV ].…”

“…A slow external voltage control loop is aimed at the proper regulation of the PV voltage, V PV . The reference voltage, V PV_ref , is provided, as shown in Figure 1, by the MPPT controller [18,19]. It is worth noting, as shown in Figure 1, that two low-pass filters appear.…”

“…As stated in the Introduction, the P&O technique is one of the most exploited MPPT techniques since it is simple but nonetheless very efficient. The P&O algorithm operates by periodically changing, step-by-step, the reference voltage, V PV_ref , and by measuring the corresponding PV power, P PV = V PV •I PV [18]. After each perturbation of V PV_ref , the P&O controller waits for the settling of the system steady-state and, subsequently, compares the new steady-state value of P PV with the older one in order to drive the operating point towards the MPP.…”

A hierarchical architecture for increasing efficiency of large photovoltaic plants under non-homogeneous solar irradiation

“…In recent times, a large part of the published works are aimed at the identification of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] algorithms.…”

Simulation of Reconfiguration System Using Matlab-Simulink Environment

“…To the best of our knowledge, most of the recent publications focus on algorithms, architectures and control techniques in applications of the PV system to find out maximum power point tracking (MPPT) [6,10,18,19,32,35,36]. However, during operation, there are many cases in which PV modules in the SPPs can receive non-homogeneous solar irradiation levels.…”