There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

The many different techniques for maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic (PV) arrays are discussed. The techniques are taken from the literature dating back to the earliest methods. It is shown that at least 19 distinct methods have been introduced in the literature, with many variations on implementation. This paper should serve as a convenient reference for future work in PV power generation.

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Comparison of Photovoltaic Array Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques

This paper proposes a method of modeling and simulation of photovoltaic arrays. The main objective is to find the parameters of the nonlinear I-V equation by adjusting the curve at three points: open circuit, maximum power, and short circuit. Given these three points, which are provided by all commercial array data sheets, the method finds the best I-V equation for the single-diode photovoltaic (PV) model including the effect of the series and parallel resistances, and warranties that the maximum power of the model matches with the maximum power of the real array. With the parameters of the adjusted I-V equation, one can build a PV circuit model with any circuit simulator by using basic math blocks. The modeling method and the proposed circuit model are useful for power electronics designers who need a simple, fast, accurate, and easy-to-use modeling method for using in simulations of PV systems. In the first pages, the reader will find a tutorial on PV devices and will understand the parameters that compose the single-diode PV model. The modeling method is then introduced and presented in details. The model is validated with experimental data of commercial PV arrays.

Comprehensive Approach to Modeling and Simulation of Photovoltaic Arrays

A wind-generator (WG) maximum-power-point-tracking (MPPT) system is presented, consisting of a high-efficiency buck-type dc/dc converter and a microcontroller-based control unit running the MPPT function. The advantages of the proposed MPPT method are that no knowledge of the WG optimal power characteristic or measurement of the wind speed is required and the WG operates at a variable speed. Thus, the system features higher reliability, lower complexity and cost, and less mechanical stress of the WG. Experimental results of the proposed system indicate near-optimal WG output power, increased by 11%-50% compared to a WG directly connected via a rectifier to the battery bank. Thus, better exploitation of the available wind energy is achieved, especially under low wind speeds.

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Design of a maximum power tracking system for wind-energy-conversion applications

Solar power generation by PV (photovoltaic) technology: A review

A photovoltaic array (PVA) simulation model to be used in Matlab-Simulink GUI environment is developed and presented in this paper. The model is developed using basic circuit equations of the photovoltaic (PV) solar cells including the effects of solar irradiation and temperature changes. The new model was tested using a directly coupled dc load as well as ac load via an inverter. Test and validation studies with proper load matching circuits are simulated and results are presented here.

A Photovoltaic Array Simulation Model for Matlab-Simulink GUI Environment

The paper presents a rule-based fuzzy logic controller to control the output power of a pulse width modulated (PWM) inverter used in a stand-alone wind energy conversion scheme (SAWECS). The self-excited induction generator used in SAWECS has the inherent problem of fluctuations in the magnitude and frequency of its terminal voltage with changes in wind velocity and load. To overcome this drawback the variable magnitude, variable frequency voltage at the generator terminals is rectified and the DC power is transferred to the load through a PWM inverter. The objective is to track and extract maximum power from the wind energy system and transfer this power to the local isolated load, This is achieved by using the fuzzy logic controller which regulates the modulation index of the PWM inverter based on the input signals: the power error; and its rate of change. These input signals are fuzzified, that is defined by a set of linguistic labels characterized by their membership functions predefined for each class. Using a set of 49 rules which relate the fuzzified input signals to the fuzzy controller output, fuzzy set theory and associated fuzzy logic operations, the fuzzy controller's output is obtained. The fuzzy set describing the controller's output (in terms of linguistic labels) is defuzzified to obtain the actual analog (numerical) output signal which is then used to control the PWM inverter and ensure complete utilization of the available wind energy. The proposed rule-based fuzzy logic controller is simulated and the results are experimentally verified on a scaled down laboratory prototype of the SAWECS.

A rule-based fuzzy logic controller for a PWM inverter in a stand alone wind energy conversion scheme

In the last two decades, emerging use of renewable and distributed energy sources in electricity grid has created new challenges for the utility regarding the power quality, voltage stabilization and efficient energy utilization. Power electronic converters are extensively utilized to interface the emerging energy systems (without and with energy storage) and smart buildings with the transmission and distribution systems. Flexible ac transmission systems (FACTSs) and voltage-source converters, with smart dynamic controllers, are emerging as a stabilization and power filtering equipment to improve the power quality. Also, distributed FACTSs play an important role in improving the power factor, energy utilization, enhancing the power quality, and ensuring efficient energy utilization and energy management in smart grids with renewable energy sources. This paper presents a literature survey of FACTS technology tools and applications for power quality and efficient renewable energy system utilization.

Review of FACTS technologies and applications for power quality in smart grids with renewable energy systems

The paper investigates the dynamic operation of novel control scheme for both Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) and Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) based on a new full model comprising a 48-pulse Gate Turn-Off thyristor voltage source converter for combined reactive power compensation and voltage stabilization of the electric grid network. The complete digital simulation of the STATCOM and SSSC within the power system is performed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment using the Power System Blockset (PSB). The STATCOM scheme and the electric grid network are modeled by specific electric blocks from the power system blockset, while the control system is modeled using Simulink. Two novel controllers for the STATCOM and SSSC are presented in this paper based on a decoupled current control strategy. The performance of both STATCOM and SSSC schemes connected to the 230-kV grid are evaluated. The proposed novel control schemes for the STATCOM and SSSC are fully validated by digital simulation.

Adel M. Sharaf

Papers

A Photovoltaic Array Simulation Model for Matlab-Simulink GUI Environment

A rule-based fuzzy logic controller for a PWM inverter in a stand alone wind energy conversion scheme

Review of FACTS technologies and applications for power quality in smart grids with renewable energy systems

Novel controllers for the 48-pulse VSC STATCOM and SSSC for voltage regulation and reactive power compensation

A novel maximum power fuzzy logic controller for photovoltaic solar energy systems