Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy has witnessed double-digit growth in the past decade. The penetration of PV systems as distributed generators in low-voltage grids has also seen significant attention. In addition, the need for higher overall grid efficiency and reliability has boosted the interest in the microgrid concept. High-efficiency PV-based microgrids require maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers to maximize the harvested energy due to the nonlinearity in PV module characteristics. Perturb and observe (PO second, no steady-state oscillations around the MPP; and lastly, no need for predefined system-dependent constants, hence provides a generic design core. A design example is presented by experimental implementation of the proposed technique. Practical results for the implemented setup at different irradiance levels are illustrated to validate the proposed technique.

High-Performance Adaptive Perturb and Observe MPPT Technique for Photovoltaic-Based Microgrids

This paper presents a review on the state-of-the-art maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques for PV power system applications. The main techniques that will be deliberated are the Perturb and Observe, Incremental Conductance and Hill Climbing. The coverage will also encompass their variations and adaptive forms. In addition, the more recent MPPT approaches using soft computing methods such as Fuzzy Logic Control, Artificial Neural Network and Evolutionary Algorithms are included. Whilst the paper provides as thorough treatment of MPPT at normal (uniform) insolation, its focus will be on the applications of the abovementioned techniques during partial shading conditions. It is envisaged that this review work will be a source of valuable information for PV professionals to keep abreast with the latest progress in this area, as well as for new researchers to get started on MPPT.

A review of maximum power point tracking techniques of PV system for uniform insolation and partial shading condition

Conventional popular maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are effective under uniform solar irradiance. However, under solar irradiance mismatching conditions [partially shaded conditions (PSCs)], these MPPTs can fail for real MPPT (RMPPT), because multiple local maxima can be exhibited on the power-voltage characteristic curve. Although some researchers have worked on RMPPT under partial shading conditions, the methods have some drawbacks in terms of complexity and requirements for additional circuits, etc. In this paper, a novel MPPT method capable of RMPPT under PSCs is proposed. The performance of the proposed MPPT method is analyzed according to the RMPP position and is verified by simulation and experimental results.

A Real Maximum Power Point Tracking Method for Mismatching Compensation in PV Array Under Partially Shaded Conditions

Partial shading in photovoltaic (PV) arrays renders conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques ineffective. The reduced efficiency of shaded PV arrays is a significant obstacle in the rapid growth of the solar power systems. Thus, addressing the output power mismatch and partial shading effects is of paramount value. Extracting the maximum power of partially shaded PV arrays has been widely investigated in the literature. The proposed solutions can be categorized into four main groups. The first group includes modified MPPT techniques that properly detect the global MPP. They include power curve slope, load-line MPPT, dividing rectangles techniques, the power increment technique, instantaneous operating power optimization, Fibonacci search, neural networks, and particle swarm optimization. The second category includes different array configurations for interconnecting PV modules, namely series-parallel, total-cross-tie, and bridge-link configurations. The third category includes different PV system architectures, namely centralized architecture, series-connected microconverters, parallel-connected microconverters, and microinverters. The fourth category includes different converter topologies, namely multilevel converters, voltage injection circuits, generation control circuits, module-integrated converters, and multiple-input converters. This paper surveys the proposed approaches in each category and provides a brief discussion of their characteristics.

Control and Circuit Techniques to Mitigate Partial Shading Effects in Photovoltaic Arrays

This paper proposes a new high step-up dc-dc converter designed especially for regulating the dc interface between various microsources and a dc-ac inverter to electricity grid. The figuration of the proposed converter is a quadratic boost converter with the coupled inductor in the second boost converter. The converter achieves high step-up voltage gain with appropriate duty ratio and low voltage stress on the power switch. Additionally, the energy stored in the leakage inductor of the coupled inductor can be recycled to the output capacitor. The operating principles and steady-state analyses of continuous-conduction mode and boundary-conduction mode are discussed in detail. To verify the performance of the proposed converter, a 280-W prototype sample is implemented with an input voltage range of 20-40 V and an output voltage of up to 400 V. The upmost efficiency of 93.3% is reached with high-line input; on the other hand, the full-load efficiency remains at 89.3% during low-line input.

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A Cascaded High Step-Up DC–DC Converter With Single Switch for Microsource Applications

In this paper, a interleaved soft switching boost converter (ISSBC) for a photovoltaic (PV) power-generation system is proposed. The topology used raises the efficiency for the dc/dc converter of the PV power conditioning system (PVPCS), and it minimizes switching losses by adopting a resonant soft-switching method. A detailed mode analysis of the proposed topology is presented. The feasibility of the proposed topology is experimentally verified for a 1.2-kW prototype. The experimental results imply that 97.28% efficiency is achieved under the full-load condition. Consequently, it is confirmed that the overall efficiency is increased by about 1.5% compared with the conventional hard switching interleaved boost converter.

Interleaved Soft-Switching Boost Converter for Photovoltaic Power-Generation System

In order to improve the efficiency of energy conversion for a photovoltaic (PV) system, a soft-switching boost converter using a simple auxiliary resonant circuit, which is composed of an auxiliary switch, a diode, a resonant inductor, and a resonant capacitor, is adopted in this paper. The conventional boost converter decreases the efficiency because of hard switching, which generates losses when the switches are turned on/off. During this interval, all switches in the adopted circuit perform zero-current switching by the resonant inductor at turn-on, and zero-voltage switching by the resonant capacitor at turn-off. This switching pattern can reduce the switching losses, voltage and current stress of the switching device. Moreover, it is very easy to control. In this paper, we have analyzed the operational principles of the adopted soft-switching boost converter, and it is designed for PV generation system. Simulation and experimental results are presented to confirm the theoretical analysis.

Design and Application for PV Generation System Using a Soft-Switching Boost Converter With SARC

A new soft-switching boost converter is proposed in this paper. The conventional boost converter generates switching losses at turn on and off, and this causes a reduction in the whole system's efficiency. The proposed boost converter utilizes a soft-switching method using an auxiliary circuit with a resonant inductor and capacitor, auxiliary switch, and diodes. Therefore, the proposed soft-switching boost converter reduces switching losses more than the conventional hard-switching converter. The efficiency, which is about 91% in hard switching, increases to about 96% in the proposed soft-switching converter. In this paper, the performance of the proposed soft-switching boost converter is verified through the theoretical analysis, simulation, and experimental results.

Analysis and Design of a Soft-Switching Boost Converter With an HI-Bridge Auxiliary Resonant Circuit

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) array is strongly dependent on the operating conditions especially the solar irradiation The shading on PV array by the passing clouds or neighboring buildings causes not only power losses, but also non-linearity of V-I characteristics of PV array Under partially shaded conditions, the characteristics have more non-linearity with multiple local maxima In spite of several researchers have studied the PV characteristics under the partial shading condition, it is difficult to simulate the partial shading condition on the simulation tool for power electronics The C-language based PV array simulation strategy proposed in here is to simulate the effects of partial shading condition for developing more advanced maximum power point tracking algorithms or power conversion systems Proposed modeling strategy is easily connected to simulation tools In this paper, the modeling of photovoltaic array is based on the numerical analysis, and the verification is performed using PSIM

C-language based PV array simulation technique considering effects of partial shading

This paper presents a new soft-switching boost converter based on the LC resonance and passive clamping technique without additional active switches. The circuit achieves high efficiency and low voltage stress by adopting a soft switching method using LC resonance. This paper gives a mathematical analysis of each mode and a detailed design procedure of the proposed boost converter. First of all, the operational principles are verified through simulation results. Then, according to the design procedure, we designed and built a 1.5[kW] prototype soft switching boost converter. Through the experimental results, we demonstrated the validity and usefulness of the proposed boost converter.

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Sang-Hoon Park

Papers

Interleaved Soft-Switching Boost Converter for Photovoltaic Power-Generation System

Design and Application for PV Generation System Using a Soft-Switching Boost Converter With SARC

Analysis and Design of a Soft-Switching Boost Converter With an HI-Bridge Auxiliary Resonant Circuit

C-language based PV array simulation technique considering effects of partial shading

High Efficiency Soft-Switching Boost Converter Using a Single Switch