PHOTOVOLTAIC MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING USING SEPIC CONVERTER

Abstract

In this paper a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system based on the single ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) and hill-climbing approach is introduced. SEPIC converter is a comprehensive buck-boost converter and has minimum ripple content in the input current that suitable for PV application. The proposed MPPT system is designed and components of SEPIC converter are sized and selected. The controller is so fast and no fluctuation around the MPP is introduced. A current and voltage of the PV array are sensed and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal is produced from the controller to control the duty ratio of the converter. The simulation results show that three tests are carried out on the system; a suddenly insolation level increasing, decreasing, and load resistance variation. The controller establishes robustness for all the three cases and the maximum power available from the PV array are transferred to the load irrespective of load or environmental condition variations.