A Different Approach for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Using Impedance Matching through Non-Isolated DC-DC Converters in Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm in a solar photo-voltaic (SPV) system that requires fewer sensors, is easy to implement, and offers a good tracking efficiency and speed. Among various MPPT algorithms found in literature, the perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm is most popular as it required less complex circuitry and is easy to implement, but it suffers against fast-changing environmental conditions mostly in the case of partial shading conditions and requires two sensors, i.e., voltage and current. This paper presents the one sensor-based method based on the modified converter design which eliminates the effect of partial shading conditions as well as the fast-changing environmental condition. The presented MPPT algorithm was implemented and tested using an FPGA-based NI-sbRIO card interfaced with Labview software.