Using Current-Based MPPT Method in New Integrated

System of PV Module and STATCOM

H. Toodeji, S.H. Fathi, Member, IEEE, and N. Farokhnia, Student Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic),
Tehran, Iran

Abstract—Distributed Generation source are widely used because
of their remarkable advantages. Photovoltaic (PV) cells which
produce DC voltage in their output belong to these sources and
should be connected to the network through a power electronic
interface. At the other hand, considering PV characteristics show
that maximum power can be extracted at the optimal operating
point which depends on the solar radiation as well as ambient
temperature. So, a DC-DC converter is usually used between PV
module and inverter to keep PV module at its optimal operating
point. In this paper, PV module is connected to the DC side of
STATCOM that leads to elimination of DC-DC converter. A
modified current-based MPPT method and also, a developed
STATCOM controller are introduced. Using this system, PV
module always works in its optimal operating point and
moreover, STATCOM does its expected tasks such as load
voltage regulation and reactive power compensation. The
components of proposed system with their function are explained
well in the present paper and finally, a sample system is
simulated by MATLAB/Simulink software to verify the
advantages of proposed integrated system.
Keywords-Current-based MPPT algorithm, DG, PV module,
STATCOM
STATCOM (STATic COMpensator) is categorized in
advanced compensators class and was introduced in detail in
many previous studies [6]-[8]. This compensator consists of a
VSI (Voltage Source Inverter) which is connected to the
network via a shunt transformer. Its tasks mainly include AC
voltage regulation and reactive power compensation to achieve
unity power factor.
In this study, integrated system of PV module and
STATCOM with new configuration is introduced; PV module
is connected directly to DC side of STATCOM and maximum
power extracted from PV module without any DC-DC
converter (Fig. 1). Unlike others, optimal current is found
instead of optimal voltage [4]. For this purpose, a modified
MPPT algorithm is introduced to find optimal current and
also, STATCOM controller is changed to absorb this current
from PV module. A series inductor is used instead of DC
capacitor to eliminate current ripple of DC side. Common
tasks of STATCOM such as solving voltage problems and
compensating reactive power at the Point of Common
Coupling (PCC) are still done well in integrated system.

I. INTRODUCTION
DG (Distributed generation) sources are developing in the
power system because of their remarkable advantages such as
reducing transmission losses and costs of high voltage
equipments and increasing security [1]. PV cell, as a DG
source, can be installed almost anywhere because it needs
sunlight which is available in many areas of the world. But it
faces with some problems, like other DGs such as fuel cell,
when it wants to connect to the network. Output DC voltage is
a first problem which prevents it from direct connection to the
AC network, so an inverter should converts this DC voltage to
AC one with proper amplitude and frequency. As a second
problem, maximum power will be achieved at optimal
operating point when PV module characteristics are
considered. Otherwise, the extracted power from PV module Fig. 1. Configuration of proposed integrated system
would not be optimum and consequently, the total efficiency
of the PV system be affected negatively [2]. Many papers have In this paper, PV module with its equations and
recommended DC-DC converter between PV module and characteristics are introduced and modified current-based
inverter to set PV module at its optimal operating point [3]-[5]. MPPT method is presented in the next part. Then, the
These converters usually regulate PV voltage at optimal value STATCOM controller with DC current regulation, AC voltage
which is found by Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and reactive power compensation abilities is explained.
algorithms. Finally, a sample system is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink
to verify the advantages of proposed integrated system.

978-1-4244-5046-6/10/$26.00 2010
c IEEE 1028
 II. PV MODULE 120

T =25 0 C
To understand PV module features, PV cell must be C

studied first. The electrical model of PV cell, shown in Fig. 2, 80

consists of current source, diode and series resistance (RS) [9]. 600 W/m2

PV Power (W)
500 W/m2

400 W/m2
300 W/m2
40

0
0 1 2 3 4
PV Current (A)

Fig. 4. Solar radiation influence on the P–I curve

Fig. 2. Electrical model of PV cell
Now, solar radiation is fixed at 1000 W/m2 and ambient
Fig. 2 shows that output current depends on diode current temperature is changed. Fig. 5 shows the effect of this
(ID) and this diode current can be affected by temperature and condition on PV curve and it is seen that the current is nearly
solar radiation. independent from temperature variation and only cell’s voltage
changes with that. Also, increasing the temperature leads to
§ § V + IR S · · decrease maximum power as well as optimal current (Iop) (see
I = I ph − I D = I ph − I 0 ¨¨ exp ¨¨ ¸¸ − 1 ¸ (1) Fig. 6).
Vt ¸
© © ¹ ¹
6
Where I0 is dark saturation current and Vt is thermal 1000 W/m2
voltage. PV module’s equations were introduced well in Ref.
[9] and (2) describes its main equation. At this equation, 75 C
0

superscript M is representative of Module.

4

Current (A)
0
50 C

M M M M
M M
ª §V −V + R .I ·º 25 0C
I = I SC «1 − exp ¨¨
OC
M
S
¸¸ » (2)
Vt
2
¬ © ¹¼ 0 0C

Where IMsc is the current of short circuited module (VM=0)

and VMoc is the voltage of open circuited one (IM=0). Eq. (3) is 0
0 10 20 30 40 50

another form of (2) and is compatible with current-based Voltage (V)

MPPT algorithm. Fig. 5. The effect of temperature on the V-I curve

M M M § IM ·
V = V OC − I . R SM + V t M . Ln ¨¨ 1 − M ¸¸ (3) 200

© I SC ¹ 1000 W/m 2

160

At the next step, the PV module curves and also, the

effects of solar radiation and ambient temperature on them are 0 0C
PV Power (W)

120
25 0 C
considered. These curves relate to a PV module with those 50 0 C

parameters which are brought in Table I. 80 75 0 C

Fig. 3 shows the effect of solar radiation on PV 40

characteristic in constant temperature condition and it is seen

that solar radiation increases both current and voltage. Now, 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
we consider solar radiation effect on the P-I curve which is PV Current (A)

presented in Fig. 4. It is shown that increasing the radiation Fig. 6. Temperature influence on the P–I curve
leads to obtain maximum power at the higher current.
4 III. MODIFIED CURRENT-BASED MPPT ALGORITHM
T =25 0 C

600 W/m2
C
Several publications considered finding optimal operating
3 point by using various MPPT algorithms. One type of these
500 W/m 2
methods, based on the mathematical modeling of the nonlinear
Current (A)

2
400 W/m 2
I–V curve of the PV module, are simple and quickly determine
300 W/m2 the optimal operating point. By these methods, the optimal
1
point is estimated for various load conditions by a linear
function of the short circuit current (Isc) or open-circuit voltage
(Voc). The relationship between optimal and open-circuit
0
0 10 20 30 40 voltage varies with solar radiation and temperature, so
Voltage (V)
determination of optimum voltage (Vop) by using only one
Fig. 3. The effect of solar radiation on the V-I curve linear function of the Voc is impossible [10].

2010 5th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applicationsis 1029

 Another class of methods uses look-up tables, so they It is seen that in this algorithm, cell’s current is changed
instantaneously determine the optimal point [11]. But until optimal current is obtained. Innovation of this paper is
nonlinear curve of solar cell and its dependence to temperature regulating DC current to extract maximum power as well as
and solar radiation harden the establishment and storage of a using STATCOM to do this and as a result, DC-DC will be
look-up table. The majority of other type of methods are based eliminated.
on so-called ‘‘hill-climbing’’ algorithms [12]. Perturbation and
Observation (P&O) method belongs to this class and is usually IV. CONTROL SYSYTEM
used to determine optimal voltage. We modify this algorithm STATCOM is one of the advanced compensators which
to finds optimal current because we want to extract maximum can solve voltage problems and compensate reactive power at
power from PV module by regulating its DC current. Block PCC. It is normally consisted of a VSI which has a capacitor
diagram of modified method is shown in Fig. 7 and works as in its DC side and its AC side is connected to the network
follows. through shunt transformer. Usually, low pass filters are used in
Considering typical curve of PV cell clears that there are the output of inverter to mitigate unwanted harmonics.
two operating zones: the first is located in the right side of the There are some well known STATCOM control methods
Maximum Power Point (MPP) where dp/di <0 and the other in [13] that we choose synchronous reference frame ones and add
the left side (dp/di >0). Four cases of perturbations from the the ability of DC current regulation to it. Load current, source
operating point can be distinguished. In the first case, there is a side voltage and STATCOM current are transferred from abc
operating point displacement due to perturbation from k-1 to k to dq coordinates by (4).
that leads to P(k)>P(k-1) and I(k)>I(k-1). Increment of
generated power after perturbation indicates that the MPP ª § 2π · § 2π · º
« sin (θ ) sin ¨ θ − 3 ¸ sin ¨ θ + 3 ¸ »
search is oriented in the appropriate direction, so searching 2« © ¹ © ¹»
MPP continues its present direction and so, Iref is increased by ¬ªT abc →dq ¼º = 3 « 2π 2π
(4)
§ · § ·»
ǻi. In the second case, operating point displacement occurs « cos (θ ) cos ¨ θ − ¸ cos ¨ θ + ¸»
¬ © 3 ¹ © 3 ¹¼
after perturbation and leads to P(k)<P(k-1) and I(k)<I(k-1).
Power decrement after perturbation indicates the wrong There is an angular parameter (ș) in this matrix which is
direction of MPP search, so MPP search direction must be extracted by Phase Lock Loop (PLL) block and defines
reversed, so Iref increased by ǻi. reference frame for transformation of coordinates. By
extracting ș from source side voltage, voltage will contain
only d component. In this condition, considering phase angle
between current and voltage clears that current should has both
Measure V(n), I(n)
d and q components. d axis current is in-phase and the other is
perpendicular with voltage, so q component is assigned to
Calculate Power voltage (or reactive power compensation) and d component is
P(n) =V(n) * I(n) devoted to DC current regulation which is done by active
power control.
yes
DC Reference
P(n)-P(n-1)=0 Current
+
-
no DC Current PI
yes
P(n)-P(n-1)>0 Istat_a -
abc istat_d Vref d
Istat_b PI dq0 Vref abc
yes no no yes to + to
I(n)-I(n-1)>0 I(n)-I(n-1)>0 Istat_c istat_q PI
Vref_q
abc
dq0
ș +
-
Iload_a
abc iL_q ș
Iref = Iref - ǻi Iref = Iref + ǻi Iref = Iref - ǻi Iref = Iref + ǻi Iload b Mode
to Selector
Iload_c
dq0
Fig. 7. Block diagram of modified P&O method ș
Vsource_a
Operating point Displacement which leads to P(k)>P(k-1) AC
and I(k)<I(k-1) conditions forms third case. Increment the Vsource_b Voltage -
PI
power after perturbation indicates that searching MPP is Vsource_c Cal.
conducted in a good direction. Therefore, the MPP search +
direction should be maintained and Iref decreased by ǻi. Fourth ș AC Reference
Voltage
case is displacement of the operating point after the
perturbation from k-1 to k with P(k)<P(k-1) and I(k)>I(k-1) PLL
characteristics. The power is decreasing, so MPP search is
oriented to bad direction and Iref should be increased by ǻi. Fig. 8. Modified control system of STATCOM

1030 2010 5th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applicationsis

 To regulate DC current, difference between actual and TABLE II. OPTIMAL OPERATING POINTS OF PV MODULE IN DIFFERENT
reference DC current passes through a PI controller and CONDITIONS
produces the reference of d axis current. It must be mentioned Radiation and IOP from P-I curve Pmax from P-I curve
that AC voltage regulation or reactive power compensation temperature (A) (Watt)
cannot be done simultaneously because only one axis is 1000 W/m2 , 0 °C 5.015 15680
assigned for these two works. Furthermore, AC voltage is 1000 W/m2 , 25 °C 4.983 13956
controlled by exchanging reactive power with network, so
reactive power cannot be fully compensated in voltage control 1000 W/m2 , 50 °C 4.928 12239
mode. In AC voltage control mode, difference between 300 W/m2 , 25 °C 1.492 3747
amplitude of PCC and reference voltage passes through a PI 2
400 W/m , 25 °C 1.994 5205
controller and forms q axis reference current. In reactive
power compensation mode, load current is transferred to dq 500 W/m2 , 25 °C 2.495 6682
coordinates by means of shunt part voltage as a reference
frame. In this condition, q axis of load current is representative A. Varying Temperature Conditions
of reactive power, so injection of this current by STATCOM At first, varying temperature in constant solar radiation
lead to compensation of reactive power. condition is considered. Fig. 9 shows the profile of ambient
temperature which is changed suddenly from 50 to 25oC at
Now, both reference currents are compared with actual t = 0.1 s and also to 0oC at t = 0.3 s, all in constant solar
currents of STATCOM in dq coordinates and pass from PI radiation (1000 W/m2).
controller. Outputs, in voltage form, are returned to abc
coordinates and feed SPWM block to generate gate signals of 50
inverter's switches.
V. SIMULATION RESULTS

Temprature ('C)
30

To verify the advantages of proposed integrated system, a

sample system is simulated by MALAB/Simulink. Its PV
module data in standard conditions (25°C, 1000 W/m2) are 10

gave in Table I. In this part, the ability of proposed system to

extract maximum power from PV in two conditions is
considered; varying solar radiation in constant temperature and 0 0.1 0.2
Time (Sec.)
0.3 0.4 0.5

varying temperature in constant radiation. Studying the effect

Fig. 9. Temperature profile in constant solar radiation (1000 w/m2)
of DC current changes due to MPPT on the compensating
ability of STATCOM is another subject of this part.
5.02

TABLE I. PARAMETERS OF SAMPLE SYSTEM

Voltage 20 kV , 50 Hz
Source
PV Current (A)

SCC 100 MVA 4.96

Resistance 0.1153 Ÿ/km

Inductance 1.048 mH/km
Line
No. 1 (length) 10 km 4.9

No. 2 (length) 2 km
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
LC filter 800 μH, 100 μF Time (Sec.)

STATCOM 3× 1ĭ trans. 1250 V / (20/¥3) kV Fig. 10. PV current in varying temperature conditions

DC inductor 300 mH 16

Load Nominal power 100 kW , 80 kVAR

15
PMax,0 175 W
VOC,0 43.7 V
PV Power (kW)

14

PV array
ISC,0 5.4 A
13

No. of series modules 80

12
Optimal operating points of PV module in different
conditions obtained from Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 and brought in
Table II. First three rows of Table II depend to constant 0.1 0.2
Time (Sec.)
0.3 0.4 0.5

temperature and the others, to constant solar radiation

Fig. 11. Generated power of PV in varying temperature conditions
conditions.

2010 5th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applicationsis 1031

 Considering relevant data in Table II clears that PV
module’s current and power, shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, 2.4

both are in their optimum values. Now, the effect of changing

DC current of VSI on the operation of STATCOM is studied.

PV Current (A)
For this purpose, AC voltage and reactive power in two modes 2

are shown when DC current changes like Fig. 10.

1.06
1.6

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Time (Sec.)
1.04
Source Side
Fig. 15. DC current in varying solar radiation conditions
Voltage (p.u)

7
1.02
Load Side

6
1

PV Power (kW)
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 5
Time (Sec.)

Fig. 12. AC voltage control mode in varying temperature conditions

4

In AC voltage regulation mode, shown in Fig. 12,

STATCOM could fix load voltage at 1 p.u with small
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Time (Sec.)

disturbance due to DC current changing. In reactive power Fig. 16. Generated power of PV in varying solar radiation conditions
compensation mode, presented in Fig. 13, it faces with
fluctuation in reactive power which is damped soon in steady Fig. 15 shows PV module current and Fig. 16 presents its
state condition. extracted power. Comparing these measured current and
power with relevant values in Table II clears that PV module
100
always worked in its optimal current and produced maximum
80
power. Same as previous section, the effect of DC current
Load Side
changing due to variation of solar radiation on STATCOM
Reacive Power (kVAR)

60 operation are shown. It can be seen that STATCOM could

compensate 6% voltage swell (Fig. 17) as well as reactive
power of source side (Fig. 18) with small disturbances at the
40

20
Source Side
beginning of each DC current changing.
1.06
0

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Time (Sec.) 1.04
Source Side
Fig. 13. Reactive power compensation mode in varying temperature
Voltage (p.u)

conditions
1.02
Load Side
B. Varying Solar Radiation Condition
Now, varying solar radiation in constant temperature 1

condition is considered. Assume that temperature is 25oC and 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
solar radiation varies from 300 to 400 W/m2 at t = 0.1 s and to Time (Sec.)

500 W/m2 at t = 0.3 s (see Fig. 14). Fig. 17. AC voltage regulation mode in varying solar radiation conditions
100

500 80
Reactive Power (kVAR)
Solar Radiation (W/m 2)

Load Side
60

400
40

Source Side
20

300
0

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Time (Sec.) Time (Sec.)

Fig. 14. Solar radiation profile in constant temperature (25oC) Fig. 18. Reactive power compensation mode in varying solar radiation
conditions

1032 2010 5th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applicationsis

 VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, integrated system of PV module and
STATCOM with new configuration was introduced. By
proposed system, DC-DC converter which is usually used for
extracting maximum power from PV module was eliminated
and STATCOM did this work instead of that converter. A
developed current-based MPPT algorithm was used to find
optimal current of PV module which depends on ambient
temperature as well as solar radiation and then, a modified
STATCOM controller used it as reference DC current. In our
proposed system, DC capacitor was eliminated and an inductor
was used instead of it. It is seen that DC current variations had
small effect on the compensating capabilities of STATCOM
such as AC voltage regulation and reactive power
compensation. The advantages of proposed integrated system
are verified by simulation in MATLAB/Simulink.
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