PEDS 2007

A Novel Maximum Power Point Tracking

Method for the Photovoltaic System
Hurng-Liahng Jou*, Member, IEEE, Wen-Jung Chiang* and Jinn-Chang Wu**
Department of Electrical Engineering National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences 415 Jiangong Road, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan, Republic of China * * Department of Microelectronics Engineering National Kaohsiung Marine University 142 Haijhuan Road, Nanzih District 81143, Taiwan, Republic of China
*

Abstract--A novel maximum power point tracking (NMLPPT) method for the photovoltaic system is proposed in this paper. The main feature of the proposed MPPT method is that only a current is required to be detected. Therefore, the proposed method has the advantage of simplifying the control circuit compared with the conventional perturbation and observation method where both current and voltage should be detected. A prototype based on the digital signal processor (DSP) controller is developed and tested to verify the performance of the proposed MPPT method. The experimental results show the proposed method has the expected performance.

Index Terms--photovoltaic, maximum power point tracking, digital signal processor

I. INTRODUCTION The conventional energy sources for electrical power include hydroelectric, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy. The wide use of fossil fuels has resulted in the

problem of greenhouse emissions worldwide. This also seriously damages the earth's environment. Besides, fossil fuels will be exhausted in the future, and their cost has obviously increased. The Kyoto agreement on global decrease of greenhouse emissions has prompted has prompted interest in and the importance of the issue of renewable energy sources to relieve the problem of greenhouse emissions. Photovoltaic is one of the important renewable energy sources [1-3]. The cost of the photovoltaic is on a falling trend and is expected to fall further as demand and production increases. The power conversion interface is important for using the photovoltaic effectively. The key technologies
The work was financial support by the ABLEREX Electronics Corporation, Ltd.

for power conversion interface of the photovoltaic system include the technologies of DC/DC power converter, grid-connected DC/AC inverter, islanding detection and maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The MPPT technology is addressed in this paper. Many MPPT technologies have been proposed, such as the voltage feedback method, power feedback method, perturbation and observation method, linear line approximation method, fuzzy logic control method, neural network method and practical measure method [4-13]. However, there are some disadvantages to these technologies. The conventional perturbation and observation method [11] requires at least two detected signals, a voltage and a current in tracing the maximum power point. In order to simplifying the control circuit of conventional perturbation and observation MPPT method, a novel MPPT method for the solar photovoltaic system is proposed in this paper. The proposed MPPT method is that only a current is detected, therefore, it has the advantage of simplifying the control circuit compared with the conventional perturbation and observation methods where both current and voltage are detected. A prototype based on the DSP controller TMS320C2407 is developed and tested to verify the performance of the proposed MPPT method.
II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM Figure 1 shows the configuration of the DC/DC power converter for the proposed photovoltaic system. The proposed photovoltaic system is configured by a solar cell array and a DC/DC power converter. The DC/DC power converter is a boost type power converter, and it is applied to trace the maximum power point of the solar cell array. In general, the photovoltaic system can

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be divided into stand-alone and grid-connected types. The regulated DC power of the stand-alone photovoltaic system is used to charge a battery set and supply power to a DC load or an AC load by a DC/AC inverter. The output voltage of DC/DC power converter is clamped by the battery and varied slowly. The regulated DC power of the grid-connected photovoltaic system is sent to the grid-connected DC/AC inverter and injected into the utility. The output voltage of DC/DC power converter is regulated by the grid-connected DC/AC inverter. Therefore, the function of DC/DC power converter is addressed in the MPPT of solar cell array.

power electronic switch can be derived as:

V

==

SW

ts

TS Vsw (t)dt

Tfs

Vo

(I D)Vo
-

(1)

where Ts, t,ff and D are the switching period, turn-off time and duty ratio of the power electronic switch respectively, and Vo is the output voltage of DC/DC power converter. If the average voltage across the power electronic switch can be controlled to be proportional to the inductor current, the DC/DC power converter can be regarded as an active resistor (R). Thus, the average voltage across the power electronic switch can be represented as:
T Vsw = RIL = toff VO Ts

(2)

Fig. 1 The DC/DC power converter with the proposed MPPT method for a solar cell array.

III. OPERATION OF DC/DC POWER CONVERTER Since the different operating voltage of the solar cell array will produce different output power, the ripple voltage of solar cell array will degrade the efficiency of the photovoltaic system. Thus, a DC capacitor is connected to the solar cell array in parallel to stabilize the operation voltage. The controller is used to produce a control signal to turn on or off the power electronic switch of the DC/DC power converter. If the power electronic switch is turned on, the inductor can be energized by the power of the solar cell array. Conversely, if the power electronic switch is turned off, the energy stored in the inductor is transferred to the output capacitor via the diode. So, the unregulated DC voltage of the solar cell array can be converted into a regulated higher DC voltage. If the power electronic switch is turned on, a voltage across the power electronic switch approximates zero. Conversely, when the power electronic switch is turned off, a voltage across the power electronic switch is almost equal to the output voltage of the DC/DC power converter because the diode is conducted. A square waveform between zero and the output voltage of the DC/DC power converter appears across the power electronic switch while turning the power electronic switch on and off. If the inductor current is continuous, the average voltage across the

Because Ts and V0 are constant in (2), the DC/DC power converter can be operated as an active resistor while the turn-off time (toff) is proportional to the inductor current. The active resistor of DC/DC power converter is controllable because turn-off time is a controllable parameter. This means the equivalent active resistance of the DC/DC power converter can be adjusted by adjusting the turn-off time. Figure 2 shows the control block diagram of the DC/DC power converter. It includes a current detector, a multiplier, a PWM circuit and a driver circuit. Further, one of the multiplier input is connected to the output of the MPPT circuit. The output of the MPPT circuit is the active resistance control signal (Km). The output of the comparator is low and the power electronic switch is turned off while the modulation signal is lower than the high frequency carrier. At this time, the voltage across the power electronic switch is the output voltage of the DC/DC power converter. Conversely, the output of the comparator is high and the power electronic switch is turned on while the modulation signal is lower than the high frequency carrier. So, the voltage across the power electronic switch is zero. The turn-off time can be derived as:

toff =
A

V tri

(3)

where Vtri is the amplitude of the high frequency carrier. Substituting (3) into (1), then

_SW

The average voltage across the power electronic switch

Ts Vtri

(4)

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is proportional to the inductor current. From (4) and (2), the active resistor can be represented as: (5) R KmVo

Ts Vtri
As seen in (5), the active resistor of DC/DC power converter is proportional to the active resistance control signal (Km) get from the MPPT circuit. Therefore, the MPPT circuit can change the active resistor of DC/DC power converter so the real power supplied from the solar cell array can be adjusted. From Fig. 2, it can be found that only a feed forward control is used in the proposed DC/DC power converter, and it is simplified compared with the conventional DC/DC power converter. HIg fequency cam'rer
Inductor Current

Fig. 2 The control block diagram of the proposed MPPT method.

VI. FLOWCHART OF THE PROPOSED MPPT METHOD Figure 3 shows the flowchart of the proposed MPPT method. Referring to Fig. 3, first, an adjusting value

AKm(n) and the initial value Km(O) of the active resistance control signal are preset. The initial value Km(O) of the active resistance control signal is sent to the controller of the DC/DC power converter. Subsequently, after an interval, an average current (identified as "IL") of the inductor is calculated. Since the active resistance of the DC/DC power converter is proportional to the active resistance control signal (Km), the output power of the solar cell array is also proportional to the product of the square of the average inductor current IL and the active resistance control signal. Thus, the initial output power P(O) of the solar cell array can be gained by multiplying the square of the average inductor current IL and the first value Km(O) of the active resistance control signal. For obtaining the practical output power of the solar cell array, the average inductor current must be calculated after an interval for stabilizing the inductor current of the DC/DC power converter when a new active resistance control signal is applied. The interval depends on the response of the DC/DC power converter. Still referring to Fig. 3, the initial value Km(O) of the active resistance control signal is regarded as an old

Fig.3 The flowchart ofthe proposed MPPT method.

value Km(n-1) while the initial output power P(O) of the solar cell array is regarded as an old output power P(n-1). In addition, a new value Km(n) of the active resistance control signal is obtained by adding the old value Km(n-1) of the active resistance control signal and a new interval value AKm(n), then sent to the controller of the DC/DC power converter to act as an active resistance control signal. In this circumstance, the new interval value AKm(n) has replaced the old interval value AKm(n-1). Subsequently, after an interval, an average inductor current IL is calculated, and the square of the average inductor current IL and the new value Km(n) of the active resistance control signal are multiplied for obtaining a new output power P(n) of the solar cell array. To track the maximum power point, the new output power P(n) of the solar cell array is compared with its

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old value

P(n-1).

If the output power

P(n) P(n)

of the solar

Fig.

4 is around 1.73 KW. The

curr

output voltage of the solar

ent
are

cell array is greater than its old value

P(n- 1), P(n- 1),

AKm,(nl) is AKm,(nl)
is

cell array and the inductor

14.9

about

5.4 V and

equal equal

to

AKm,(n-AKm,(n1

4).

If the output power

of the solar

A at the maximum power

point. Therefore,
can

this the
ay

cell array is smaller than the old value

to

verifies

the

proposed

MPPT

method the

trace

1). P(n)
of the solar cell array and the
new

practical P(n- 1),

maximum

power

of

solar

cell

arr

Finally,
has

the output power the old value

effectively.

replaced
of the the

value

Km,(n)

active resistance old

a

control
at

signal
the is

has also time. and

a

replaced

value

Km,(n- 1)
the

same

Subsequently,
circulated

new

series

of steps

repeated

(a)

continuously by point

previous steps

until

I1OOV Icdiv
1*i

maximum power
an

of output power is tracked. Once maximum

power

operation point

of the

point

is

detected, the

MPPT circuit controls the

output power of
around the

:.......

(U)

the solar cell array continuous

perturbation point.

1UOA
(c)

div

operation point
The

of the maximum power maximum

curr

proposed

power
ent of the

point

tracking
power

method detects the inductor

converter for

DC/DC

lKWIdiv 50S

tracking

the maximum power

can

point. Thus, simplify

the

/dfiv
(a) voltage
of

it is useful that this method and circuit entire structure.

Fig.

Experimental (b)

result of the

proposed

MVPPT

method

solar cell array,

array.

inductor current,

(c) output

power of solar cell

V. EXPERImENTAL REsuLTs To

verify
a

the

performance
based

of the the

proposed
DSP

MPPT

Figure
power,

5 show the

experimental

result of the output

method,

prototype
is

on

controller

output voltage of solar cell array and inductor

TMS320C2407
arr

developed
four

and tested. The solar cell

current of

DC/DC

power converter under the condition

ay

is

configured by eight

strings,

and

every

string

that the solar cell array is shielded

abruptly.
arr

As

seen

in

contains

solar modules connected in series. Table

Fig. 5,
inductor
to

the output
curr

voltage

of solar cell

ay and the

shows the main parameters of the prototype. A inverter is connected to the

DC/AC
power

ent of

DC/DC

power converter

are

changed
the

output of

DC/DC

respond

to the

change

of the power

produced by

converter to convert the

output power of the photovoltaic

solar cell array.

converter

Then, the output

also

power of

DC/DC

power

system

to

utility,

and it

regulates

the output

voltage

of

is

changed point

immediately.

This

DC/DC

power converter at 200 V.

experimental
can

result proves the

proposed

MPPT method

track the maximum power

fast and

effectively.

Table

Experiment parameters
Solar module

Rate of maximum power

75W

Open voltage
Short current

21.3V
3 .5A
.................

(a)

100V div

DC/DC
Inductor

power converter 3m1-

Input Capacitor

4700

Switching Frequency

20KHz

(U)
I

OA
(c)

div

Figure

4 shows the

output voltage, output power of

curr

solar cell array and the inductor

converter after

ent of

DC/DC

power

IKWIdiv

applying

the

proposed
seen

MPPT method to

the

DC/DC power

converter. As

in

Fig. 4,

the output

50S /dfiv
Fig.
5

power of solar cell array is almost constant

during

the

Experimental

result of the

proposed

MPPT method under

part of

the solar cell array inductor current,

shielding abruptly, (a) voltage

of solar cell array,

(b)

experiment period,

and the maximum power shown in

(c) output

power of solar cell array.

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VI. CONCLUSIONS This paper proposed a novel MPPT method for the photovoltaic system. The proposed MPPT method has the feature that only the inductor current of the DC/DC power converter is required to be detected. Therefore, the proposed has can simplify the entire structure compared with the conventional perturbation and observation MPPT method requiring to detect both voltage and current to calculate the real power for detecting the maximum power point. The experimental results of the developed prototype verify that the performance of the proposed MPPT method is as expected. REFERENCES B. Kroposki and R. DeBlasio, "Technologies for the new millennium: photovoltaics as a distributed resource," in Proc. IEEE Power Engineering Society Summer Meeting, Vol. 3, July 2000, pp. 1798-1801. M. P. Choi and A. Tan, "Photovoltaics Demonstration Projects," Proc. of EMPD 98, Vol. 2, 1998, pp.637-643. L. Castaner and S. Silvestre, "Modeling Photovoltaic System," John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2002. Veerachary M., T. Senjyu, and K. Uezato, "Voltage-based maximum power point tracking control of PV system," IEEE Trans. Aerosp. Electron. Syst., Vol. 38, No. 1, Jan. 2002, pp. 262-270. Z. Salameh, F. Dagher and W. A. Lynch, "Step-down maximum power point tracker for photovoltaic arrays," Solar Energy, Vol. 46, No. 5, 1991,pp.278-282. F. Harashima and H. Inaba, "Micro processor controlled SIT inverter for solar energy system," IEEE Trans. on Indus. Electron., Vol. 34, Feb. 1985, pp. 50-55. N. Femia, G. Petrone, G. Spagnuolo, and M. Vitelli,

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