MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING TECHNIQUES

MPPT ALGORITHMS

3. MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING ALGORITHMS

3.1 AN OVERVIEW OF MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING

A typical solar panel converts only 30 to 40 percent of the incident solar
irradiation into electrical energy. Maximum power point tracking technique is used to
improve the efficiency of the solar panel.
According to Maximum Power Transfer theorem, the power output of a circuit
is maximum when the Thevenin impedance of the circuit (source impedance) matches
with the load impedance. Hence our problem of tracking the maximum power point
reduces to an impedance matching problem.
In the source side we are using a boost convertor connected to a solar panel in
order to enhance the output voltage so that it can be used for different applications
like motor load. By changing the duty cycle of the boost converter appropriately we
can match the source impedance with that of the load impedance.

3.2 DIFFERENT MPPT TECHNIQUES

There are different techniques used to track the maximum power point. Few of
the most popular techniques are:

1) Perturb and Observe (hill climbing method)

2) Incremental Conductance method
3) Fractional short circuit current
4) Fractional open circuit voltage
5) Neural networks
6) Fuzzy logic
The choice of the algorithm depends on the time complexity the algorithm
takes to track the MPP, implementation cost and the ease of implementation.

Figure: 3.1 Different types of MPPT Techniques

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3.2.1 Perturb & Observe

Perturb & Observe (P&O) is the simplest method. In this we use only one
sensor, that is the voltage sensor, to sense the PV array voltage and so the cost of
implementation is less and hence easy to implement. The time complexity of this
algorithm is very less but on reaching very close to the MPP it doesn’t stop at the
MPP and keeps on perturbing on both the directions. When this happens the algorithm
has reached very close to the MPP and we can set an appropriate error limit or can use
a wait function which ends up increasing the time complexity of the algorithm.
However the method does not take account of the rapid change of irradiation
level (due to which MPPT changes) and considers it as a change in MPP due to
perturbation and ends up calculating the wrong MPP. To avoid this problem we can
use incremental conductance method.

3.2.2 Incremental conductance

Incremental conductance method uses two voltage and current sensors to sense
the output voltage and current of the PV array.
At MPP the slope of the PV curve is 0.
(dP/dV)MPP=d(VI)/dV (3.1)
0=I+VdI/dVMPP (3.2)
dI/dVMPP = - I/V (3.3)

Figure 3.2: Incremental conductance method

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The left hand side is the instantaneous conductance of the solar panel. When
this instantaneous conductance equals the conductance of the solar then MPP is
reached.
Here we are sensing both the voltage and current simultaneously. Hence the
error due to change in irradiance is eliminated. However the complexity and the cost
of implementation increases.
As we go down the list of algorithms the complexity and the cost of
implementation goes on increasing which may be suitable for a highly complicated
system. This is the reason that Perturb and Observe and Incremental Conductance
method are the most widely used algorithms.

Figure: 3.3 Incremental conductance algorithm

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Owing to its simplicity of implementation we have chosen the Perturb &

Observe algorithm for our study among the two.

3.2.3 Fractional open circuit voltage

The near linear relationship between VMPP and VOC of the PV array, under
varying irradiance and temperature levels, has given rise to the fractional VOC method.
VMPP = k1 Voc (3.4)

where k1 is a constant of proportionality. Since k1 is dependent on the characteristics

of the PV array being used, it usually has to be computed beforehand by empirically
determining VMPP and VOC for the specific PV array at different irradiance and
temperature levels. The factor k 1 has been reported to be between 0.71 and 0.78. Once
k1 is known, VMPP can be computed with VOC measured periodically by momentarily
shutting down the power converter. However, this incurs some disadvantages,
including temporary loss of power.

3.2.4 Fractional Short Circuit Current

Fractional ISC results from the fact that, under varying atmospheric conditions,
IMPP is approximately linearly related to the ISC of the PV array.
IMPP =k2 Isc (3.5)
where k2 is a proportionality constant. Just like in the fractional V OC technique, k2 has
to be determined according to the PV array in use. The constant k 2 is generally found
to be between 0.78 and 0.92. Measuring I SC during operation is problematic. An
additional switch usually has to be added to the power converter to periodically short
the PV array so that ISC can be measured using a current sensor.

3.2.5 Fuzzy logic

Microcontrollers have made using fuzzy logic control popular for MPPT over
last decade. Fuzzy logic controllers have the advantages of working with imprecise
inputs, not needing an accurate mathematical model, and handling nonlinearity.
3.2.6 Neural network
Another technique of implementing MPPT which are also well adapted for
microcontrollers is neural networks. Neural networks commonly have three layers:

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input, hidden, and output layers. The number nodes in each layer vary and are user-
dependent. The input variables can be PV array parameters like V OC and ISC,
atmospheric data like irradiance and temperature, or any combination of these. The
output is usually one or several reference signals like a duty cycle signal used to drive
the power converter to operate at or close to the MPP.
Table 1 : Characteristics of different MPPT Techniques

Implementatio Periodic Sensed

MPPT technique Convergence speed
n complexity tuning parameters
Perturb & observe Varies Low No Voltage
Incremental
Varies Medium No Voltage, current
conductance
Fractional Voc Medium Low Yes Voltage
Fractional Isc Medium Medium Yes Current
Fuzzy logic control Fast High Yes Varies

Neural network Fast High Yes Varies

3.3 PERTURB & OBSERVE ALGORITHM

The Perturb & Observe algorithm states that when the operating voltage of the
PV panel is perturbed by a small increment, if the resulting change in power ∆P is
positive, then we are going in the direction of MPP and we keep on perturbing in the
same direction. If ∆P is negative, we are going away from the direction of MPP and
the sign of perturbation supplied has to be changed.

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Figure 3.4 : Solar panel characteristics showing MPP and operating points A and B

Figure 3.1 shows the plot of module output power versus module voltage for a
solar panel at a given irradiation. The point marked as MPP is the Maximum Power
Point, the theoretical maximum output obtainable from the PV panel. Consider A and
B as two operating points. As shown in the figure above, the point A is on the left
hand side of the MPP. Therefore, we can move towards the MPP by providing a
positive perturbation to the voltage. On the other hand, point B is on the right hand
side of the MPP. When we give a positive perturbation, the value of ∆P becomes
negative, thus it is imperative to change the direction of perturbation to achieve MPP.
The flowchart for the P&O algorithm is shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.5 : Flowchart of Perturb & Observe algorithm

3.4 LIMITATIONS OF PERTURB & OBSERVE ALGORITHM

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Figure 3.6: Curve showing wrong tracking of MPP by P&O algorithm under
rapidly varying irradiance

In a situation where the irradiance changes rapidly, the MPP also moves on the
right hand side of the curve. The algorithm takes it as a change due to perturbation
and in the next iteration it changes the direction of perturbation and hence goes away
from the MPP as shown in the figure.
However, in this algorithm we use only one sensor, that is the voltage sensor,
to sense the PV array voltage and so the cost of implementation is less and hence easy
to implement. The time complexity of this algorithm is very less but on reaching very
close to the MPP it doesn’t stop at the MPP and keeps on perturbing in both the
directions. When this happens the algorithm has reached very close to the MPP and
we can set an appropriate error limit or can use a wait function which ends up
increasing the time complexity of the algorithm.

3.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF MPPT USING BOOST CONVERTER

The system uses a boost converter to obtain more practical uses out of the
solar panel. The initially low voltage output is stepped up to a higher level using the
boost converter, though the use of the converter does tend to introduce switching
losses. The block diagram shown in Figure 3.4 gives an overview of the required
implementation.

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Figure 3.7 : Requisite implementation for MPPT system

3.6 SUMMARY:

This paper presents an overview of MPPT methods, and considers their

suitability in systems which experience a wide range of operating conditions. From
this, it is clear that each MPPT method has its own advantages and disadvantages and
the choice is highly application-dependent. When using solar panels in residential
locations, the objective is to reduce the payback time. To do so, it is necessary to
constantly and quickly track the maximum power point. Furthermore, the MPPT
should be capable of minimizing the ripple around the MPP. Therefore, the two
techniques stages—incremental conductance (IC) and perturbation and observation (P
& O) algorithms are suitable. These two methods have been evaluated by simulating a
standalone PV system, utilizing a DC-DC boost converter to connect the PV panel to
the load. In particular, the performance of each method has been considered over a
wide range of different irradiation conditions. Results show that the enhance of
perturb and observe algorithm exhibits faster dynamic performance and achieves
steady state level better than the incremental conductance method over a broad range
of irradiation settings and load profiles.

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