Enhanced auto-scaling incremental conductance MPPT method, implemented on low-cost microcontroller and SEPIC converter Articles uri icon

publication date

  • March 2019

start page

  • 152

end page

  • 168

volume

  • 180

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0038-092X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1471-1257

abstract

  • This paper proposes a new maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is tested in simulations and practical implementations. In the proposed PV-MPPT system, a new control strategy is applied to create two operating areas. In each area, the step-size is different in the function of the closeness to the MPP. Because of this strategy, some drawbacks of the conventional incremental conductance (IncCond) methods are eliminated. A single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) DC-DC converter is controlled with the proposed MPPT technique. The modified IncCond method is validated under simulation with test data, real data and real scenarios of solar irradiation. The results of the proposed approach show higher MPPT efficiencies and shorter convergence times than the conventional IncCond method even in rapidly changing conditions of solar radiation.

subjects

  • Industrial Engineering
  • Renewable Energies

keywords

  • incremental conductance; mppt; pv system; pv control; optimization; dc-dc converter; power point tracking; p-and-o; sudden changes; algorithm; systems; design; perturbation; simulation; irradiance; efficiency