An improved perturb and observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for higher efficiency

Ahmed, Jubaer; Salam, Zainal

Abstract

This paper proposes a method to improve the efficiency of the P&O maximum power point tracker (MPPT) by reducing the steady state oscillation and eliminating the possibility of the algorithm to lose its tracking direction. A dynamic perturbation step-size is employed to reduce the oscillation, while boundary conditions are introduced to prevent it from diverging away from the MPP. To prove its effectiveness, the proposed P&O is compared with the conventional and adaptive P&O using the Ropp, sinusoidal and ramp irradiance tests. In addition, the performances are evaluated based on a one-day (10 h) irradiance and temperature profile. The algorithm is implemented on a buck-boost converter and benchmarked by the standard MPPT efficiency (ηMPPT) calculation. It was found that, for all the tests, the ηMPPT of the proposed P&O scheme is increased by approximately two percentage points. Besides, the proposed algorithm does not require any extra hardware components; only several lines of additional software codes are to be embedded into the conventional P&O MPPT control program.

Citation

Ahmed, J., & Salam, Z. (2015). An improved perturb and observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for higher efficiency. Applied Energy, 150, 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 20, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Deposit Date: Dec 28, 2021
• Journal: Applied Energy
• Print ISSN: 0306-2619
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 150
• Pages: 97-108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.006
• Keywords: Solar energy, Photovoltaic, P&O, MPPT, P–V curve, MPPT
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2823285