Smart Maximum Power Point Tracking for Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

One of the important factors to maximize the utilization and efficiency of any Photo-Voltaic (PV) system is the Maximum Power Point Tracking technique (MPPT). MPPT is specifically used to extract the maximum available power form the PV array, maximum power can be achieved by tracking the Maximum Power Point (MPP) using specialized algorithms. There are a lot of algorithms used for the MPPT, Perturb and Observe (P&O), and Incremental Conductance (INC) are the most common classic techniques that are used due to its simplicity in implementation but one of drawbacks of these algorithms is the cost of perturbations and oscillations at the steady state condition. For that reason we decide to turn into modern controllers. Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) is one of the most robust and modern control techniques. The work in this thesis illustrates the positive effect of the MPPT technique on the PV system. In addition, illustrating the theory of operation and simulating the behavior of both algorithms P&O and INC. The simulation work (using Matlab/Simulink) evaluates the algorithms under different operating conditions (temperature and solar irradiance) and showed that each algorithm has advantages over the other. P&O is the fastest to reach the MPP and to charge the battery but it can’t retain the MPP as INC algorithm can do. Meanwhile INC can reach the MPP with lower perturbations, consequently lower switching rate, higher efficiency, and higher life time for the used components.