DESIGN OF MAXIMUM POWER TRACKING CIRCUIT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC WATER PUMPING SYSTEMS

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are distributed energy sources that are an environmentally friendly and renewable source of energy. However, solar PV power fluctuates due to variations in radiation and temperature levels. Furthermore, when the solar panel is directly connected to the load, the power that is delivered isn’t optimal. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is therefore necessary for maximum efficiency. This thesis presents a study of MPPT for PV system. The study includes discussion of various MPPT algorithms and performs comparative tests of the two MPPT algorithms the perturbation and observation (P&O) algorithm and Incremental Conductance (INC) under varying irradiation. The application of the MPPT for PV water pumping system are described, the modeling and the simulation of the PV module and the DC/DC converter is carried out using MATLAB/SIMULINK software. After that a study of PV water pumping system has been undertaken using DC motor coupling with a centrifugal pump. A comparison between the performances of those systems with MPPT in terms of PV total power produced is carried out. Results show that The INC algorithm shows smother power tracking; less oscillating and better stable operation and the implementation of the algorithm is considered to be complex. But P&O has oscillator around the MPP However, The P&O algorithm has a fast response time and it is not complex and easy to implement.