- Chile
The aim of this study is to conduct a literature review of the different Maximum Power Point Tracking techniques (MPPT) for photovoltaic systems, and identify the most suitable method for a domestic (low power) photovoltaic installation.... more
The aim of this study is to conduct a literature review of the different Maximum Power Point Tracking techniques (MPPT) for photovoltaic systems, and identify the most suitable method for a domestic (low power) photovoltaic installation.
The characteristics of each method are identified and classified into two main groups, namely: iterative methods, and analytical methods. The advantages of each method in relation to the others are discussed, under which conditions they have a better performance and which one allows to extract the most power from the photovoltaic system in all the different scenarios that may arise. Then, two of the most representative analytical methods are chosen, along with the most representative of the iterative methods as counterpart. These are tested by two types of simulations, consisting of changes in atmospheric conditions. Firstly, a simulation of a step perturbation (irradiance and temperature) is run and then a simulation of a continuous change with a ramp perturbation (temperature), based on the European Standard EN 50530. This is done in the simulation software, PLECS from Plexim.
Finally, the results from the simulations are compared, and according to the efficiency presented, the advantages and disadvantages, and the conditions under which they perform better, the most suitable MPPT method for a domestic photovoltaic system is chosen, which turns out to be the Temperature Gradient method. This method has the highest efficiency among the simulated MPPT methods, and its increased complexity is only one extra temperature sensor.
A secondary objective is to evaluate the simulation software PLECS, in terms of its ability to simulate photovoltaic systems. The software turns out to be deficient in this matter due to the lack of a photovoltaic module block. So an alternative method has to be used, and it depends on other software for this.
The characteristics of each method are identified and classified into two main groups, namely: iterative methods, and analytical methods. The advantages of each method in relation to the others are discussed, under which conditions they have a better performance and which one allows to extract the most power from the photovoltaic system in all the different scenarios that may arise. Then, two of the most representative analytical methods are chosen, along with the most representative of the iterative methods as counterpart. These are tested by two types of simulations, consisting of changes in atmospheric conditions. Firstly, a simulation of a step perturbation (irradiance and temperature) is run and then a simulation of a continuous change with a ramp perturbation (temperature), based on the European Standard EN 50530. This is done in the simulation software, PLECS from Plexim.
Finally, the results from the simulations are compared, and according to the efficiency presented, the advantages and disadvantages, and the conditions under which they perform better, the most suitable MPPT method for a domestic photovoltaic system is chosen, which turns out to be the Temperature Gradient method. This method has the highest efficiency among the simulated MPPT methods, and its increased complexity is only one extra temperature sensor.
A secondary objective is to evaluate the simulation software PLECS, in terms of its ability to simulate photovoltaic systems. The software turns out to be deficient in this matter due to the lack of a photovoltaic module block. So an alternative method has to be used, and it depends on other software for this.
