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Solar Charge Controller Using Maximum Power Point Tracking

Technique
To cite this article: Marhaposan Situmorang et al 2019 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1230 012090

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

Solar Charge Controller Using Maximum Power Point

Tracking Technique

Marhaposan Situmorang1*, Kurnia Brahmana2, Takdir Tamba3

Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, University of
Sumatera Utara, Medan

Email Addres marhaposan@usu.ac.id*

Abstract. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) has been constructed which consist of
booster Direct Current to Direct Current (DC to DC) converter, triggered by Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) given by Arduino board ATMega 328 microcontroller and MOSFET as a
switch. The maximum power resulted from Photovoltaic Generator (PVG) which was
illuminated with halogen lamp was tracked using Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm which
was written in ATMega 328. The execution of P & O algorithm was based on voltage and
current measurements using voltage and ACS 712 current sensors and then the calculation of
power value was used to decide the execution direction of P&O algorithm to track maximum
power value. The measurement results of current, voltage and power before and after tracking
was tabulated in Excell Table and plotted in graphical form using Parallax Data Acquisition
(PLX-DAQ) software. The tracking output voltage was achieved higher than input voltage
value and nearly constant, although input voltage values was slightly varying. The
implementation of MPPT in battery charging process gives that charging time of 8 hours was
needed without using MPPT and charging time of 3 hours and 20 minutes was needed after
using MPPT.

1. Introduction
Renewable energy resources such as solar energy has been extensively investigated since the energy
free of pollution and exist abundantly in almot all of earth sky. Photovoltaic Generator (PVG) convert
sunlight directly into electricity and can be used in many applications. One of major problem of using
PVG is related with the optimum load resistance that must be used in order to achieve maximum
power and then maximum efficiency [1]. At optimum load resistance, the voltage and power exist in
maximum condition and the point is called maximum power point (MPP). In practice it is very
difficult to adjust the load resistance into the optimum load value since the load may change during
converting process, consequently the voltage and then the power extracted from PVG will move from
maximum value.
To overcome these difficulties an MPPT must be used to force the PVG output voltage module
back into operating point at maximum voltage and at maximum power point. There are several
MPPT techniques that has been proposed such as Perturb and Observe (P&O), Increament
Conductance (IncCon) and Fuzzy Logic. Among them P&O technique is simple and easily
implemented into hardware [2][3][4] and can be applied in irradiance changes [5][6]. Fuzzy logic
techniques also proposed and was claimed to be faster than P&O technique [7][8][9][10] but most of
them was evaluated and presented in simulation process, since it has a complexity in hardware

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

implementation [11][12]. Fares et al compare fuzzy logic algorithms with commonly used algorithms
such as P&O and IncCon algorithms. It was decided that fuzzy logic are more stable and superior
than P&O and IncCon. algorithm [13]. Recently, Mars N et al proposed synergetic MPPT controller to
track maximum power under variation of temperature and irradiation. It was claimed that extraction of
maximum power was achieved without chattering effect [14]. However, since implementation of
fuzzy logic in circuit need a complexity in hardware design, most of fuzzy logic control publications
mentioned before was implemented in simulation using Matlab-Simulink. Implementation in real
circuit is therefore our goal using a commonly used P&O algorithm and than implemented in battery
solar charging system.
In this paper we propose MPPT techniques using DC to DC boost converter which is triggered by
PWM pulse from ATMega 328. The control algoritma that has been downloaded in ATMega 328 is
written in P &O algorithm [15][16]. The execution P &O algoritm will track the maximum voltage
value of the boost converter by applying a sets of duty cycle of a PWM signal into the MOSFET in the
boost converter to result the tracked output voltage and then to result the maximum power output. The
booster converter output voltage after tracking using MPPT is finally implemented into battery as a
load and charging discharging processes will be evaluated.

2. Proposed Approach
2.1. Block Diagram.
Block diagram of battery solar charging system is shown in Figure 1.
DC TO DC
PVG CONVERTER

CURRENT CURRENT
SENSOR SENSOR
MOSFET MOSFET
VOLTAGE
SENSOR
VOLTAGE LOAD
SENSOR

BATTERY

MICRO
CONTROLLER

PC

Figure 1. Block diagram of battery solar charging system.

PVG of 85 Wp power was illuminated using halogen lamp with such a certain intensity measured by
TES 132 solarimeter. The output voltage of PVG is connected into booster DC to DC converter and
execution of P & O algorithm in ATMega 328, gives such a duty cycle to drive MOSFET and then
the output voltage was perturb into direction of maximum power. With these steps the maximum
power was determined and then extracted from PVG output into the load which in this case a battery
to be charged. The maximum power with maximum voltage then will charge the battery. In order to
start and stop charging, between DC to DC converter and battery is equipped with MOSFET switch

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

to start charging process when the battery is empty and to stop charging process when the battery is in
a full condition.

2.2 The Circuit Scheme of MPPT controller.

The circuit scheme of MPPT controller is shown in Figure 2 which consist of Vs as a photovoltaic
voltage source, inductor L, diode D, capacitor C, MOSFET as a fast switch (S) and load in this case as
a chargeable battery. The switch S of MOSFET in circuit of MPPT is connected with PWM which
result duty cycle from P&O algorithm in ATMega 328.

PWM

Figure 2. The circuit scheme of MPPT controller.

2.3. Perturb and Observe Algorithm.

In order to activate switch S into on and off conditions, a source code of algorithm P&O is written in
ATMega 328 and obey the flow chart as shown in Figure 3. The principle of tracking is to decide the
direction of perturbation after first measurement of voltage and current and then the calculation of
power. If the calculation of power increase compare with initial condition then direction of
perturbation is in correct direction and tracking is continue in the same direction until the calculation
of power decrease. If the calculation of power decrease compare with initial condition then
direction of perturbation is not correct and tracking direction must be done in reverse direction.
START

Meajure V(k), I(k)

dV ≈ V(k+1)-V(k)
dI ≈ I(k+1)-I(k)

No Yes
P(k)>P(k-1)

Yes No Yes
No
V(k)>V(k-1) V(k)>V(k-1)

Increase Voltage Decrease Voltage Decrease Voltage Increase Voltage

Figure 3. Perturb and Observe Algorithm.

2.4. Current, Voltage and Power measurement.

During charging process voltage and current flowing out of PVG and voltage and current flowing
into battery are measured using voltage sensor and ACS 712 current sensor. Voltage, current and

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

power data stored in microcontroller is sent into personal computer. Using PLX-DAQ software
installed in personal computer, voltage, current and power data out of PVG and voltage, current and
power data out of MPPT used for charging process was tabulated in real time in excel table with
such a time spacing which can be adjusted. The tabulation of data, can be used to plot graph of PVG
output voltage and MPPT output voltage versus time and also voltage, current and power of battery
during charging process until battery is full and also graph of discharging process until battery is
empty. The graph of charging and discharging process will show the difference between time
consumed of charging process using MPPT and without MPPT.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. MPPT voltage tracking.
DC to DC converter was constructed with 6 mH inductor L and 10 µF capacitor C. Load consist of a
ceramic resistor of 18 Ohm (20W) and battery is not included. The varying illumination of 400 W/m2
to 600 W/m2 was given into solar panel using dim switch. The PVG output voltage are also vary as
shown in Figure 4. The PVG output voltage is then directed into MPPT controller to track output
voltage of PVG. The output voltage of MPPT after tracking are shown in nearly constant value. The
stable value of MPPT output voltage gives a such proof that maximum voltage tracking occurs in our
MPPT controller.

Figure 4. Output voltage PVG and MPPT under illumination variation.

3.2. Battery charging directly from PVG without MPPT tracker.

In order to observe the role of MPPT tracker in charging process, an empty lead acid battery 10 Ah,
12V, was charged directly using PVG output voltage. The PVG was illuminated using halogen lamp
with intensity of 600 W/m2. Figure 5 shows time needed for charging process is about 8 hours.
Figure 6 shows battery power charging and the available PVG output power. It seems that plenty of
PVG output power are not absorbed by the battery.

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

Figure 5. Battery charging process using PVG output voltage.

Figure 6. Power absorbed in charging process inside battery.

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

Figure 7. Discharging process of battery after full charging.

Figure 7 shows the discharging process of the battery after full charging. The discharging is done
using bulb as a load. It is needed about 3 hours and 10 minutes to discharge and make the battery into
an empty condition.

3.3. Battery charging from PVG using MPPT tracker.

Charging process using an MPPT trackers shows the difference in terms of charging time and power
absorbed by battery.The PVG was illuminated using halogen lamp with the same intensity (600 W/m2)
and an empty battery will be charged using MPPT output voltage. The MPPT output voltage of
charging process is shown in Figure 8. Nearly in whole charging time, about 4 hours and 20 minutes
the battery voltage value is very closed with tracker PVG output voltage value.

Figure 8. Battery charging process using MPPT.

It would indicate that nearly all power extracted from PVG using MPPT was absorbed by the battery.
It is also shown in Figure 9 that nearly all power delivered from the PVG using MPPT tracker, was
absorbed by battery. The charging time using MPPT is faster than charging time without using MPPT.

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

Figure 9. Power absorbed by the battery in charging process using MPPT.

This indication means that an MPPT tracker able to extract maximum power from PVG since the full
condition of the battery is proved by the discharging process as shown in Figure 10 using bulb as a
load which takes the same time as in Figure 7 about 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Figure 10. Discharging process of battery after full charging using MPPT.

3.4. Discussion.
Graphical presentation of charging process using MPPT and without using MPPT give us the proof
that MPPT has been able successfully extract maximum output power from PVG. In battery charging
prosess using MPPT, power absorbed by the battery are in the same quantity with the power extracted
from PVG. It shows that charging using MPPT exist in a high efficiency compare with charging
without using MPPT. Furthermore, charging time are found to be faster if using MPPT tracker in
about half of charging time needed without using MPPT.

4. Conclusion
The MPPT has been found successfull to extract maximum power from PVG system for arbitrary load
resistance. Graphical representation of output voltage and power which is measured in real time using
PLX-DAQ software exhibit the presence of tracking maximum voltage and power in output voltage of
PVG system. Charging process of battery using MPPT shows that nearly all output power from PVG

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MECNIT 2018 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 1230 (2019) 012090 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1230/1/012090

is absorbed by battery and charging time is found two times faster using MPPT compare with charging
process without using MPPT.

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Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank The University of Sumatera Utara Centre of Research for the financial
support under contract No: 250/UN5.1.R/PPM/2018, 16 March 2018.