Comparative Analysis of Maximum Power Point Tracking Controllers under Partial Shaded Conditions in a Photovoltaic System

• Main Authors: R. Ramaprabha, S.P. Chitra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sultan Qaboos University 2015-06-01
• Series: The Journal of Engineering Research
• Subjects: partial shaded pv system, efficiency, artificial neural network, centralized controller, distributed controller.
• Online Access: https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/tjer/article/view/152
• ISSN: 1726-6009; 1726-6742

Mismatching effects due to partial shaded conditions are the major drawbacks existing in today’s photovoltaic (PV) systems. These mismatch effects are greatly reduced in distributed PV system architecture where each panel is effectively decoupled from its neighboring panel. To obtain the optimal operation of the PV panels, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are used. In partial shaded conditions, detecting the maximum operating point is difficult as the characteristic curves are complex with multiple peaks. In this paper, a neural network control technique is employed for MPPT. Detailed analyses were carried out on MPPT controllers in centralized and distributed architecture under partial shaded environments. The efficiency of the MPPT controllers and the effectiveness of the proposed control technique under partial shaded environments was examined using MATLAB software. The results were validated through experimentation.