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AbstractThis paper proposes a method for tracking the max- A less complicated way of tracking the maximum power
imum power point (MPP) of a photovoltaic (PV) module that point (MPP) is through a convenient estimation technique,
exploits the relation existing between the values of module voltage based on an offline module characterization. In these meth-
and current at the MPP (MPP locus). Experimental evidence
shows that this relation tends to be linear in conditions of high ods, the optimal value of the PV voltage (VMPP ) or current
solar irradiation. The analysis of the PV module electrical model (IMPP ) is estimated as a function of the module short circuit
allows one to justify this result and to derive a linear approxima- current (ISC ) [14], [15], open circuit voltage (VOC ) [16][18],
tion of the MPP locus. Based on that, an MPP tracking strategy is or temperature (T ) [19]. Although estimation methods are
devised which presents high effectiveness, low complexity, and the generally much cheaper and simpler than those previously
inherent possibility to compensate for temperature variations by
periodically sensing the module open circuit voltage. The proposed mentioned based on hill climbing algorithms, they often rely on
method is particularly suitable for low-cost PV systems and has approximated relations which, in certain operating conditions,
been successfully tested in a solar-powered 55-W battery charger can drive the system excessively far from the true MPP, thus
circuit. significantly reducing the effectiveness of the power processing
Index TermsMaximum power point (MPP) tracking, stand- circuit. Therefore, their use has been limited mainly to low-cost
alone photovoltaic (PV) systems. low-power PV applications.
Intermediate solutions can also be devised, as the one dis-
I. I NTRODUCTION cussed in [20], where a linear relation between the values
of module voltage and current at the MPP is used to reduce
TABLE I
PV MODULE DATA AND SIMULATION PARAMETERS
Fig. 3. (Black lines) IV curves for several irradiation conditions, (blue line)
the MPP locus curve, and (red line) the VLR, calculated for Ig = 2.5 A. Fig. 4. Simulated effectiveness of the VLR as a function of irradiation, for
three different values of RS .
TABLE II
VLR PARAMETERS AT T = 25 C
one can observe that VDO variation with temperature can also
be neglected.
Furthermore, if we neglect the IMPP variation with tempera-
ture, and considering that, as shown in Fig. 5, the sum (VDO +
n VT ) varies only about 6% for a 50 C temperature variation,
one can conclude that not only the characterization for the
VLR calculation can be done at any temperature condition, but
also that it is possible to compensate for temperature variations
simply by sampling the value of VOC (T ). This is demonstrated
by Fig. 6, where the VLR, calculated for T = T = 25 C,
approximates the MPP locus with similar accuracy for any
Fig. 8. (Blue lines) Effectiveness of the VLR method and (red lines) the
temperature condition, as long as VOC is updated. Fractional Voc method for three different temperature conditions.
Hence, to take advantage of this property, a practical imple-
mentation of the method would require the periodic sensing the VLR, instead, remains the same one, calculated offline.
of VOC at the irradiation condition that corresponds to Ig = Therefore, in the presence of variable irradiation conditions, the
Ig . However, this solution would not be convenient, since it system moves across several effectiveness curves, each related
requires the additional sensing of Ig or the use of an irra- to the particular, more recently sampled, VOC value.
diation sensor. Therefore, this paper proposes a simpler and Using the parameters of Table I and temperature T = 25 C,
cost-effective implementation: the value of VOC is sensed and Fig. 7 shows several effectiveness curves of the proposed
simply inserted in (8), without any concern about temperature method for the entire Ig range. The curves differ in the value
or irradiation conditions at the moment of sensing. As it will be of Ig at which VOC has been sensed, given by the marked point
further discussed in the next section, it will not only determine on each curve. As an example, assuming that VOC is sensed
the required compensation, but also inherently increase the for Ig = 1.5 A (point A in Fig. 7), if the value of Ig decreases
effectiveness of the estimation, particularly for lower irradia- to Ig = 0.2 A (point B), the operation point will go far from
tion conditions, i.e., those below Ig . Given the relatively slow the MPP, as predicted in Section II. However, if a new sample
thermal time constants, this only requires the periodic sampling of VOC is taken, this will result in more suitable parameters
of VOC at a very low frequency, which helps to minimize for the estimation equation, increasing the effectiveness. Please
the negative impact on the effectiveness of the temperature note that the same fact is observed in the inverse situation, i.e.,
compensation process. if irradiation increases between two VOC samples.
V. S TUDY OF THE M ETHOD E FFECTIVENESS B. Comparison With the Fractional VOC Method
This section presents the study of the effectiveness of the The proposed solution will now be compared with the
proposed method. First, the impact of the proposed solution for F racVOC method ([12] and [13]) that estimates the VMPP
temperature compensation on the effectiveness of the method value as
will be considered. Later, the VLR method will be compared
to the very popular Fractional VOC (F racVOC ) method, to VFrac = kFrac VOC . (10)
evaluate the effectiveness improvement obtained with respect
to a method with similar implementation complexity. The idea is to compare the effectiveness of each method as
a function of irradiation and temperature. Parameter kFrac was
defined as kFrac = 0.75, and the VLR has the same parameters
A. Influence of Irradiation at VOC Sampling
presented in Table I. For each value of Ig , the VOC was sampled
As explained above, during operation, VOC is periodically and the effectiveness of each method, for the three values of
sensed, and VOFFSET is adjusted accordingly. The slope of temperature, was calculated and reported in Fig. 8.
SCARPA et al.: MPPT TECHNIQUE EXPLOITING THE PV MODULE MPP LOCUS CHARACTERIZATION 1535
TABLE III
COMPARISON OF THE MEAN EFFECTIVENESS FOR
VLR AND F racVOC METHODS
TABLE IV
CONVERTER COMPONENT VALUES
Fig. 13. (a) Dynamic behavior of the system for an irradiation decrease. (From
top to bottom) Module voltage (2 V/div), module power (20 W/div), module
current (0.5 A/div), current reference (1.2 A/div). Horizontal scale: 50 ms/div.
(b) Same transition over the IV plane.
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Jan. 2001. Padova, Italy, in 1992 and 1997, respectively.
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Electron., vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 594s601s, Jun. 2001. the Ph.D. degree in industrial electronics from the
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