DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China

Study on MPPT Control of the Single-stage

Grid-connected PV System
Yan Wang, Peng Li, Member, IEEE , Hong-lei Wang, Jin-fei Tang

complicated MPPT method. Yet the rapid development of

Abstract--The fuzzy control can react to the environment microelectronic technique and the great reduction in the price
change quickly and keep the photovoltaic system work on its of microelectronic element embarrassed the control mode[4].
maximum power point all the time. However, the limitation in the So, the adoption of control mode with MPPT function can
fuzzy control itself and the characteristic of self-optimization lead
to serious concussion of the system around the maximum power
effectively improve the transmission benefit[5]. The problem of
point. Whereas the PID control method is effective in the achieving maximum power point tracking has now attracted
elimination of concussion and is easy to be realized. To tackle the the attention from academic field.
problem, the fuzzy parameter self-tuning PID control method is
adopted in the paper to achieve the MPPT control of PV system. II. THE PV CHARACTERISTIC OF PV CELL
The method can effectively eliminate the concussion around the
maximum power point and improve the stability of the system; The typical current-voltage characteristic and watt-voltage
and achieve grid-connected operation with a high power factor in characteristic of PV cell are shown in fig.1 and fig.2.
combination with the harmonic elimination PWM control of
inverter. Simulation results show that the scheme has merits of
simple structure, high power factor and reliable operation, etc.
and is worthwhile to be popularized.

Index Terms--Grid connection, Fuzzy control, Harmonic

elimination PWM control, MPPT

I. INTRODUCTION

E NERGY conservation and environment protection have

become the theme of the new century[1]. Solar power has
attracted the attention of governments at all levels in that it is a
Fig.1. The current-voltage characteristic of PV cell

kind of green power which is clean, noise-free as well as

inexhaustible, so many firms and scientific research
departments have engaged in the exploitation and utilization
of solar energy, and products on the utilization are now
sprouting endlessly[2].
The solar power generation is developing from small scale
household system to large scale grid-connected system. The
output of solar power station fluctuates greatly due to the
intrinsic fluctuation and randomicity of solar power. With the
increase of capacity of such solar power stations, the
Fig.2. The watt-voltage characteristic of PV cell
fluctuation of their output inflicted more great impact on the
grid. The research on effects between dispersed solar power Affected by external factors (temperature, sunshine density
stations and grid system has now become the hot spot in the etc) at a great number, the output of PV cell bears a strong
research on large scale grid-connected PV power station[3]. nonlinear characteristic.Fig.1 shows the current-voltage
In terms of PV control techniques, the CVT control method characteristic curve under different circumstance. Fig.2 shows
is employed by many products in place of the more the watt-voltage characteristic of PV cell under different
circumstance. It can be concluded from the curves that the
This work was supported by the important research project fund of North CVT control method cant meet the demand of maximum
China Electric Power University, China (200613003). power output of PV cell under variant sunlight density and
The authors are with the Key Laboratory of Power System Protection and temperature, especially under fairly great temperature
Dynamic Security Monitoring and Control under the Ministry of Education,
North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, Hebei, P.R.China
difference, and a great amount of energy is wasted. As fig.2(b)
(Yan Wangs e-mail: wy_204@126.com,Peng Lis e-mail::ncepulp@263.net.) shows, if the value at the maximum power point under high

978-7-900714-13-8/08/ 2008 DRPT

 DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
2

temperature is chosen, about 30% of the energy will be
wasted under low temperature; if that under lower temperature
is chosen, 100% of the energy will be wasted under high
temperature. So, how to avoid the great waste of energy is
what the maximum power point tracking technique is used
for[6].
III. THE SINGLE-STATE GRID-CONNECTED PHOTOVOLTAIC
SYSTEM
Fig.3. shows the structure of power conversion section of
the single-state grid-connected photovoltaic system.
Fig.3. Schematic diagram of a single-state grid-connected photovoltaic system
Fig.3. shows that the single-state grid-connected inversion
IV. THE WORKING PRINCIPLE OF FUZZY PARAMETER SELF-
TUNING PID CONTROL
Fuzzy control is perfectly suitable to a complicated
nonlinear system whose mathematic model is unknown[12].
The PV system bears strong nonlinearity due to the
uncertainty of sunlight density and the change of temperature
and load. Whats more is that the working conditions of PV
cell are difficult to be expressed in a precise mathematic
model, so it is extremely suitable to adopt the fuzzy control
method to realize the maximum power point tracking of PV
cell, which can gain an ideal control effect[13,14]. Though the
fuzzy control reacts rapidly to environmental change, and
keeps the PV system work on its maximum power point
invariably; however, due to the intrinsic characteristic of self-
optimization, the system concusses around the maximum
power point. The simulative waveform under fuzzy control
method is shown in fig.4.
U/V

system comprises PV array, DC bus capacitor, inverter-bridge 300

and filter inductor. Though simple in structure, the single-state 150

grid-connected inversion system should guarantee that the 0

-150
output current is high quality sine wave with the same phase
-300
and direction with the grid voltage, and with a low total 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s
distortion degree; meanwhile, the MPPT control of PV array is I/A

realized, which keeps it work around the maximum power 100

point, but the control is comparatively complicated. However, 50

with the fast development of modern power electronic 0

technique and digital signal processing technique, the single- -50
step grid-connected PV system is certain to be widely
-100
employed and become a hotspot in the research circle of PV 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s

system[7,8].
Fig.4. The simulation waveform of the traditional fuzzy control
The filter inductance, bus capacitance, inversion circuit loss
and voltage drop over switching tube neglected, the power Fig.4 shows that there exists terrible concussion in the
supply capacity of PV array to local loads and grid is: system. For a DC/AC power source with a definite pulse width
U I
P = PL + PS = PL + sm sm cos 1 output, the change of output current caused by change of load
2
will inevitably lead to the variation of output voltage. The
Where: P is the output power of PV array
closed-loop control strategy employing PID functions with
PL is the power consumed by load
greater precision and effect when it is applied to regulate the
PS is the output power from PV to grid
output voltage[11], meanwhile, and it can also effectively
U sm is the amplitude of grid voltage eliminate the concussion phenomenon and improve the
I sm is the amplitude of grid-fed current stability of the system. The structure of grid-connected single-
is the phase difference between grid voltage and stage PV system with MPPT control is shown in fig.5.
grid-fed current
Equation (1) demonstrates that the adjustment of I sm will
change the output power of the system, therefore, the
maximum power tracking function can be achieved through
the single-step power conversion[9,10].
However, the PV grid-connected system is different from
ordinary DC inversion circuit in that its output power is
various with the change of environment factors such as
sunshine density and temperature. Meanwhile, due to the finite
Fig.5. Frame of single-stage photovoltaic grid-connected system
capacity of DC capacitor, change of load, especially the
introduction and the dropping out of high-power load, the
power source suffers from great shocks, and so as to depress A. The Structure of Fuzzy Parameter Self-tuning PID Control
the impacts caused, a suitable control strategy should be The fuzzy parameter self-tuning PID control accomplishes
adopted to stabilize the power source[11]. the real-time self-adjustment of PID parameters using fuzzy
 DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
3

rules, which can give out the deductive result of PID
parameters under different real-time conditions. The structure
of fuzzy parameter self-tuning control is demonstrated in fig.6.
Fig.6. The structure of the fuzzy parameter self-tuned PID control
B. The Input and Output of Fuzzy Controller
The two inputs of fuzzy controller are error e and the
variance of error e , as shown in equation (2). While the
output is d , the variance of the duty cycle of switching
devices in the circuit.
Ppv ( k ) Ppv ( k 1)
e(k ) =
i pv ( k ) i pv ( k 1)
e ( k ) = e ( k ) e ( k 1)
Where Ppv (k ) and i pv (k ) respectively denote the output power
and current of solar cell array. When e(k ) is equal to zero, the
solar cell array works on the maximum power point.
Generally, the discrete expression of PID controller is
k
u(k ) = Kpe(k ) + KiT e( j) + Kde(k )/ T
j =1
Where T represents the sampling period (known);
e( k )and e(k) are the input quantities (known);
K p = ( K p ,m ax K p ,m in ) K p + K p ,m in (10)
Kd = ( Kd,max Kd,min ) K d + Kd,min (11)
From equations (6)~(11), it can be concluded that the
determination of parameters of PID controller Kp , Kd and Ki
is the direct result of the determination of Kp , K d and .
Please use a proportional serif typeface such as Times
Roman or Times New Roman and embed all fonts. (See your
softwares Help section if you do not know how to embed
fonts.) Table I provides samples of the appropriate type sizes
and styles to use.
C. The Generation of Fuzzy Control Rules
Among fuzzy control rules, the language variants of
(2) e(k ) and e(k ) are given the values of NBNSZOPS
and PB, whose membership functions are all triangular
waveform, and the width range of the variants are equal to
each other. The membership functions of e e and d are
shown in fig7.
(3)
Fig.7. The membership functions of e e and d

Kp , Ki and K d are the parameters of controller (unknown),

The correction factors Kp and K d are used to achieve
where
K i = K p / Ti
proportional factor Kp and differential factor Kd , and their
(4)
values are in the closed interval of [0,1], and the language
K d = K p Td (5)
variants of them are assigned the values B and S. The
Where Ti represents the integrative time constant, and Td is membership functions of K 'p and Kd' are shown in fig.8.
the differential time constant[15]. u
So as to get the fuzzy control rule through which suitable 1 u(B )
u (S )
PID parameters are deduced in real-time circumstance, K p is
0
assumed to be in the range of [ Kp,min , Kp,max ], and Kd in the 0 .0 0 .2 0 .4 0 .6 0 .8 1 .0 K p , K d

range of [ Kd,min , ]; the ranges of K p and Kd are

Kd, max Fig.8. The membership function of K 'p and Kd'

normalized into [0,1] through linear transformation, namely

The membership function u(B) shown in the figure can be
Kp = (Kp K p,min ) /(K p,max K p,min ) (6)
expressed by
Kd = ( Kd Kd,min )/( Kd,max Kd,min ) (7) u ( B ) = 1 e 4 x (12)
In the fuzzy parameter self-tuning PID control, all the PID While u(S ) can be expressed by
parameters are determined based on the aberration deviation
e(k ) and its change rate e(k ) , so the integrative time u ( S ) = e 4 x (13)
constant can be determined according to the differential time The correction factor is used to calculate the
constant, and the relation between them is integrative factor Ki , and it is expressed by single point,
Ti = Td (8) whose membership function is shown in fig.9, in which S
From equations (4), equation (5) and equation (8), the SM M B are the four language variants of , and the
equation below can be deduced values are respectively 2,3,4 and 5.
K i = K p2 /( K d ) (9) u
u ( S ) u( S M ) u( M ) u ( B )
1
where is the correction factor.
The two equations below are got from equation (6) and
0
equation (7): 0 1 2 3 4 5
Fig.9. The membership function of
 DRPT2008 6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
4

it is necessary to have harmonic treatment problems here[16].

The analysis of the characteristic curve of PV cell array Using sine wave pulse width modulation, DC-AC-DC
yields the fuzzy control rule about correction factors of frequency conversion is accomplished through the adjustment
parameters relevant with PID controller when of modulation frequency. In the paper, four IGBT tubes are
e(k ) and e(k ) are with different values. employed to constitute a single phase bridge inversion circuit,
which is under the bipolar control mode. Without the addition
D. Fuzzy Decision Making and Reasoning
of harmonic eliminating inverter, the fundamental wave of
(a) The calculation of strength of first component output voltage is sine wave, but with harmonics in other
When e(k ) and e(k ) are known, the membership grade of orders. The concept of harmonic eliminating inverter is
corresponding language variants Ae(k )i and Ae(k )i can be brought forward so as to optimize the output.
If the power switching tubes in single phase bridge-mode
calculated. Assume that the membership function of Ae(k )i is
inversion circuit employ complementary control, assume that
u Ae( k )i [e(k )] , and that of Ae(k )i is u Ae(k )i [e(k )] , then the there are N switching points in every one fourth
strength of first component is period(namely the electrical degree from 0~90) of the PWM
ui = uAe(k)i [e(k)] uAe(k)i[e(k)]
waveform, and the corresponding phase angle of each
(14)
switching point is ai (i = 0,1,", N ) , which have relations as
(b)The calculation of strength of rear component 0 < a1 < a2 < " < a N < 90 , then the output voltage can be obtained
When the language variant Api is equal to the strength of through Fourier series analysis:
first component ui , namely
u0 = bn sin nwt (18)
u Api ( xi ) = ui (15) n =1,2...

4 N
Then comes the equation below bn = [1 2 (1)k cos nak ] (19)
n k =1
Kp i = xi (16)
Where ak is the switching angle in the N switching angles
(c) Defuzzification
between the range of [0,90], and is the one in number k; n
From fig.7 it can be concluded that the ui = 1 is the
denotes the orders of fundamental wave and harmonics; w
definite result for the first component strength i when
u represents the angular frequency of fundamental wave.
e(k ) and e(k ) are with definite values, so the defuzzification Assume that the ratio of the peak value of fundamental wave
to the input bus voltage is M, then got the following equation:
can be achieved through equations below, namely
bn = M (20)
n
K p = u i K p i So as to eliminate harmonics, the amplitude of harmonics
i =1
at orders as 3,5,7,can be assigned to be zero, namely:
n
K
d = u i K d i (17) bn = 0,( N = 3,5,7...2 N 1) (21)
i =1

n A system of equations with N equations, and N unknown
= ui i numbers can be derived from the two equations above, and its
i =1
Simulation results are shown in fig.10. solution will yield the control waveform of PWM, under
U/V
which the output is free from the harmonics at orders lower
300 than 2N-1. The above is the working principle of PWM
150 control.
0
-150 VI. THE ANALYSIS OF SIMULATION RESULTS
-300
The simulation results are shown in fig.11.
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s
I/A U/V
100 300

50 150

0 0
-150
-50
-300
-100 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s
I/A
100
Fig.10. The simulation waveform of the fuzzy parameter self -tuning PID
controlled MPPT 50

V. HARMONIC ELIMINATION -50

-100
When energizing DC load, DC/DC transformation is free 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 t/s

from harmonics, while the DC/AC will produce harmonics, so

Fig.11. The waveform after harmonic elimination
 DRPT2008
The comparison between fig.4, fig.10 and fig.11
demonstrate that the fuzzy parameter self-tuning PID control
employed enjoys perfect stability under comparatively stable
environment, and can keeps the system work on the maximum
power point constantly, meanwhile, it will effectively
eliminate the concussion around the maximum power point
under traditional fuzzy control. After harmonic elimination
treatment, the fundamental component accounts for 99.5% of
the total current, and the power quality of output is
satisfactory. Results show that the fuzzy parameter self-tuning
PID control bears fine dynamic and stable capability, and is
superior to CVT control and traditional fuzzy control method.
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Through simulation validation, the single-stage grid-
connected PV generation system employs fuzzy parameter
self-tuning PID control strategy, the method can guarantee
the real-time tracking of the maximum power point of the PV
cell, while basically eliminate the concussion at the maximum
power point under traditional fuzzy control. Compared with
CVT control, the method adopted enjoys better adaptability to
environment as well as better control precision and stability.
The harmonic eliminating PWM control is applied in the
inverter section, and the switching loss decreases with the
reduction of switching power, which is favorable for the
improvement of efficiency of inverter with a sound effect. The
variation of voltage and frequency of solar energy inverter are
not great, so it is easy to realize the close-loop control of
harmonic elimination through look-up table, consequently the
guarantee the stability of output voltage. Theoretical analysis
and simulation demonstration all testified that the control
method of the PV generation system is rational and feasible,
and is worthwhile to be popularized.
VIII. REFERENCES
[1] Jiang Xiaotao, Wu Linzhang, Zhou Mingjie. "Research on the maximum
power point tracking of PV cell."Journal of Wu Han Institute of Science
and Technology, 2005,184:43-46.
[2] Dai Xinping, Ma Guang, Yang Xiaohong. "The maximum power point
tracking control for the PV generation converter driving system. "
Proceedings of the CSEE,200525895~99
[3] Mao Meiqin, Yu Shijie, Su Jianwei. "Versatile matlab simulation model
for Photovoltaic array with MPPT function" Journal of System
Simulation20051751248-1251
[4] Yu Shijie, He Huiruo, Cao Renxian. "The comparison of CVT and
MPPT in PV pump system. " Journal on Solar Energy 1998194
394~398 .
[5] Ouyang Mingsan, Yu Shijie, et al. "Implementation of MPPT controller
in Photovoltaic array and research of testing method."Electronic
Measurement and Instrument ,200418230-34
6-9 April 2008 Nanjing China
5
[6] Liu Hui, Wu Linzhang, Jiang Xiaotao, et al. "Research on MPPT of
Photovoltaic Array." Journal of Wu Han Institute of Science and
Technology, 200518812-15
[7] Chen Y, Smedley K. "A cost-effective single-stage inverter with
maximum power point tracking. " IEEE Transaction on Power
Electronics, 2004, 19(5):1289-1294.
[8] Liang T J, Kou Y C, Chen J R. "Single-stage photovoltaic energy
conversion system. " Proc.Inst.Elect.Eng. 2001, 4(148):339-344.
[9] Ye Man-yuan, Guan Er-yong, Song Ping-gang. "Single-stage
Photovoltaic Grid-connected Inverter of MPPT with Conductance
Increment Method. " Power Electronics, 2006, 40230-32.
[10] Zhang Xing, Sun Chong-wei, Sun Ben-xin. "Research on Current
Parallel Feed Inverter for Photovoltaic Array Based on Current Optimal
MPPT Control. " Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2001, 223306-
310.
[11] Ouyang Mingsan, Yu Shijie, Zheng Shicheng, et al. "The study of fuzzy
self-tuned PID control for household PV power supply." Power
Electronics, 200337235~37
[12] Liu Chaoying, Song Zheying, Song Xueling. "The application of
MATLAB in simulation of fuzzy control system." Computer Simulation,
200118311~13
[13] Simoes M G, Franceschetti N N, Friedhofer M. "Fuzzy logic based
photovoltaic peak power tracking control." Proc IEEE Conf
International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Pretoria,
1998:300~305.
[14] Senjyu T, Uezato K. "Maximum power point tracker using fuzzy control
for photovoltaic arrays. " IEEE International Conference on Industrial
Technology, 1994:143~147.
[15] Wang Wei, Zhang Jingtao. " Sum of advanced setting method of PID
parameters. " Journal of Automation2000263347-355
[16] Xie Yunxiang, Xue Yingjie. "Analysis on Harmonic Treatment Methods
of Inverter Power. " Power Electronics20003414-6
IX. BIOGRAPHIES
Yan Wang was born in Shangqiu, Henan Province, China, in 1983. Since
2004, Mr Wang has been a postgraduate in Electric Engineering at North
China Electric Power University. He majors in analysis and control of power
quality, application of power electronics, and distributed generation. His E-
mail is wy_204@126.com
Peng Li was born in Baoding, Hebei Province, China, in 1965. He graduated
from North China Electric Power University in 1988. He obtained his Ph.D.
degree in 2004. He is now a professor. He mainly specializes in power quality
analysis and control, power electronics technology application in power
system, distributed generation & Microgrid, etc. His E-mail is
ncepulp@263.net
Hong-Lei Wang was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, in 1982.
Since 2004, Mr Wang has been a postgraduate in Electric Engineering at
North China Electric Power University. He mainly research on modern power
quality and power system analysis, operation and control. His E-mail is
wanghonglei110@163.com
Jin-fei Tang was born in Baoding, Hebei Province, China, in 1981. Since
2004, Mr Tang has been a postgraduate in Electric Engineering at North
China Electric Power University. He mainly research on power electronics
technology application in power system, and distributed generation. His E-
mail is tangjinfei1981@163.com