MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING TECHNIQUE
M. A. El-Shibini H. H. Rakha
Electrical Enginnering Dept.
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University,Cairo,EGypt
ABSTRACT
To overcome the problem of mismatch
between solar cells and given load, maximum
power-point tracking should be used. The
main object of this paper was to find a
simple efficient technique to work near the
maximum power point of the solar arrays by
finding the suitable method of detection of
the maximum power point and the strategy
which forces the system to work near this
point. The strategy of connection.depends
on a very simple criterion which is the
measurement o f the solar radiation level
and for connection on a very few possible
arrangements of the solar array moduler con-
nection.
INTRODUCTION
A photovoltaic (pv) array has only one
maximum power point on I-V characteristic
at any given insolation. As the pv array
I-V characteristic shifts with changing in-
solation and cell temperature the maximum
power point moves. Therefore, to operate a
pv array at or near its maximum power out-
put, several methods of maximum power point
tracking MPPT have been suggested.
Reference array measurement approach: [ '
The solar array I-V characteristice
curve can be simulated by scanning and
measuring reference solar cells which form
the reference solar array (electrically
isolated from the main array). The circuit
developed for this purpose measures and
tracks the solar c e l l I-V characteristic,
holds the measured data and generates
signal when maximum power point MPP is
detected.
Voltage-multiplying pilot cell strat-
[21- [31
egy:
The voltage-multiplying strategy is
realized with a circuit that continuously
measures the open-circuit voltage of a
pilot cell and sets the array voltage to
fixced multiple of the open circuit pilot
cell voltage.
Current-multiplying pilot cell strat-
[21- [31
egy:
The current-muitiplying pilot cell is
realized with a circuit that continuously
measures the short circuit current of a
Ministry of Electricity and Energy
.Renewable Energy Development Drgns.
Cairo , m y p t
pilot cell and sets the array current to a
fixed multiple of the pilot cell short cir-
cuit current.
Dynamic impedance comparator approach: [ 2
This approach utilizes the mathematical
relationship that exists at the MMP of any
solar array, this means that at the MPP the
static load line V/I is equal to the dy-
namic resistance or slop W/aI of the solar
array. Continuously comparing these parame-
ters, an error signal can be generated.
Applying this signal to the appropriate
circuit as closed-loop zero seeking system
which continuously maintains operation at
the MPP of the solar array.
Auto-oscillation criterion: [ 4 1
The control strategy is based on appro-
- and s.
priate logic that compares the signs of
This logic demands that increase
or reduce in the operating voltage be con-
tinued until1 increase or reduce correspond-
ing to an increase in the power delivered.
OPTIMUM CONNECTION STRATEGY
The photovoltaic solar cellsis neither
constant current nor constant voltage
source, therefore it needs special treatm-
ent when operating it as a power source.
The combination of cells in series and
, parallel arrangements results in specific
maximum power output under design operating
conditions (i.e. insolation, temperature,
loads,..etc). It is of course required to
get the maximum power output from the photo
voltaic system as possible. So if we can
let the photovoltaic system work as constant
power source this will be the best solution.
Fig. 1 shows the well known I-V characteri-
rtiCS of a solar array with superimposed a
constant locus of maximum power points.
As shown from Eig.1 it is Clear
that the locus of the maximum power points
is nearly perpendicular to the constant
power locuii. The best solution of course
is to let the locus of the maximum power
points coincident with the maximum constant
power locus, and this is what this paper is
going, to suggest.
Solar Modules characteristics under differ-
ent connection alternatives:
According to the technique suggested
to optimize the operation of photovltaic
21
system and a c c o r d i n g t o e x p e r i m e n t a l
r e s u l t s c a r r i e d o u t , it assumed t h a t t h e
s o l a r a r r a y i s going t o be d i v i d e d i n t o two
modules. The f i r s t one which r e p r e s e n t s t h e
b a s i c module and t h e second w i l l be d i v i d e d
i n t o submodules. Three ways of a r r a n g i n g
t h e s e modules t o g e t h e r can be a c h e i v e d .
r \ \ \
t h r e e a l t e r n a t i v e s j u s t d i s c u s s e d . The
dotted curves corresponds t o p a r a l l e l -
series a r r a n g e m e n t , s e t 1 r e p r e s e n t s t h r e e
rows and one column added t o t h e b a s i c
m o d u l e , s e t 2 r e p r e s e n t s two rows and two
columns added t o t h e b a s i c module and s e t 3
r e p r e s e n t s one row and t h r e e columns added
t o t h e b a s i c module. I t i s v e r y c l e a r t h a t
t h e p a r a l l e l - s e r i e s arrangement can f o l l o w
t h e c o n s t a n t power l o c u s v e r y c o n v e n i e n t l y .

n n
500
9

ii
. LW

E 300
7w
6
200
.w
100 1
I , ' I , I

IO 20
\01t.,gc , i'olt

Fig. 1 Solar c e l l s characteristics

Fig. 3 S e r i e s arrangement
The f i r s t arrangement which i s t h e
p a r a l l e l modules c o n n e c t i o n i s a r r a n g e d a s
t h e b a s i c module and connected t o it 4 rows
of subitiodules one a f t e r a n o t h e r , such t h a t
a t l a s t w e have t h e 2 modules p r a c t i c a l l y
connected i n p a r a l l e l . T h i s arrangement i s
shown i n F i g . 2 .

Fig. 4 P a r a l l e l - s e r i e s arrangement

Fig. 2 P a r a l l e l arrangement.

The second arrangement which i s t h e

s e r i e s modules c o n n e c t i o n i s a r r a n g e d a s
t h e b a s i c module and connected t o it 4
columns of submodules one a f t e r a n o t h e r . v.,.,. , ..I,

~ l s o such t h a t a t l a s t we have two modules

connected i n s e r i e s . T h i s arrangement i s
shown i n F i g . 3 .
The t h i r d way of c o n n e c t i o n which i s
t h e s e r i e s / p a r a l l e l arrangement i s a r r a n g e d
i n such a way t h a t we add t o t h e b a s i c
module a LOW and a coulmn o r a group of
rows and columns a s shown i n F i g , 4rwhich
shows one p o s s i b i l i t y . . ,
F i g . 5 shows t h e v o l t - c u r r e n t and
power v a r i a t i o n s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e
Fig. 5 I-V c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of PV modules
f o r p a r a l l e l - s e r i e s arrangement a t
f u l l sun
APPLICATION
Resistive load:
The r e s u l t s of o p e r a t i n g r e s i s t i v e
l o a d t h r o u g h p a r a l l e l arrangement i s com-
p a r e d t o t h a t when u s i n g t h e s u g g e s t e d
t e c h n i q u e of series and p a r a l l e l a r r a n g e m e n t

22
F i g . 6 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n of t h e consumed t h e b a t t e r y under optimum c o n n e c t i o n c o n d i -
o u t p u t power i n t h e l o a d and t h e maximum t i o n of t h e series and p a r a l l e l arrangement.
power a v a i l a b l e from t h e p h o t o v o l t a i c s y s - I n t h i s case t h e matching e f f i c i e n c y i s
t e m o v e r a p e r i o d of t i m e from 8.00 am t o 96.4%.
16.00 pm f o r c a s e of p a r a l l e l a r r a n g e m e n t .
T h i s f i g u r e shows c l e a r l y t h e power m i s -
match v a r i a t i o n o v e r t h i s p e r i o d . The
m a t c h i n s e f f i c i e n c y i n t h e c a s e of two t
s o l a r modules i n p a r a l l e l , d e f i n e d a s t h e
r a t i o of t h e consumed e n e r g y by the l o a d
t o t h e maximum e v a i l a b l e e n e r g y i s 78.3%
"I
U - /'
I.. I..","
LY.. . .
I..

z - ., .,.,
I
.
.aa.
.,
,
I -

- 8 - , D ,, I, I C 1 >

Fig. 8 Power v a r i a t i o n c u r v e s ,
r e s i s t i v e l o a d and b a t t e r y ,
p a r a l l e l connection

Fig. 6 Power.variation curves,

r e s i s t i v e load,
p a r a l l e l connection

F i g . 7 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n o f t h e
maximum power a v a i l a b l e and t h e optimum
power consumed a c c o r d i n g t o t h e optimum
c o n n e c t i o n t e c h n i q u e s u g g e s t e d of series
and p a r a l l e l a r r a n g e m e n t . The matching
e f f e c i e n c y i n t h i s c a s e i s 98.5%

Fig. 9 Power v a r i a t i o n c u r v e s ,
r e s i s t i v e l o a d and b a t t e r y ,
optimum c o n n e c t i o n .

Dynamic l o a d :

Water pumping i s s u i t a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n
w i t h s o l a r e n e r g y . A t p r e s e n t t h e most
s u i t a b l e a p p r o a c h t o s o l a r w a t e r pumping i s
t o u s e a p h o t o v o l t a i c s o l a r - e n e r g y powered
pumps.

The matching e f f e c i e n c y of a dynamic

l o a d w i t h d i f f e r e n t s t a t i c head h a s been
Fig. 7 Power v a r i a t i o n c u r v e s , e v a l u a t e d , F i g . 1 0 shows I - V c u r v e s w i t h
r e s i s t i v e load, dynamic l o a d s f o r t h e c a s e of 2 . 6 meter
optimum c o n n e c t i o n s t a t i c head and 5.0 meter s t a t i c head. I t
h a s been found t h a t t h e matching e f f e c i e n c y
Resistive load with battery: i n t h e c a s e o f t h e 2.6 meter s t a t i c head i s
9 6 % w h i l e it i s 98% i n t h e c a s e of l o a d o f
I n many A p p l i c a t i o n s o f s o l a r e n e r g y s t a t i c head of 5 . 0 meter.
a b a t t e r y is u s u a l l y connected i n p a r a l l e l 8.S b

t o t h e s o l a r modules and t h e 1 o a d . F i g . 8
i l l u s t e r a t e s t h e v a r i a t i o n s o f t o t a l power
r e q u i r e d t o r e s i s t i v e l o a d w i t h b a t t e r y and
t h e maximum o u t p u t power from two pv
0.8 I
..
--%
modules a g a i n s t t i m e f o r t h e c a s e of p a r a -
l l e l arrangement connection. I n t h i s c a s e
t h e matching e f f i c i e n c y is 95.5% which is
r e l a t i v e l y h i g h compared w i t h t h e p r e v i o u s
c a s e of t h e p u r e r e s i s t i v e l o a d , t h i s o f
c o u r s e i s due t o t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e
b a t t e r y which makes t h e l o a d l i n e c l o s e t o
t h e maximum power l i n e r e l a t i v e l y .
i
l
Fig. 9 i l l u s t e r a t e s t h e v a r i a t i o n s of
t h e maximum o u t p u t power from s o l a r c e l l s
and t h e t o t a l power consumed by l o a d and Fig. 10 I-V c u r v e s w i t h dynamic l o a d

23
 CONCLUSIONS
On t h e I - V c h a r a c l e r i s t i c s of s o l a r
a r r a y t h e r e i s o n l y a maximum power p o i n t
which depends on t h e i n s o l a t i o n l e v e l . Thus
t h e m a i n q u e s t i o n which a r i s e s and i s
u s u a l l y f a c i n g t h e d e s i g n e r of pv system i s
how t o o p e r a t e a p v system a t i t s maximum
output o r a t l e a s t near it. I t i s very
c l e a r t h a t t h e r e i s a need t o u s e a power
c o n d i t i o n e r system f o r t h e c a s e of s u p p l y -
i n g l o a d s , t h i s power c o n d i t i o n e r must be
s i m p l e as p o s s i b l e such t h a t i t d o e s n o t
i t s e l f consumes a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f power
which i s g o i n g t o be saved by i t . Also, i t s
c o s t must be low a s p o s s i b l e such t h a t t h e
a d d i t i o n a l c o s t of t h e power c o n d i t i o n e r
must n o t r e p r e s e n t a g r e a t p o r t i o n o f t h e
p r i c e of t h e e n e r g y t o be saved by i t . W e
t h i n k t h a t t h e proposed t e c h n i q u e s a t i s f i e s
b o t h c o n d i t i o n s compared w i t h t h e o t h e r
p r e v i o u s methods.

REFERENCES

E . N. Costogue and S . Lindena, " A r i s o n

of C a n d i d a t e s o l a r a r r a y maximum power
u t i l i z a t i o n approaches", I n t e r s o c i e t y
energy conversion e n g i n e e r , c o n f . ,
1976, pp. 1 4 4 9 - 1 4 5 6 .

G. W. H a r t , H . M. Branz and C . H . Cox,

" E x p e r i e m e n t a l t e s t s of open-loop
maximum-power-point tracking techniques
f o r photovoltaic arrays". Solar c e l l s ,
13 ( 1 9 8 4 ) , pp. 185-195.

H. M . Branz, G. W. H a r t and C . H . Cox,

"The p h o t o v o l t a i c a r r a y / p o w e r c o n d i t -
i o n e r i n t e r f a c e " , t e c h . r e p . DOE/ET/
2 0 2 7 4 - 1 7 0 , October 1982.

V. A r c i d i a c o n o , S. C o r s i , L. Lambri,
"Maximum power p o i n t t r a c k e r for
p h o t o v o l t a i c power p l a n t s " , 0160-8331,
8 2 , I E E E , 1982, pp. 507-512.

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