| Title |
Optimum MPPT Control Period for Actual Insolation Condition |
| Authors |
Danbi Ryu ; Yong-Jung Kim ; Hyosung Kim |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.6113/TKPE/2018.24.2.99 |
| Keywords |
Solar power generation ; MPPT control period ; MPPT efficiency ; Actual insolation condition ; Estimation method |
| Abstract |
Solar power generation systems require maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control to acquire maximum power using inefficient and high-cost PV modules. Most conventional MPPT algorithms are based on the slope-tracking concept. The perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm is a typical slope-tracking method. The two factors that determine the MPPT performance of P&O algorithm are the MPPT control period and the magnitude of the perturbation voltage. The MPPT controller quickly moves to the new maximum power point at insolation change when the perturbation voltage is set to large, and the error of output power will be huge in the steady state even when insolation is not changing. The dynamics of the MPPT controller can be accelerated even though the perturbation voltage is set to small when the MPPT control period is set to short. However, too short MPPT control period does not improve MPPT performance but consumes the MPPT controller resources. Therefore, analyzing the performance of the MPPT controller is necessary for actual insolation conditions in real weather environment to determine the optimum MPPT control period and the magnitude of the perturbation voltage. This study proposes an optimum MPPT control period that maximizes MPPT efficiency by measuring and analyzing actual insolation profiles in typical clear and cloudy weather in central Korea. |