Development a New Algorithm for Maximum Power Point Tracking of Partially Shaded Photovoltaic Arrays
Keywords:
Photovoltaic array, global maximum powerpoint tracking, partial shading, genetic algorithm
Abstract:
The photovoltaic (PV) arrays exhibit a nonlinear P-Vcharacteristic and its maximum power point (MPP) varies withsolar insolation. Often, the PV arrays get shadowed completelyor partially, in which the P-V characteristic get more complexwith multi-local MPPs. In this condition most of formermethods fails to get global MP. This paper presents a newalgorithm to track global MPP under partially shadedcondition. The algorithm acts by a heuristic search of arrayvoltage to find global MPP. In the process of heuristic search,reference voltage of PV output is generated and used forperturbation. After each perturbing, results are used for bettersearch, until achieving the convergence constraint. To check theaccuracy and precision of the method an accurate model of PVarray was implemented in MATLAB software and various testswere conducted.