Fuzzy Controller to Extract the Maximum

Power of a Photovoltaic System

Mohamed Ajaamoum `
ERTAIER, EST d'Agadir
BP 33/S, 80000
Agadir, Morocco
m.ajaamoum@uiz.ac.ma
Mustapha Kourchi
ERTAIER, EST d'Agadir
BP 33/S, 80000
Agadir, Morocco
m.kourchi@uiz.ac.ma
Abstract-The objective of this work is to introduce a technique
for the improvement and the optimization of the control
performances of a system, composed the photovoltaic panel, a
Boost converter and a load. This control is ensured thanks to the
method of the maximum power point tracking (MPP1 by fuzzy
logic. hIHHBI0HS 01 Hc VBII0HS QBIS 01 Hc SyScH BIc
UcVc0QcU HHUcI BBD/hIHHIHK, BS Wc BS B C0HQBIIS0H
DcWccH W0 C0HI0cIS' "Perturb 0HuObserv" (P&O) BHU
1HZZy 0_IC (FL). Hc IcSHS _0 HHUcI VBII0HS 0QcIBIH_
C0HUII0HS SH0W B CcBI IHQI0VcHcH 01 Hc QcI10IHBHCcS
01 Hc C0HI0 Dy 1HZZy 0_IC 01 Hc MPPT 01 Hc
QH00V0BIC SyScH.
Keywords- Photovoltaic; MPPT; Boost converter; P&O; Fuzzy
logic.
I. INTRODUCTION
Photovoltaic solar energy coming fom the direct
transfonnation of part of the solar radiation into electrical
energy suffers fom a problem of tansfer maximization of
power of the photovoltaic generator (P V G) to the load. That is
due to the electic characteristics (Curent-Voltage) non-linear
of the photovoltaic cells [1, 2].
These characteristics depend on the level of irradiation, of
the temperature of the cell and the load. In order to extact the
maximum of power available at the terminals fom the PVG,
the technique used classically is to insert a stage of adaptation
between the PV G and the load. Stage adaptation consists of a
static converter [3, 4] controlled by pulse width modulation
(PWM) [5].
In order to reach the maximum power point (MPP), the
converter is contolled by a contol algorithm MPPT
(Maimum Power Point Tracker) "Fig. 1 ", which enables us to
optimize the transfer of power in the photovoltaic system. In
literature, a number of alterative techniques of control and
tracking MPPThas been developed [5-7].
The objective of our work is to intoduce a robust technique
allowing the tracking of the MP P of a system photovoltaic
panel, thanks to the technique of fzzy logic (FL) [8-11]. The
contoller containing fzzy logic, belonging to the techniques
of the artifcial intelligence, is compared to the classical
algorithm tracking named "Perturb and Observ" (P&O) [12-
14]. Accordingly, we have developed and simulated, under
Rachid Alaoui
ERTAIER, EST d'Agadir
BP 33/S, 80000
Agadir, Morocco
r.alaoui@uiz.ac.ma
Lahoussine Bouhouch
ERTAIER, EST d'Agadir
BP 33/S, 80000
Agadir, Morocco
I.bouhouch@uiz.ac.ma
Matlab/Simulink, the models coresponding to the elements of
our system under study, namely: the model associated with the
photovoltaic panel, that of the static converter (Boost
converter) and those of controllers "P&O" and FL.
Our paper is organized as follows: afer the above short
introduction, we will talk about our work conditions and the
various parameters and characteristic of the used tools in
chapter II. In chapter III we will introduce the models
coresponding to the essential parts of the system under study,
namely the PV G and the static converter. In chapter IV, we will
explain the two techniques, ensuring the tracking of the MP,
which are suggested to compare the two controllers, "P&O"
and fzzy. In the chapter V, we will try to interpret and discuss
the simulation results, followed by a brief conclusion.
N0v0|C

v
Figure I. Block diagram of the proposed P lsystem.
II. WORK CONDITIONS AND TOOLS
This work is caried out within the laboratory of ERTAIER
(Research team in Advanced Technologies and Engineering of
Renewable energies located at University of Technology of
AGADIR (EST A. This laboratory has enough human
resources and materials which were of great help for the
development of this work.
A. The MatlablSimulink tool
The digital simulations of the system (generating
photovoltaic, Boost converter, contollers MPPT are carried
out using the MATLAB/Simulink sofware. The Matlab
environment has a wide range of specialized fnction libraries
toolboxes. In our study case, we used the toolbox Fuzzy Logic
of Matlab to develop the fzzy controller.
978-1-4673-6374-7/13/$31.00 2013 |LLL
B. Characteristics and parameters
The panel studied in this article is KC200GT whose electric
characteristics in STC (Standard Test Conditions: 1000 W/m2,
25C, AM 1.5) and parameters used for modeling, are quoted
in table 1:
TALE!. PARAMETRES OF THE KC200GT SOLAR ARRA Y AT:
25C, A 1.5, 1000 W/M
2
urumctcr uIuc
Solar panel type Polycrystalline
imp 7.61 A
Vmp 26.3 V
Pmax,e 200.143 W
!. 8.21 A
l. 32.9 V
-0.1230 V/K
K/ 0.0032 AK
. 1.3
Rp 415.405 !
R, 0.221 !
Ns 54
In "Fig. 2" we have intoduced the chain power ensuring
the DC power of a load by a 1L, through a static converter
(SC) driven by a contol MPPT.

L
1 Ho
Hc
Figure 2. Elementary chain of photovoltaic conversion with static converter
controls by MPPT control.
For the unit converter and load "Fig. 2", we used the
parameters summarized in Table II:
TALE IT. SIMLLATION PARAMETERS
fondcnscrocoupIng Condenser C, 2000 JlF
Condenser C 470 JlF
Inductor 1 20 JlH
Boostconvcrtcr
Resistor Rc 00
Resistor RL U.010
oud Resistor Ro 200
III. MODELING OF THE SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
A. Model of the photovoltaic panel
In order to model our photovoltaic panel, we have started
with the model of an elementary photovoltaic cell. Indeed, the
equivalent diagram of a solar cell can be represented under
various alteratives. The confguration shown in "Fig. 3" is the
most usual. It has a variable curent source 1 assembled in
parallel with a diode D characterizing the junction of the
semiconductors forming the solar cell, a parallel Resistor 1,
and the whole in series with another 1Resistor.
ideal PV cell
,........................
.
.
.
.
'J
I

v
Figure 3. Equivalent circuit diagram of a solar cell.
"Fig. 3" shows the model of 1L govered by the equation
given below:
_
(I LT).
-
_
[ex
(qCV+Rsl)
-
1] _ V+Rsl
QU,H
_ ' aNskT R
p
_
-
]
8

_ +
K
l
t
T

-
((_ A

P1))
With:
CXQ

u
=
1, Curent and voltage of the 1L.
1. Curent of saturation (A) .
1 1. Serial and parallel resistor.
1. Cuent generated in the conditions STC (A).
!T T - Tn where T and Tn are the real and nominal
temperatures (K).
L. Iradiation (W 1m2).
L. Nominal iradiation (W/m2).
Q. Electon charge (1.6 10-19 C).
K: Boltzmann constant (1.38 10-23 J/K).
T: Temperature of the junction (K).
a: Ideality factor solar cell.
(1)
(2)
, and 1. Open circuit voltage and the short-circuit
curent (A).
KI' and K/: Ideality coeffcient corectors.
B. Static converter of Boost tpe
The converter of the Boost type is used to increase the
outut voltage, compared to that delivered by the source. Its
simplest form is shown in "Fig. 4":

c

VL
D
Figure 4. Diagram of the Loolconverter.
C
HO
HC
We have used the average model of the Boost converter
described by the following equations:
H
( )
VL=L-=Ve- 1-aVc
-
RLh
t
With:
and 1. Capacitor voltage and curent (V, A).
Rc: Capacitor resistor (Q).
h Inductor curent (A).
L. Duty cycle varying fom 0 to 1.
IV. TECHIQUES OF TRACKIG MPPT
(3)
(4)
MPPT contol varies the duty cycle of the boost converter
"Fig. 2", so that the power supplied by the 1L is maximized
to its terminals.
A. Command "Perturb and Observ"
The algorithm called "P&O" is an MPPT contol based on
the disturbance of the system by increasing or decreasing the
voltage of the P L, by acting directly on the duty cycle of the
DC-DC converter, and the observation of effect on the outut
power, for a possible corection of the duty cycle.
Figure 5 describes in detail the algorithm ensuring that
command, called "P&O".
Figure 5. Flowchart of the control algorithm "P&O".
B. Fuzzy logic control
The fzzy logic, which was developed by L. Zadeh in 1965,
can be used for the teatment of imprecise or approximate
knowledge in the case of high complexity or unknown systems.
Fuzzy logic is used primarily in the areas of decision making,
patter recognition, modeling and procedure contol. Fuzzy
logic is mostly used in the control or regulation of the industrial
system. The stucture of such regulation is shown in "Fig. 6", it
can be divided into three modules:
Fuzzifcation Defzzifcation
Figure 6. General structure of a fuzzy controller.

The input module called fzzifcation. It associates to

each real input a degree of membership;

The next module is the inference engine that is associated

with the basic rules of the type: "If ... then ... " ;

The last module is the defzzifcation. It converts the

membership degrees of fzzy sets in numerical order
magnitude.
Our fzzy contoller is characterized by:

Two inputs, the eror e and its variation Le and a single

outut D ("Fig. 6").

The universe of discourse divided into fve classes for

input and output variables.

The membership fnctions of triangular and tapezoidal

type.

The involvement of Mamdani [8-11] for inference.

The center of gravity method for defzzifcation.

The two input variables e and Le are defned by the
following two expressions:
e
-
D
f
_ P(t)-P(t-1)
- -
~ f
!(t)-!(t-1)
!e = e(t) - e(t -1)
(5)
(6)
with respectively pet) and et), the immediate power of the PV
generator and its immediate voltage.
The contoller outut D(t) is defned by the control law
based on the eror and its variation D je, Le). This law is
given by:
D(t) = D(t -1) g!D(t)
With:
g as the gain associated with the D(t).
Wet) as the change in contol (Duty cycle).
(7)
The basic rules are s1 arized in the following table:
TALE Ill. BASE FUZZY RULES

P P5 ZL 15 1
P PB PB PB PS ZE
P5 PB PB PS ZE NS
ZL PB PS ZE NS NB
15 PS ZE NS NB NB
1 ZE NS NB NB NB
The membership fnctions of triangular and trapezoidal
used by the fzzy logic contol are shown in "Fig. 7":
OT
-1
OT
-1
O T
MB
Membership function plots p
l
o
t
po
i
n
t
s:
MS ZE
-O ? -O B -O A -O ? O ?
input variable
Membership function plots
-O.8 -O.6 -O.4 -O.2 O.2
input variable
S
O A O E O?
B
Pl
o
tPOirtS
O.A O.6 O.8
Membership function plots p
l
o
t
po
i
n
t
s:
MB MS ZE S B
-1 -.8 -O B -O A -O? O ? O A O B O ?
output variable-o-
Figure 7. Membership fnctions for the input and output variables.
N . RESULTS AD INTERPRET A nONS
In this section we will present the results and the simulation
models of diferent elements of the PV system in
Matlab/Simulink.
A. Photovoltaic panel
1) Model
For modeling PV system, we used the "S-Function" level 2,
written in Matlab language. The "S-Function" solved "(1)" by
the Newton-Raphson method, is shown in the fowing chart
given in "Fig. 8".
Parameters declaration
Initializing K = 0
Solves equation (1)
=l-j=O
with Newton-Raphson
Figure 8. Newton-Raphson fowchart.
2) Simulation
The PVG characteristics are simulated by "(1)". Using a
series of operating conditions (Temperature, Irradiation), we
can fnd the shape of curent-voltage characteristics J(V and
power-voltage P( V of P VG. Indeed, "Fig. 9 and 10" show that
the curent and the power extracted at a fxed temperature
(25C), increase proportionally with the solar fux.
10
g
c 6

C
1000Wlm2
800 Wlm2
600 Wlm2
" 4
400 Wlm2

2
O
o 10 15 20 25
vcaa'evc'tae\,
30 35
Figure 9. lrradiance efect on electrical characteristic J( V.
250
200

j'50
0
100

2
50
1000Wlm2
10 15 20 25
veaa'eve'tae\,
30 35
Figure 10. Irradiace efect on electrical chaacteristic P( V.
From the simulation module KC200GT "Fig. 10" shows
that the maximum power Pmax is very sensitive to the variations
of iradiation. When the iradiation decreases by 200 W 1m2,
Pma decreases by about 50 W.
B. Boost converter
1) Model
Equations "(3)" and "(4)" can be shown in the Simulink
block diagram in the "Fig. 11 ":
Figure I I. Simulink block diagram of the Loolconverter average model.
2) Simulation
Following the simulations presented in "Fig. 12" at the
input voltage of 26 V and the duty cycle of 50%, the boost
converter provides, in optimal conditions, a voltage at its
outut greater than that provided by the PV G. This outut
voltage is stabilized at nearly 52 V while the current reaches
approximately 10 A in permanent mode.
60 -
50
40
30
20
1
0
_
__,+

*
,,
-
,
-,,,,,,,,,,,, _
-
0
0 0.02 0.04t( .06 0.08 0.
1
Figure 12. Voltage (Volts) and current (Amps) waveform of output
Loolconverter average model.
L Controllers "P&O" andJuzz
To compare the two regulators "P&O" and fzzy, we
proceed to their simulation. In the frst phase, we implemented
under Simulink, the model of order "P&O" described by
"Fig. 13". This model is integrated in the block "MPPT
Controller" of the photovoltaic system presented in"Fig. 2".
Figure 13. Model of the command "P&O"
For the second method, the controller "P&O" is replaced by
the fzzy contoller. This will let us compare these two
methods and draw conclusions.
The fzzy controller model, developed under Simulink is
shown in "Fig. 14". The simulation result of this model is
compared to the contoller "P&O" in "Fig. 13".

Q
>
L
L
Figure 14. Model of fuzzy controller MPPT.
U0
I --
,
YY Y

M M MM
t
:V
v v v M V Y
l
l
b0
l
l
,
1----' |uZZy 1
l
l
J&
,
40

20
0
0 0.0b 0.1
Time(s)
0.1b 0.2
Figure 15. Compaison between fuzzy control and "P&O".
For radiation of 400 W/m2 and the ambient temperature
(25C), the simulation results of the power provided by the
GPV are shown in "Fig. 15". We have noticed that for a time
less than 25 ms the system converges to the optimal conditions.
These results show that the use of the MPPT contol improves
in a considerable way the perforance of photo voltaic systems.
However, this proves that the fzzy controller gives better
perforance compared to the command "P&O". Indeed, the
results obtained are the following:

For the contoller "P&O", we have found that the point of

operation at maximum power (PPJ is reached afer
20 ms, afer the application of the MPPT algorithm. Once
the desired point is reached, the contoller oscillates
around the MPP.

As for the fzzy controller, the PPM is reached faster

(10 ms), nearly half the time taken by the contoller
"P&O". The fzzy contoller also offers the possibility of
eliminating the oscillation around the PPM.
To assert the efciency of the fzzy control over "P&O", in
"Fig. 16 and ', we have compared their convergence to the
PPM. These curves represent the variations of power Ppl and
POll PV G to Boost converter output. These results show that the
fzzy contoller converges very quickly to the PPM. While the
contoller "P&O" has several oscillations before reaching the
PPM when looking for this point of maximum power.
250
200
[
t


150
~
L

C

100
50
0
0 10 20
Voltage(V)
30 40
Figure 16. PPM slow convergence in the case of the controller "P&O"
for 1000 W/m2
250
200
[150
\

\
.
.
.
.
.

100 -
50
o
+

o uu l uu. & uu & .&u u uu luu& & . uu' &u uu. & . uu uu'uu' m !
o
10
vOlte (V)
30 40
Figure 17. Fast convergence at PPM, in the case of fzzy controller
for 1000 W/m2.
VI. CONCLUSION
In this work, we have studied and analyzed, by modeling
and simulating with Matlab/Simulink, the operation of a
photovoltaic system, which load is adjusted by Boost converter.
The control is provided by two types of MPPT contol: The
conventional control "Perturb and Observe" and the contol on
the artifcial intelligence called "Fuzz control".
The obtained results show that the use of the MPPTcontrol,
improves signifcantly and effectively, the performance of
photovoltaic systems. The study, conducted on two types of
contols, confms that the response time is reduced by almost
half, using a fzzy contoller. It also confums that there is a
signifcant improvement in stability around the PPM,
coresponding to the permanent mode, at an error very low and
little sensitive to the variations of the disturbances of the
atmospheric conditions. This proves the efciency of the fzzy
contoller, in the case of the photovoltaic systems that present
nonlinear characteristics.
VII. PERSPECTIVE
In prospect of this work, we plan to develop him by
making:

The implementation of the fzzy contoller in a

microcontoller for real applications in isolated sites.

The design of a fzzy controller optimized by genetic

algorithm, namely the optimization of different gains and
fzzy systems parameters.
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