IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

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Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Maximum Power Point Tracking using SEPIC

converter with improved Sliding Mode Controller
Abhilash H.K1, Nalini R2
1

PG Scholar, 4th Semester M.Tech (Energy System Engineering) Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Rajiv
Gandhi Institute of Technology, Bangalore 32, Karnataka.

Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Bangalore
32, Karnataka.

ABSTRACT
Over a few decades, there was lot of advancements on innovative source of energy. Globally increasing demand for electricity is
a major concern. Among the sources available on earth, solar energy is the most promising and naturally available source on
the earth. Major drawbacks of variable solar energy are due to irradiation and temperature.
This project presents Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photo voltaic system rely on Sliding Mode Control unit. This project
proposes the modest Sliding Mode Controller which is generally used to uphold the performance of solar array power tracking.
The tool Matlab 2013 is used for evaluating. The proposed system is about improving the output power of solar system by
SEPIC converter and additional circuit.

Keywords: Maximum Power Point Tracking, Sliding Mode Controller, SEPIC converter, Photovoltaic, Incremental
conductance method

1. INTRODUCTION
The use of renewable energy is increasing day by day from last few decades due to the depreciation of fossil fuels and
other sources of energy. Previously, the Power was extracted effectively from the fossil fuels in the large mass over a
globe. The Present technologies are almost depending on the renewable sources for the extraction of electricity as they
are clean and ease to extract. Many of the researches and developments are going to improve the efficiency of solar
energy. Among them MPPT is most widely used. Nearly 19 Maximum Power Point algorithms are developed. Hill
climbing methods are most commonly preferred as they are more advantageous than other techniques.
The model is designed by using Incremental Conductance method of MPPT, from which peak power can be obtained
even under fast weather changing conditions. The SMC (Sliding mode control) is used as a controller for fetching peak
power. SMC can give output within a required range i.e., it can avoid chattering and give smooth, constant output
results. It drags all the scattered trajectories and controls them to move within the plane.
The system can improve the performance of tracking and dynamic performance by using advanced technique of MPPT
and control system. The oscillations and ripples are eliminated by using SEPIC converter which results positive output.
The model is simple to design. It works efficiently and can give required output.

2. METHODOLOGY

Fig. 1. Block diagram of proposed system

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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the proposed system. The conversion and extraction of maximum energy from the
solar cell includes many stages. Solar panel is the device used for converting direct solar energy into electrical energy.
SEPIC converter converts the voltage from the solar panel to the desired level. SEPIC converter provides positive
polarity of the output. The system is controlled by a control unit. Control unit includes MPPT controller, Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) generator and Sliding mode controller. The MPPT controller is designed by using Incremental
Conductance (IC) algorithm. Sliding mode controller is used to get the output within a desired limit. The converter
output is given to a universal bridge inverter which converts DC output of converter into AC. The output is provided
into grid as the system is grid connected PV system.
2.1 MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF SOLAR CELL

Fig.2. Equivalent circuit of solar cell

Figure 2 is the equivalent circuit for solar cell. The solar cell is modeled typically by a current source with a diode
and 2 resistors.
The solar panel output current is given by,

Table 1 Solar panel specifications

Total Iph array= Iph No. of parallel strings = 5.96021= 5.9602 A

Voltage across series string (V) = No. of series panels peak voltage=354.7=164.1 V
Total power by series string (P) = V Imp= 164.15.58=915.678W
Total current = No. of parallel strings Imp= 15.58 = 5.58 A

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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

2.2 INCREMENTAL CONDUCTANCE METHOD OF MPPT

This method works on the rule that slope of the curve is zero at Peak Power Point, negative on the right of Peak
Power Point and positive on left of Peak Power Point. MPP (Maximum Power Point) is traced by comparing power
outputs. The voltage is changed by incrementing to maximum voltage till MPP is reached. This method consists of 2
sensors, voltage and current sensors. By sensing both current and voltage, error in both current and voltage is
eliminated. The disadvantage of P&O method is eliminated using this method. The system is bit complex and cost of
implementation is more. MPP can be traced by comparison of instantaneous conductance value (I/V) with
incremental conductance value.

Fig.3. Flow chart for Incremental conductance method

2.3 SEPIC CONVERTER

SEPIC is Single Ended Primary Inductor Converter. It can give output greater than or smaller than input. It works by
exchanging energy between L and C. Output is controlled by diode D. It gives output with positive polarity. When
switch is ON, switch is short circuited, voltage flows across L1, Cs and finally L2. When switch is OFF, the current
across Cs will be equal to current across L1. So, the current will be delivered to both L1 and L2.

Fig.4. SEPIC converter

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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

2.4 SLIDING MODE CONTROL

Sliding mode control is a homogeneous control of characteristics of a system by non-linear method. It changes
discontinuous signal to a linear form. The control signal should be sliding within a certain limit. It makes the system
trajectory to move within a plane. It control is designed such that all the imperfect lines slide along a plane or single
line.
As sliding mode control is a wide concept, just the mathematical modeling required for the project is concentrated here.
For the stability of the system, SMC filters and some of the algorithms are required. The switching function is used for
defining PV panel voltage. It helps to regulate voltage without any other control circuit.
The switching function is given by

3. SIMULATION RESULTS
Simulation results include the output waveforms generated by using Simulink in the proposed work.

Fig.5. Solar Voltage and current waveforms

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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

Figure 5 indicates the Solar output Voltage and current waveforms. The Solar Voltage is 177V and current is 4.6 A
after a settling time of 0.05 seconds.

Fig.6. SEPIC converter output waveform

Figure 6 shows the Voltage and current output waveform of SEPIC converter. It is pulsating DC output voltage of 426
V and pulsating DC current will be 4.26 A.

Fig.7. Inverter output waveform

Figure 7 is the output waveform of inverter. It is almost a sinusoidal wave of 426V with some fluctuations.

Fig.8. Output waveform of the proposed work

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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2016

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm

Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X

Figure 8 is the final output waveform of the proposed system. This is the pure sinusoidal wave obtained after
debugging oscillations. The output AC voltage is 426 V.

4.CONCLUSIONS
This work proposed an implementation of SMC for SEPIC converter in a photovoltaic system connected to grid. The
system works based on MPPT. The system provides successive results irrespective of environmental changes. The
problem of oscillations in the output can be eliminated using the system. The output of the system is constant sine wave
in all conditions. The IC method is used to get good performance. The system eliminates switching losses and
harmonic variations which in turn increases efficiency of the system. The output ripple is eliminated using SEPIC
converters. Sliding mode control system is used by the system to trace maximum power point. The model is designed
and implemented using Matlab environment. System works satisfactorily and gives constant sine wave output.

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