PHOTOVOLTAIC MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING

METHOD IMPLEMENTATION IN LABVIEW

Bodan Velkovski, Dejan Pejovski, Zhivko Kokolanski, Dimitar Dimitrov
Introduction PV module simulation and MPPT in LabVIEW
In this paper, a model of a solar module is developed in LabVIEW, in order A LabVIEW model of the PV panel was developed to determine the
to simulate and analyze PV module operation characteristics. output current by using the derived equation for the current.
The PV cell output current is calculated with an explicit equation derived The block diagram of the solar panel model in LabVIEW is shown in Fig. 3.
by an approximation using Taylor series.
The influence of the weather conditions on the PV module operation is
analyzed, through variations in the cell temperature and solar irradiation.
The incremental conductance method is used for MPP tracking and for
calculation of the most suitable load at the MPP.

PV panel mathematical model

The equivalent circuits of a silicon solar cell and a PV module are shown in Fig. 3. Block diagram of the LabVIEW virtual instrument representing the
Fig.1. solar panel model.

a) b)
Fig. 1. Equivalent circuit of (a) a silicon solar cell and (b) a PV module a) b)

The output current of the PV module is implicitly given with the following Fig. 4. I-U and P-U curves obtained by the LabVIEW model (a) at a
equation: constant cell temperature and variable solar irradiance and (b) at a
constant solar irradiance and variable cell temperature.
q ( NV RNS I ) N pV R I
S P N S

I N p I ph N p I 0 e kTc n

1 S

Rp . The front panel and block diagram of the final implementation of the

model with MPP tracking are shown in Fig.8 and Fig.9 respectively.
An explicit expression for the current can be derived from the previous
equation with a FOA (First Order Approximation) of the Taylor series
expansion of the expression. The resulting equation for the current is:

I

N P I ph N P I o e V 1
1 RS I o e V , where q / nkTc N s .

Maximum power point tracking

The voltage that produces maximum output power (Pmax) in a PV system
depends on the sunlight intensity level and on the temperature of the
cells. In this paper, the incremental conductance method form MPP Fig. 5. Front panel of the virtual instrument used for MPPT of the solar
tracking was implemented. panel model

dI I
At MPP: dP / dV 0 dV

V
dI I
Left of MPP: dP / dV 0 dV
V
dI I
Right of MPP: dP / dV 0 dV
V

Fig. 6. Block diagram of the virtual instrument used for MPPT of the solar
Fig. 2. (a) Incremental conductance method equations(b) incremental panel model
conductance method algorithm