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Compact Maximum Power Point Tracking of Solar

Photovoltaic Systems Using Analog ICs

Conference Paper · April 2013

DOI: 10.1109/TIIEC.2013.31

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Ramaprabha Ramabadran
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 2013 Texas Instruments India Educators' Conference
COMPACT MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING OF SOLAR
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS USING ANALOG ICs
S. Ajay, A. Arunkumar, G. Deepika, S. Maneesha, R. Ramaprabha
SSN College Of Engineering, Chennai
s.ajay1608@gmail.com
Abstract
In this work, compact maximum power point
tracking method of solar photovoltaic (PV)
systems using analog ICs is presented. The
analog circuit realizes the maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) algorithm which exploits the
non-linear characteristics of PV array. This
algorithm tracks the maximum power of the solar
PV array and maintains the same irrespective of
the intensity and the fluctuations in the solar
radiation, thus improving the efficiency of the PV
system. To implement the proposed algorithm,
TI components LM311, LM318 and SN7474 are
used. In this work, the simulation of the
proposed system has been simulated using
Pspice at different operating conditions and
results are presented with hardware
implementation.
1. Introduction
The focus on renewable sources of energy has
increased due to the various drawbacks in non-
renewable sources. Society’s demand for an
affordable, environment friendly, continuous and
uninterrupted power supply has to be met by
power engineers. Power from solar PV array can
supply such a demand. It is inefficient to use the
PV panel without any control mechanism
because of its non-linear characteristics.
Moreover, the output power depends on various
environmental factors like temperature, light
intensity and radiation which are beyond the
reach of us. Hence, to harness the maximum
power out of a solar PV panel within our
limitations, an algorithm employing MPPT is
designed using analog ICs. The main goal of
this paper is to improve the efficiency of the PV
panel by incorporating compact analog MPPT
system. The commonly used analog ICs are
used to simplify the circuit.
1.1 Technical Background
978-0-7695-5146-3/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/TIIEC.2013.31
Solar PV systems are used in many applications
due to the awareness of usage of renewable
energy systems. Because of the low efficiency
of the PV systems, it is essential to operate the
source at its maximum power point (MPP).
Maximum power can be transferred when
source resistance is matched with that of load
resistance. This is done by using DC-DC
converters, called MPP trackers. Several MPPT
schemes have been proposed in literature [1]-
[11]. Among them common and popular tracking
schemes are perturb and observe (P&O) or hill
climbing [2], [6], incremental conductance [1],
short circuit current [5], open-circuit voltage [7],
and ripple correlation methods [11]. Some
improved techniques have also been proposed,
with the suggestion of reducing the hardware or
improving the performance [3], [4], [7]-[9]. All the
methods use any one of the digital processors to
implement it. This way is complex, may yield
slow response, sometimes fuzzy in nature if
MPP moves suddenly. In this paper an attempt
to develop the MPP tracking method based on
non linear dynamics which inherently follow the
MPP under steady-state and transient
conditions, without trouble of any external
control or perturbation [12].
1.2 Proposed solution
The block diagram of the proposed system is
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig.1 Block Diagram of the proposed solution
The voltage and current of the solar panel are
fed to the MPPT controller through voltage and
current sensors as shown in Fig. 1. The
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controller sends signal to the buck converter
based on the current and voltage levels of the
PV panel, hence controlling the duty cycle of the
converter resulting in the establishment of the
maximum power point of the PV panel [12].
1.3 Organization of the report
This paper has been presented in the following
sequence:
ƒ Proposed Solution- A brief description on
the block diagram, functioning of each
component and the design of the circuit.
ƒ Hardware Implementation- Selection of
various components.
ƒ Software Implementation- Flow chart of
the algorithm and the operation of the
circuit.
ƒ Results- Simulation outputs and results of
hardware testing.
ƒ Conclusion
ƒ Acknowledgement
ƒ Reference
ƒ Appendix A- Simulation circuits.
ƒ Appendix B- Hardware photographs.
ƒ Appendix C- Cost of the project
Where current ripple, ∆I is 10% of Iin and
voltage ripple, ∆V is 5% of Vin. In order to handle
high switching frequency and low switching
losses, MOSFET IRF540N is used. The voltage
follower circuit using TI LM311 counter balances
the loading effect on the MPPT Controller.
10 kHz unity gain high pass filter using TI LM318
functions as a differentiator. TI LM311 performs
the comparator operation. The MPPT controller
varies the duty cycle of the buck converter
depending on the variations in the output voltage
of the PV array and tracks the maximum power
[12].
3. Implementation
3.1 Hardware Implementation
The detailed schematic with all specifications is
shown in Fig. 3.

2. Proposed Solution

The detailed block diagram of the proposed

analog MPPT system is shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 Schematic Diagram of the proposed system

The specifications of PV panel used in this work

are: Isc= 2.55 A, Voc= 21.24 V, Imax= 2.25 A,
Vmax= 16.24 V, Pmax= 37.08 W under STC (i.e.
2 o
G=1000 W/m and T=25 C). The buck converter
is designed for 10 kHz switching frequency. The
other circuits like differentiator have been
designed for the same frequency. The circuit
Fig.2 Detailed block diagram of the proposed solution
shown in Fig. 3 has been implemented and
tested for different environmental conditions and
The current and the voltage of the PV panel the results are presented in Section 5.
available are 2 A and 16 V at maximum power
2
point under insolation level, G=900 W/m and
o
temperature, T=30 C (SOLKAR 3635 model).
3.2 Software Implementation
Buck converter is designed for this rating. To
design the values of inductance and The PV panel has been implemented using
capacitance, the formulae used are Pspice software with one diode model (Fig. 14 in
Appendix A). The flow chart for tracking MPP
Vout Vin Vout using the proposed circuit is shown in Fig. 4
L (1)
f Vin L which is self explanatory.
Vout Vin Vout
C (2)
8 f L Vin V

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 Fig. 6 Power-Voltage characteristics of PV panel

The simulation results of different parameters

like input voltage, input current, output
voltage, output current, input power and
output power are shown vide Fig. 7 to Fig. 9.
Fig.4 Flow chart of MPPT Algorithm

In this algorithm [12]-[14], changes in the voltage

of the PV panel will result in the corresponding
change in the slope dP/dV. Referring to the
power-voltage characteristics in Fig. 6, the slope
is zero at MPP, positive for voltage levels below
Vmax and negative for voltage levels above Vmax.
For positive slope, the switch will open and
charge the capacitor to shift the operating point
to MPP. For negative slope, the switch will close
and charge the battery to utilize the excess
voltage till V is just about less than Vmax. At
which point the switch is opened. The voltage Fig.7 Input voltage and current of buck converter
thus oscillates about the maximum power
operating point.

4. Results

5.1 Simulation Results

Characteristics of PV panel

The simulated I-V and P-V characteristics of

the PV panel are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6
respectively for a particular condition. Fig.8 Output voltage and current of buck converter

Fig.9 Input and output power

Fig.5 Current-Voltage characteristics of PV panel

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The above simulation results were obtained for
a particular condition. For other conditions also
the proposed circuit has been verified.
5.2 Hardware Results
Fig. 10 shows the output voltage and gate pulse
before tracking and Fig. 11 shows the same
before tracking.
Fig.10 Photograph of gate pulse and output voltage before
tracking
Fig.11 Photograph of gate pulse and output voltage after
tracking
The waveforms have been traced using single
phase clamp on fluke meter and presented in
Fig. 12 and Fig. 13.
Fig. 12 Input side measurements using single phase clamp
on fluke meter
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Fig. 13 Output side measurements using single phase clamp
on fluke meter
From Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, it was found that the
output power is almost equal to the input power
and the converter losses were found to be 2 W,
whereas in simulation, the converter loss was
almost 1 W only. In practical testing the power
loss is high because the circuit has been
implemented in bread board. This can be
overcome by incorporating the circuit using PCB
with the proper ordered components.
5. Conclusions
The proposed MPPT algorithm was realized and
implemented practically. The system was tested
at different conditions to check its proper
working for different environmental conditions.
The sample results were presented in this
report. The implemented circuit yielded
satisfactory results excluding the losses in MPP
tracker. This can be rectified by reducing the
losses with proper circuit implementation. The
solution can be modified to address the issues
in the maximum power point tracking of partially
shaded PV systems.
6. References
[1] Hussein K. H and Muta. I, “Maximum
photovoltaic power tracking: an algorithm
for rapidly changing atmospheric
conditions”, Proc Inst. Electrical Eng. –
Generation, Transmission. Distribution,
Vol. 142, No. 1, pp. 59–64, 1995.
[2] Hua C, Lin J and Chen C,
“Implementation of a DSP-controlled
photovoltaic system with peak power
tracking”, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electronics
Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 99–107, 1998.
[3] Kasa N, Iida T and Iwamoto H, “Maximum photovoltaic arrays”, Electronics Letters,
th
power point tracking with capacitor Vol. 36, No. 11, 25 May 2000.
identifier for photovoltaic power system”, [13] Kislovski A. S. and Redl R, “Maximum
Proc Inst. Electr. Eng. – Electrical Power Power Tracking using positive
Applications, Vol. 147, No. 6, pp. 497– feedback̍, IEEE conference, pp 1065-
502, 2000. 1068, 2004.
[4] Veerachary M, Senjyu T and Uezato K, [14] Mohamed Azab, “A New Maximum
“Maximum power point tracking control of Power Point Tracking for Photovoltaic
IDB converter supplied PV system”, Proc. Systems”, World Academy of Science,
Inst. Electr. Eng. – Electr. Power Appl., Engineering and Technology 44, 2008
Vol. 148, No. 6, pp. 494–502, 2000.
[5] Noguchi T, Togashi S and Nakamoto R, 7. Acknowledgements
“Short-current pulse-based maximum
power-point tracking method for multiple
We are thankful to the management of SSN
photovoltaic and converter module
College of Engineering, Chennai for providing all
system”, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electronics,
the facilities to carry out this work. Also we are
Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 217–23, 2002.
grateful to Texas instruments (TI) for giving this
[6] Fernia N, Petrone G, Spagnuolo G and
opportunity to express our knowledge for doing
Vitelli M, “Optimization of perturb and
the project and their support
observe maximum power point tracking
method”, IEEE Transactions on Power
Electronics, Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 963–73, Appendix A
2005.
[7] Dorofte C, Borup U and Blaabjerg F, “A
combined two-method MPPT control
scheme for grid-connected photovoltaic
systems”, Proceedins of Eur. Conference
on Power Electronics Applications, pp. 1-
10, 2005.
[8] Kasa N, Iida T and Chen L, “Flyback Fig.14 Pspice model of PV panel
inverter controlled by sensorless current
MPPT for photovoltaic power system”,
IEEE Transactions on Industrial
electronics, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 1145-1152,
2005.
[9] Sera D, Kerekes T, Teodorescu R, and
Blaabjerg F, “Improved MPPT method for
rapidly changing environmental
conditions”, Proc. IEEE Int. Ind. Electron
Symp.Vol.2, pp.1420-1425, 2006.
[10] Salas V, Olias E, Barrado A and Lazaro
A, “Review of the maximum power point
tracking algorithms for stand-alone Fig.15 Pspice schematic of the proposed system
photovoltaic systems”, Solar Energy
APPENDIX B
Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 90, No.11,
pp. 1555-1578, 2006.
[11] Esram T, Kimball J. W, Krein P. T,
Chapman P. L and Midya P, “Dynamic
maximum power point tracking of
photovoltaic arrays using ripple
correlation control”, IEEE Transactions on
Power Electronics, Vol. 21, No. 5, pp.
1282-1291, 2006.
[12] Yan Hong Lim and D.C. Hamill, “Simple
maximum power point tracker for Fig.16 Realization of the Buck Converter

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 Fig.17 SOLAR 3635 PV panel

Fig.18 Hardware setup of the proposed system

The YouTube link of the video on our project is

http://youtu.be/ipP73qOQ3A8

APPENDIX C - Bill of Materials

S. No. Component Unit Cost (INR) Qty Total Cost (INR)

1 LM311 N 15.00 4 60.00

2 LM318 25.00 2 50.00
3 IRF540N 30.00 1 30.00
4 SN7474 7.00 1 7.00
5 74HC86N 7.00 1 7.00
6 AD633JN 288.00 1 288.00

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