Advances in Power Electronics
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 9409801, 9 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9409801

Research Article

A Novel Analog Circuit Design for Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Panels

Nesrine Mhiri,¹ Abdulrahman Alahdal,² Hamza Ghulman,² and Anis Ammous1,2

¹Power Electronics Group (PEG), National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
²DEE, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence should be addressed to Anis Ammous; aaammous@uqu.edu.sa

Received 7 April 2017; Revised 20 June 2017; Accepted 26 July 2017; Published 25 September 2017

Academic Editor: Mohamed Orabi

Copyright © 2017 Nesrine Mhiri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

A new analog technique is proposed in order to track the maximum power point (MPP) of PV panels. The proposed technique uses the well-known simple functions of electronic circuits. The proposed technique is validated by applying it to boost based off grid PV system. The simulation of the PV system was done on the circuit oriented simulator Proteus-ISIS. A good efficiency of the analog technique (more than 98%) was registered. The variation of irradiation was introduced in order to study the robustness of the proposed analog MPPT technique.

1. Introduction

Currently, the production of domestic and industrial energy is based, in large part, on a limited resource: oil. Oil sources are becoming more and more rare, while the energy demands of the world rise continually. Since this form of energy covers a large part of the current energy production, it is necessary to find another solution to take over. The imposed constraint is to use an energy source that is economical and less polluting because the protection of the environment has become an important point [1–3].

The search for alternative energy resources has therefore become a crucial issue these days. Many scientific researches have been carried out, not only in the field of nuclear energy production, but also in the sector of unlimited energy sources, such as wind power generation and energy transformation. In the latter case, the design, optimization, and realization of photovoltaic systems are topical issues since they lead to a better exploitation of solar energy [2].

These photovoltaic powers generating systems can be operated in different places: electrification of isolated sites, installation in buildings or direct connection to network of electricity, and so on.

A major problem with PV systems is to realize transfer of maximum power from PV generator to load. For several years, many MPPT control methods have been developed and implemented, like Fuzzy Logic Method [4–7], perturbation and observation (P&O) method [5, 6, 8], and Incremental Conductance (Inc.Con.) method [7, 9–11]. These techniques are generally complex and expensive to implement [4, 9, 12]. They differ in several aspects like complexity, range of effectiveness, cost, convergence speed, implementation hardware, required sensors, and popularity, plus other respects. However, these techniques are digital implementation.

Alternatively, the MPPT can be implemented by analog circuits [13–15]. The potential benefit from analog solution is that the MPPT can be integrated with DC-DC controller such that “plug and play” can be expected for many low power PV applications. In fact, integration of certain functions into a normal PWM controller chip is the most desirable way for special applications to reduce the implementation complexity and system cost.

In this paper, a new analog MPPT technique suitable for PV system applications is presented and validated by simulations.

2. Solar Cell Characteristics and PV Module

Solar cell is the main building block of PV arrays, which consist of many photovoltaic cells linked in parallel/series manner for each module. A PV cell can be modeled from the equation defining the static behavior of the PN junction of a conventional diode. Thus, Figure 1 illustrates the electrical equivalent scheme of a real PV cell. In this equation, the short-circuit current and the various resistors modeling the losses due to the connection are taken into account. Thus, in static state, the behavior of a PV cell made up of a silicon-based PN junction can be described by [16, 17]

Figure 1: Equivalent circuit of solar PV cell.

The primary solar cell equivalent circuit can involve a current source in parallel with a diode and a shunt relatively large resistance (), in addition to a usually small parasitic series resistance (). However, is mainly attributed to the p-n junction, the nonlinearity, and impurities near the junction [16, 17].

The current is given by the Shockley equation:

where , , , and are, respectively, the cell’s reverse saturation current, the charge of electrons, Boltzmann’s constant, and the cell’s working temperature, is the diode ideality factor, and is the voltage across the diode terminals.

The PV module characteristic has a current boundary called short-circuit current and a voltage boundary called open circuit voltage given by the following equation:

The PV module can also be characterized by the maximum power point where the product of its voltage () and its current () is at its maximum value. The maximum power output is derived by finding the local maxima of the product of PV output current and voltage:

The goal for a solar direct electricity generation system or photovoltaic system is to provide high quality, reliable, and green electrical power. Usually a number of PV modules are arranged in series and/or parallel combinations to meet the output energy requirements. The series connection increases the module’s voltage whereas the parallel connection increases its current [17].

At the temperature 25°C and irradiation of 1000 W/m², Table 1 shows the electrical characteristics of the used PV module given by manufacturer data sheet [18].

Table 1: Typical electrical characteristics of a PV module, JA SOLAR.

Characteristics
Specifications

Maximum power rating
265 W

Open circuit voltage ()
38.38 V

Short-circuit current ()
8.8 A

Maximum power voltage ()
31.24 V

Maximum power current ()
8.48 A

3. Operation Principle of the New Analog MPPT Controller

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is the important factor in PV systems to maintain maximum power output. It is the component that tracks the maximum power point of the PV panel’s curve.

The problem addressed by MPPT techniques is to maintain the output voltage and current at which a PV array should operate to produce the maximum power output under controlled conditions of irradiation and temperature.

Figure 2 shows the current-voltage (-) and power-voltage (-) characteristics of a typical solar cell. For overall optimal operation of the PV system, the load operating point has to match the PV array’s MPP.

Figure 2: - and - characteristics of a solar cell showing MPP.

Here, the design of a photovoltaic system equipped with a new analog Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique is studied. Its main parts are the switch-mode DC-DC converter, the control system, and the tracking system. Proteus-ISIS simulation tool was used to show proposed analog technique performance [18].

3.1. Typical PV System Using Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The two main categories of PV systems are grid tie and stand alone. In our case, we have chosen to develop the analog MPPT controller on a simple and classical stand-alone PV system. Specific equipment is required to control, transfer, distribute, and store the energy produced by the PV arrays. Figure 3 shows the basic block diagram of a typical off grid PV system that has been used in our application.

Figure 3: Block diagram of the proposed photovoltaic system.

The different blocks constituting the system are as follows:

(i)The PV panels.(ii)Load; in our case a simple impedance.(iii)DC-DC boost power converter. In this case the output voltage is higher than the one delivered by the PV panel. The converter involves one controlled switch (Mosfet or IGBT). The semiconductor device controlled by a variable frequency and duty cycle () driving signal.(iv)Analog MPPT controller. It allows the track of the maximal power point of the PV array, which depends on climate conditions [19]. Consequently, the controller guides the power point of the PV panel to converge to its maximum. Its operating principle is based on the automatic variation of the duty cyclic () to continuously maximize the power at the PV array output.

The detailed diagram of the photovoltaic technique is presented in Figure 4. This controller uses the voltage and current of photovoltaic panels to calculate the instantaneous power delivered by panels.

(i)A shunt resistor () is used as a current sensor of the PV panel.(ii)A voltage divider composed by two resistors “ and ” used to obtain an image of the voltage across PV panels.(iii)An analog multiplier is used to calculate the instantaneous output power delivered by the PV panels.(iv)The block generator produces a reference signal that represents the reference power. This signal has a constant magnitude, adjustable period , and constant (few milliseconds). The slope rates values of the waveform can be modified depending on system response time (Figure 7). The generator function is based on NE555 integrated circuit.(v)Comparator (2) compares the really generated power () and the reference power signal ().(vi)Hysteresis (2) is used to detect the maximum power point and to control the hold circuit, its output commutes to (+15 V) when the comparator (2) output reaches indicating the failover of the panels operating point to the left side of the characteristic (point C in Figure 2).(vii)A hold circuit can block the value of the reference signal () and gives signal. The blocked value is slightly higher than the MPP of the panels arrays. When is blocked, the panel operating point is in (C).(viii)An RC cell generates a pulse when the maximum power is reached (define the values of and ( + ) of the generated power shown in Figure 7).(ix)The summation block produces from and the RC circuit outputs. This block output allows bringing the panel operating point from (C) to (D) and to obtain, in the steady state, the optimal value of the power detected by our technique (point E in Figure 2).(x)Comparator (1) calculates the difference between and signals.(xi)Hysteresis (1) is used to control the real power close to the generated power waveform which is considered as the optimal power of the PV panel deduced from our technique. If the difference between the real and generated power reaches the upper/lower limit, the power is forced to decrease/increase. The hysteresis control has the benefit of very quick response, variable switching frequency, and simpler process than other control techniques. This signal is injected to MOSFET transistor of the DC-DC boost converter through the driver.

Figure 4: The detailed synoptic diagram of the whole photovoltaic technique.

Figure 5 shows the transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2) blocks.

Figure 5: The transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2).

The transfer function of hysteresis 1 block, for example, is given by the following equations:

Figure 6 shows the electrical circuit corresponding to the proposed analog MPPT technique. The circuit contains mainly one multiplier, a precision timing circuit, a hold circuit, and six operational amplifiers.

Figure 6: The proposed analog MPPT technique circuit.

Figure 7: Different power waveforms evolutions and the corresponding panel operating point in characteristic.

3.2. Principle of the Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The majority of MPPT techniques attempt to vary PV current in order to match the maximum power point or to find the PV voltage that results in the maximum power point .

Figure 7 shows the principle of the proposed analog technique using powers waveforms. The proposed analog technique is based on the generation of a reference power signal () to be followed by the PV panel’s real power () while is lower than the maximum power (between A and B of the power static characteristic ). and signals are equal to while the error between and is within hysteresis 2 tolerance band. signal is regulated to signal by hysteresis 1 band.

If the power magnitude is able to increase usually (from zero and initially from open circuit condition of the characteristic) this means that the maximum power is not reached yet, but if, at a given moment, the power magnitude decreases this means that the maximum power was reached and a rapid blocking of the power is necessary.

When the reference signal increases and if the actual real power could not pursue this signal (the maximum power is reached), the panel operating point will be brought to the left side of the characteristic (point C). At this situation, hysteresis (2) acts on the hold circuit in order to block the signal and obtain the signal .

The hold circuit is just necessary to block the “ generator” block output to a constant value indicating the detection of the PV panels maximum power. The signal “” is therefore generated at the output of this hold circuit.

The signal which has a variable magnitude and allows the regulation of the real power is the signal “ ” issued from “” signal which is obtained from “ generator” block. In fact, when the detection of the maximum power was occurred by “hysteresis 2” block, the signal issued from “ generator” creates the signal “.” The “” signal will have a variable magnitude depending on irradiation value. The signal “” takes the same dynamic proprieties from the “ generator” block output but with different variable magnitude.

In the above situation, the real power cannot be regulated to the blocked value which is slightly higher than the maximum power and the panel operating point will decrease to zero of the left side of the characteristic (the increase of boost duty cycle decreases power in the left side of the characteristic).

In order to avoid the above behavior of the operating point, the signal is created in order to regulate real power to this signal in the rest of the time . In fact, the panel operating point should be brought, from point (C), to the right side of the characteristic (point D). A first-order pulse (generated by the RC cell block) is declined from the blocked signal and signal is therefore obtained. Since the signal is regulated to the signal by hysteresis (1), the panel operating point goes within its tolerance band (point D). During this transition, the operating point passes by the maximum power value (B).

The regulated real power pursues until the operating point (E) which is slightly lower than the maximum value .

The hysteresis bands and first-order pulse magnitude are chosen so that the operating point (E) is below the operating point (B) in the right side of the characteristic.

At the end of () and when the signal decreases and becomes lower than actual power ( is exceeded), hysteresis 2 reacts and cancels the hold block control signal, and signals become equal to the reference signal, and the regulated actual power decreases too and reaches the operating point (A). The initialisation phase was then started and will continue during the time .

The band 1 of “hysteresis 1” block (defined by and ) is fixed by the user based on current ripple and modulation frequency considerations. Band 2 of “hysteresis 2” block (defined by and ) should be larger than band 1. There are no special other considerations for these bands values.

The value of is fixed by the RC cell circuit and it is chosen and given by the following condition:

This condition is necessary to be sure that the operating point of the PV panels is kept in the right side of the maximum point of the characteristic.

The used circuit of the RC cell block is given by Figure 8. The input signal of this circuit is the inverse signal () of hysteresis 2 block output.

Figure 8: The RC cell block circuit and its output voltage waveform.

3.3. Simulation Results

The proposed MPPT technique, power converter, and PV arrays models are implemented in the Proteus-ISIS circuit oriented simulator. For different irradiance conditions, the different voltage waveforms corresponding to the above-mentioned power are registered and shown in Figure 9. It is clear that the real power converges, during the steady state, to a value (E) slightly lower than the array maximum power (B). The difference between the generated real power and the optimal panel power contributes to the performance assessment of the proposed analog technique.

Figure 9: Tracked maximum power under variable solar radiation.

Figure 10 shows the evolution of the current and voltage images during one cycle of signal.

Figure 10: Image of the PV panels current and voltage.

The efficiency of the proposed MPPT technique was computed for different values. Figure 11 shows the evolutions of this efficiency as a function of radiation intensity for two values ( ms). The efficiency was calculated by the following equation:

Figure 11: New MPPT technique efficiencies for unipolar input reference .

We notice that in the input of the boost converter there is no filtering capacitance added and this in order to control instantaneously the real current in PV panels. This is considered as an advantage of the proposed MPPT technique. The choice of the value of storage inductance of the boost and hysteresis 1 band defines the variable switching frequency of the power device. This value is in general limited by maximum junction temperature in the active device.

In order to increase the efficiency of the proposed analog MPPT technique a bipolar (+15 V/−15 V) signal is used. In fact, when the variation of becomes equal to 30 V, the relative error generated by the proposed MPPT technique, in order to detect the optimum power, decreases. Figure 12 shows the change of the MPPT technique’s efficiency as a function of irradiation. We notice that the maximum efficiency reaches 99.3% at 1000 W/m². In literature [19–21], the various classical P&O or conductance incremental algorithms yield MPPT efficiency between 95% and 98%.

Figure 12: Proposed MPPT technique efficiency as a function of irradiation when the reference power signal () vary between −15 V and 15 V.

Beyond duration equal to 2 s, the efficiency of the proposed technique tends to 99.5%.

In the proposed analog MPPT technique, we obtained a good efficiency of the technique compared to the analog techniques proposed in literature [22, 23] (varying between 95% and 99.5%). If we compare our technique to the best one, allowing a comparable efficiency, published in literature, we can find that the proposed technique uses a low number of discrete devices and only one multiplier circuit is used. The good technique efficiency associated with a low number of electronic functions can be promising and the integration of the proposed analog MPPT solution can offer an interest in IC circuit.

4. Experimental Validation of the Proposed MPPT Technique

For this purpose, the boost converter is realized, and the used semiconductor devices are the STGW30V60F N-channel IGBT Transistor and the STTA3006P Diode.

The realized analog MPPT circuit is shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13: Photo of the realized analog PMMT control circuit.

A PV panels (JA SOLAR) generating a maximum power around 580 W, at the temperature 25°C and irradiation of 1000 W/m², are used.

The open circuit voltage of the PV panels is equal to 105 V.

We notice that, in the experimental waveform shown in Figure 14, the duration value of the signal was chosen equal to 800 ms and duration equal to 40 ms in order to see the transient phenomena of the evolution in oscilloscope. In practice the value of can reach a higher value and a lower value in order to increase the efficiency of the tracking technique.

Figure 14: experimental curve for  ms, ( in brown, 1 V scale = 100 W).

5. Conclusion

A new technique to track the maximum power point operation using analog MPPT controller is proposed in this paper. The proposed MPPT control strategy has the ability of fast tracking of the MPP for PV systems. It uses DC-DC boost converter. Through simulation by Proteus-ISIS and experiments, the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed method were validated. The idea proposed showed its accuracy to detect the optimal generated power by the PV panels. An improvement of the technique efficiency, by using a bipolar voltage of the reference signal, was registered. The efficiency of the analog MPPT technique reaches values higher than 99%.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This paper contains the results and funding of a research project that is funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Grant no. 35-130.

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