Control of submodule integrated converters in the isolated-port differential power-processing photovoltaic architecture

Yoash Levron, Daniel Russel Clement, Beomseok Choi, Carlos Olalla, Dragan Maksimovic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recently, a variety of differential power-processing (DPP) architectures have been shown to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper proposes a simple control strategy for the isolated-port DPP architecture, and provides a comprehensive stability analysis for this system. The proposed controller drives the duty-cycle of the differential submodule integrated converters (subMICs) in proportion to a voltage difference between the submodule and the isolated-port. This method requires no additional sensing, complex processing, or communication between subMICs, and is therefore well suited for low-cost integrated hardware solutions. Stability of the resulting high-order nonlinear system is analyzed both in the time and frequency domains. A decoupled model is developed that reduces the high-order system dynamics to a 1-D control loop, which allows stable, well-behaved responses using a proportional or a lag compensator. Experimental results for a 72-cell PV module with three subMICs verify static and dynamic operation, and show that overall PV module efficiency exceeds 99% with no shading, and is higher than 96% under significant (50%) shading.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6822511
Pages (from-to)821-832
Number of pages12
JournalIEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics
Volume2
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DC optimizer
  • differential power processing
  • maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
  • module integrated converter (MIC)
  • partial power processing
  • partial shading
  • photovoltaic
  • solar

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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