Improved fractional open circuit voltage MPPT methods for PV systems

Dmitry Baimel, Saad Tapuchi, Yoash Levron, Juri Belikov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper proposes two new Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methods which improve the conventional Fractional Open Circuit Voltage (FOCV) method. The main novelty is a switched semi-pilot cell that is used for measuring the open-circuit voltage. In the first method this voltage is measured on the semi-pilot cell located at the edge of PV panel. During the measurement the semi-pilot cell is disconnected from the panel by a pair of transistors, and bypassed by a diode. In the second Semi-Pilot Panel method the open circuit voltage is measured on a pilot panel in a large PV system. The proposed methods are validated using simulations and experiments. It is shown that both methods can accurately estimate the maximum power point voltage, and hence improve the system efficiency.

Original languageEnglish
Article number321
JournalElectronics (Switzerland)
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Fractional open circuit voltage
  • Maximum power point tracking
  • Renewable energy

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Signal Processing
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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