2015 International Conference on Smart Grid and Clean Energy Technologies
A Maximum Power Point Tracker for Module Integrated PV Systems under
Rapidly Changing Irradiance Conditions
J. Ahmad, F. Spertino, A. Ciocia, and P. Di Leo
The E nergy Department, Politecnico di Torino
Italy
e-mail: jawad.ahmad@polito.it;filippo.spertino@polito.it;alessandro.ciocia@polito.it;paolo.dileo@polito.it
Abstract-Perturb and Observe (P&O) method is a commonly
employed technique in module integrated maximum power
point tracking (MPPT) system. But the method suffers from
the problems of oscillations around the maximum power point
(MPP) during the steady state. Various methods have been
reported in the literature to overcome the problem of
oscillations around the MPP in the steady state. These methods
perform well in the regions with uniform irradiance from the
sun throughout the day. However, in the regions with highly
variable irradiance due to stochastic cloud cover and cyclonic
activity, the P&O based MPPTs with no steady state
oscillations do not operate properly due to their slow response
to the changing irradiance. This paper proposes a P&O based
MPPT which tracks the MPP of a PV module in the face of
varying irradiance. Simulation results show that the proposed
algorithm quickly tracks the MPP. The results also show that
the proposed method has 99.92% efficiency in the steady state
operation. The proposed algorithm is simple to implement as
no additional hardware is required for its implementation.
Keywords-photovoltaic module; maximum power point
tracker; perturb and observe; perturbation step, irradiance
I. INTRODUCTION
The depleting sources of fossil fuels and environmental
concerns have drawn attention towards the generation of
electricity from renewable resources. Among all the
renewable sources, solar energy has seen fast growth during
the past decades because of its abundant availability and
pollution free conversion to electricity. The main
disadvantages of photovoltaic generation are: low conversion
efficiency, high initial cost, and nonlinear Power-Voltage (P-
V) characteristics.
The P-V characteristic of Photovoltaic (PV) arrays is a
function of irradiance and environmental temperature. Fig. 1
shows the P-V characteristic of a solar module for various
irradiances. There is a unique point on the characteristics
named as Maximum Power Point (MPP) at which optimal
power can be extracted from the array. For optimal
utilization of a PV panel, it is necessary to operate the system
at MPP. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) is utilized
for this purpose. A variety of MPPT methods are reported in
[1].
These methods vary according to their implementation
cost, algorithmic complexity, types of sensors required, and
ability to operate efficiently in changing weather conditions.
978-1-4673-8734-7/15/$31.00 2015 IEEE
Perturb and Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (IC),
Ripple Correlation, Fractional Open Circuit Voltage,
Fractional Short Circuit Current etc. are some of the well
known conventional MPPT techniques.
Voltage (V)
Figure I. PV characteristic of photovoltaic module for different irradiance.
For obtaining a certain limit of power, PV arrays are
formed by connecting mUltiple PV modules in series, parallel,
and series-parallel combination. The increasing number of
modules causes an increase in the physical size which makes
the array prone to partial shading. Partial shading and
mismatch among individual modules inside the array are
major reasons for losses in the PV systems. In order to
overcome these problems, MPPT for each module is widely
researched. In module based MPPT, each module has its own
DC-DC converter and operates independently of other
modules. P&O method is a commonly employed method in
the module based MPPTs [2].
The principle of P&O technique is that the operating
voltage of the PV array is perturbed in a specific direction by
changing the duty ratio of the DC-DC converter. If an
increase in the output power of the PV system is observed, it
suggests that the operating point has moved closer to the
MPP and the next perturbation is applied in the same
direction. One the other hand, if the output power is reduced
after perturbation it means that the operating point has
moved away from the MPP and the next perturbation is
applied in the opposite direction. This sequence of perturbing
the operating point and observing the variation in power is
repeated till the MPP is tracked. The system then begins to
oscillate around the MPP. This oscillation is the major
drawback of the technique which results in the fluctuation of
the output power from the PV system. The magnitude of this
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fluctuation can be reduced by decreasing the size of the
perturbation step. Unfortunately, the reduction in step size
degrades the response of the system to changes in irradiance.
Setting large perturbation step results in faster response but it
increases the magnitude of oscillations around MPP which
leads to power loss.
This paper is further organized as follows. In section II
are discussed the improvements proposed in P&O algorithm,
in section III the characteristic of a PV module is discussed.
In Section IV is described the transient behavior of solar
irradiance. Detailed explanation of the proposed MPPT is
given in section V. Simulation results are given in section VI
and section VII concludes this paper.
II. IMPROVEMENTS IN P&O ALGORITHM
For improved performance, P&O algorithms with
variable perturb step [3], [4], [5] and hybrid MPPT [6], [7]
are proposed in the literature. The method proposed in [3]
operates in active and power-down mode. The MPP is
tracked in the active mode and the system operates at this
point during the power-down mode. The tracking speed of
this method is fast compared to conventional P&O method
and there are no fluctuations around the MPP in the steady
state. However, during rapidly changing irradiance, this
method does not instantly responds as the duration of power
down mode is longer than the active mode. Similarly, during
the operation of active mode, the operating voltage of the PV
system is changed even in the absence of any change in the
MPP which causes power loss [4]. In [5] also, there are no
oscillations around the MPP but the method is strictly
applicable to the regions where there is a clear blue sky for
the most part of the year and no or very small variations in
the sunlight are observed throughout the day. Reference [6]
has proposed a hybrid MPPT method to improve the
performance of PV systems. This method is a combination of
two loops, i.e. the set point loop and the fine tuning loop.
The MPP is approximated in the set point loop and then the
actual MPP is tracked by using the fine tuning loop through
conventional P&O method. The MPPT has better
performance than the conventional method but it utilizes a
temperature sensor for approximation of Open Circuit
Voltage Voc which can be prohibitively expensive,
particularly for module based MPPT. Reference [7] also uses
the hybrid technique but the method uses additional
MOSFET switch in DC-DC converter for disconnecting the
PV array for measurement of Voc of the array. The design of
the driver circuitry and heat sink for the disconnecting
MOSFET switch can be complicated and also expensive.
In this paper is proposed a P&O based MPPT algorithm
which tracks the MPP of a PV module quickly and is
adaptive to quickly changing irradiance. The algorithm first
performs coarse tracking with a large perturbation step ( D).
When the algorithm passes MPP the perturbation step is
monotonically decreased to perform fme tuning and then
converges to the MPP. After the true MPP is tracked,
conventional P&O algorithm is invoked with a very small
perturbation step in order to adapt to moderate variations in
irradiance during stable weather.
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III. CHARACTERISTICS OF A PV MODULE
Based on [8] a PV cell can be represented by an
equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 2. Mathematically, the I-V
characteristic of an ideal PV cell can be described as
J=JpV,cELL-Ja,cELL[exp (
aKT
)- 1] (1)
where IpV.CELL is the photo-generated current of the cell
which is proportional to the incident light, la.cELL is the
reverse saturation current of the diode, q is the electron
charge (l.60217646 x 10-19 C), K is the Boltzmann constant
23
(l.3806503 x 10- J/K),
T (in Kelvin) is the temperature of the p-n junction, and a
is the diode ideality constant (l:Sa:S l.5).
E q. (1) does not represent the I-V characteristic of a
practical PV module which is composed of several series and
parallel connected cells. In order to observe the
characteristics of a typical PV module, some additional
parameters have to be included in (1) and thus, we get the
following equations
J= NpJpv - NpJa exp () -
[ V+RSI
1] _ V+lRs
(2)
Rp
Vt = NsKT /q (3)
(4)
Isc+K[t1T
-
Ja (5)
- NS(VOC+KVllT)
exp C -1
aVt
where lpv and 10 are the photo-generated, and saturation
current of the module respectively, and VI is the thermal
voltage of the module with Ns series connected cells. Rs is
the series resistance and Rp is the parallel resistance of the
module, Np is the number of parallel connected cells, G is the
irradiance (in W/m2), Gn is the nominal irradiance
(1000W/m2), Kj is the current coefficient, Kv is the voltage
coefficient, hc is the short circuit current and Voc is the open
circuit voltage of each cell in the module.
E q. (2) represents the single diode model which is shown
in Fig. 2. Some authors have suggested more complicated
models for improved accuracy. For example, in [9] an
additional diode is used to account for the effects of
recombination of charge carriers. However, the single diode
model is usually used by power electronics designers for
simulation of PV modules and the same model is used in this
paper for simulations.
Figure 2. Equivalent circuit of a PV module.
 IV. TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR OF SOLAR IRRADIANCE MPPT utilizes different size of D for different conditions.
For PV related applications, the transient behavior of As shown in Fig. 3, at the start of the algorithm the
solar irradiance is particularly important for parts of the perturbation step is kept at a high value in order to get
globe which are prone to rapid variations in the weather sufficiently close to VMPP similar to [3]. This is indicated by
conditions. Unsteady nature of solar irradiance for northern point A, B, and C. After a certain number of steps in a
part of E urope has been discussed in [10]. The outcomes of specific direction, the operating voltage of the module passes
the study are particularly important for the design of MPPT VMPP which is indicated by the reduction in the module's
algorithms for rapidly changing environmental conditions. output power from the value of power in the previous step.
The main points of the work are summarized as follows: The duty ratio of the DC-DC converter is changed by the
1. The share of clear summer days in the regions with high same value of Dbut in the reverse direction as indicated by
cyclonic activity is 10.7% and includes 16.7% of the D in Fig. 3. Then the size of the perturbation step is reduced
and the duty ratio is perturbed in same direction as in the
solar energy. Stable cloudy days contribute 2.7% of the
previous step shown as E . At every reduction of the modules
solar energy and constitute 8.8% of the solar days. The
output power the perturbation step size is reduced till the
remaining 80.5% of the days have other classification of MPP is tracked (shown by F).
solar irradiance, not all of it being unstable. These days Setting the value of size of perturbation step LlD in the
include 81.1% of the solar energy and therefore demand steady state is important and has to set differently by taking
special attention. into consideration the weather data of a locality. If the
2. During clear days, most of the variations in irradiance proposed MPPT algorithm is to be utilized in the regions
(fiG) smaller than 50 Wm-2min-1 and only 16.2% have where there are clear sunny days throughout the year or most
no variations. part thereof, then no perturbation is needed in the steady
3. During stable cloudy days G is in the range lower than state. As discussed in the previous section, if the weather
150 Wm-2min-1 and only 4.8% have G=O condition of the locality is highly variable due to the
presence of stochastic cloud cover and frequent cyclonic
4. In case of unstable weather the variation in irradiance is
activities, we have stable irradiance for a very small
G>500 Wm-2min-l
proportion of time. In this scenario it is important to keep a
In the design of the proposed MPPT algorithm, these small perturbation in DC-DC converter's duty ratio in the
facts are taken into consideration. Of particular importance is steady state. As will be shown in the simulations, this small
the fact that on clear and cloudy days a very small proportion perturbation has a negligible effect on the power output of
of time we have G=O. In this way any P&O algorithm with the PV module.
D=O in the steady state is not applicable in the regions with The PWM modules of low cost microcontrollers have
highly variable weather conditions. For example, [3] cannot usually 8 bit resolution. In these microcontrollers the duty
be applied because it performs tracking of MPP during the step of 1 corresponds to 0.4% variation in the duty cycle.
active mode which is invoked periodically, and remains in Therefore, microcontroller with 8-bit resolution we set
the power down mode for most of the time and new MPP is perturbation step equal to 1 which corresponds to a LlD =
not tracked till the operation of active mode. Similarly, the 0.004.
method in [7] will involve too frequent disconnection of load The proposed algorithm is further explained with the help
from the PV array for measurement of Voe which will result of the flowchart shown in Fig 4. At the start of the algorithm
in power loss. Moreover, the MPPTs using D=O in the D is set to 0.2 and P&O algorithm with monotonically
steady state responds well to a decrease in the irradiance but decreasing D (shown as MPP tracking mode in Fig. 4) is
their response is not quick in case of an increase in irradiance. invoked. This process continues till flD 0.004 in case of an
8-bit microcontroller. At this stage PMAX is measured. Then
constant step P&O with D = 0.004, shown as steady state
I I
C )

o JlDifE-J'--
II : ;......................... ,.......................... 1 operation, begins. The output power of the PV module (Ppv)
-=::C ==::::==
::=:t ========:j is constantly monitored in the steady state for any variations
outside the range 3%. The steady state perturbation D =

-5
" .. ;:_1I ... ...... . . .
OJ . . ; .................................... L.............................;................................ , ...................... -1
0.004 is sufficient to maintain the operation of the system
around the MPP in the range 3%. Any variation in the
I ............. , .............. , ............................ , ........................... , ............. -1
range 3% to 10% (which corresponds to highly variable
:: 1 but stable weather condition) is followed by MPP tracking
mode with D initially set to 0.05. Similarly, any variation
TimC') of Ppv above or below 10% is characterized by an unstable
weather. In this situation MPP tracking mode is invoked by
Figure 3. Variation of duty ratio during MPP tracking.
the algorithm and LlD is set to 0.1 to track the new MPP.
V. PROPOSED MPPT
VI. SIMULATION RESULTS
The main purpose of this paper is to propose a MPPT To check the performance of the proposed MPPT
which tracks the MPP quickly in the face of variations in the algorithm, simulations were performed in
ambient weather conditions discussed above. The proposed

9
MA TLAB/SIMULINK. Buck converter with switching
frequency of 100 kHz was used. The PV module used in the
simulations has Voe and lse equal to 32.9V and 8.26A,
respectively. Fig. 5 shows the performance of the proposed where k is the number of samples.
MPPT in the beginning of the algorithm. For comparison, the
operation of the constant step size P&O is shown in Fig.6.
Figs. 5 and 6 indicate that the proposed method converges to
the MPP much faster than the conventional method. As a
result of the faster convergence of the proposed technique,
lower power loss is incurred.

Figure 6. MPP tracking of the conventional P&O technique in the

beginning.

Using (6) for the beginning of each algorithm, PLOSS for

the conventional and the proposed algorithm was found to
be 30.87% and 6.24%, respectively. This suggests that the
perfonnance of the proposed algorithm at the beginning is
five times better than the conventional P&O. E q. (6) was
also used for calculating the loss due to steady state
perturbation under constant irradiance of lOOO W/m2 It was
found that the power loss due to small L'lD was less than
0.08% which means that the proposed algorithm has
efficiency of about 99.92% in the steady state.

Figure 4. Flow chart of the proposed method.

Figure 7. (a) Response of the proposed method to a ramp increase in

irradiance and (b) increasing irradiance.
Figure 5. MPP tracking of the proposed method in the beginning.

To determine the relative performance of the two
algorithms we can use the concept of the nonnalized power
loss (PLOSS) as in [4]. PLOSS for each algorithm can be
calculated as
In Fig.7 is shown the response of the proposed algorithm
to a ramp increase in the irradiance at 400 W/m2s". The Fig.
indicates that the proposed algorithm tracks the MPP during
highly variable weather conditions. In Fig. 8 is shown the

10
response of the proposed algorithm to a step decrease in
irradiance. This situation occurs during unstable weather.
The results in Fig. 8 indicate that the algorithm is able to
converge to the new MPP in about 4 sampling periods. In
order to deal with the situations in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 the
method proposed in [7] not only uses additional hardware
but also involves frequent disconnection of PV source from
the load for measurement of Voc which involves a
considerable amount of power loss. Similarly, [3] responds
to these changes only in the active mode which makes the
method unsuitable for highly variable weather conditions.
On the other hand, the proposed algorithm deals with the
same scenano quickly and with lesser fluctuations in the
output power.
Figure 8. (a) Response of the proposed MPPT to a step decrease in the
irradiance (b) decreasing irradiance.
VII. CONCLUSION
In module integrated MPPT systems, P&O method is
commonly employed because of its simplicity. However, the
method suffers from the problem of oscillations around
VMPP in the steady state. The magnitude of these oscillations
can be reduced by using a small perturbation but it
compromises the transient response of the system. Some
authors have proposed improvements in the P&O
techniques by operating the system at the MPP without
oscillations. These methods perform well in the regions
which have a uniform solar irradiance throughout the day.
However, in the regions with highly variable irradiance due
to stochastic cloud cover and cyclonic activity, the P&O
based MPPTs without steady state oscillations do not
operate properly due to their slower response to the
changing (especially increasing) irradiance. In this paper is
proposed a P&O based MPPT which tracks the MPP of a
PV module under highly variable irradiance conditions.
Simulations have been performed in SIMULINK/MATLAB
and the results confIrm the performance of the proposed
technique.
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