MPPT Efficiency: Noise Sources and Methods for Reducing Their Effects 101

Photovoltaic Step Response

0
Compensated system
Tp = 0.5 ms Open-loop system
–0.1

–0.2
Voltage [V]

–0.3

–0.4

–0.5

–0.6

–0.7
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Time [s] × 10–3

Figure 3.8
Step responses of the PV system for low irradiance G = 100 W/m2. Black curve: closed-loop
Wvp,x(s) step response; dashed curve: open-loop Gvp,x(s) step response.

open-loop transfer function Gvp,d(s). Both functions have been evaluated in

the worst case in terms of irradiance (G = 100 W/m2). The feedback loop
introduces a significant benefit on the speed and damping of the closed-loop
system, so that Tp = 0.5 ms can be adopted. This value is five times smaller
than that used for Tp if the same boost converter operates in open loop.
The step perturbation Δvref is obtained by means of (3.23). vref ,G is due to the
irradiance variation and is evaluated by using the same PV parameters con-
sidered in the previous example, namely, RMPP |G = 100  11Ω , H|G = 100 = 0.0836
A/V2, and K ph = 8mA ⋅ m2 / W . The step amplitude required to compensate an
irradiance variation G = 100 W / m2 / s is vref ,G = 0.0646V .
Regarding the term vref , Vo on the right side of (3.22), a value ΔVo = 3 V has
been assumed for the noise at 100 Hz, while the DC component of the bulk
voltage has been fixed at 12 V.
The value of |Wvp,vo(ω)| at the noise frequency can be deduced from the
Bode diagram shown in Figure 3.9. At f = 100 Hz the system introduces an
attenuation of 50 dB, corresponding to |Wvp,vo| = 0.0032, so that the second
contribution to the step amplitude needed for compensating the noise is
vref , Vo = |Wvp , vo |· Vo = 0.0095V.
Finally, from (3.22), a value of Δvref > 0.0741V must be chosen; in the simula-
tion Δvref = 100 mV is used.
The comparison between vref ,G and vref , Vo reveals that in the feedback-
compensated system the second contribution is almost negligible.