A Review of Maximum Power Point Tracking: Design and Implementation

ISSN 2349-7815
International Journal of Recent Research in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IJRREEE)
Vol. 2, Issue 3, pp: (94-100), Month: July 2015 - September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org
Page | 94
Paper Publications
A Review of Maximum Power Point Tracking:
Design and Implementation
Mitali Gupta
ME Student, Jabalpur Engineering College Jabalpur, India
Abstract: Photovoltaic Energy is the most important Energy Resource since it is clean pollution free and
inexhaustible. In recent years a large number of techniques have been proposed for tracking the Maximum Power
Point. PV array has non-linear I-V characteristic and output power depends on environmental conditions such as
solar irradiation and temperature. There is a point on I-V, P-V characteristic curve of PV array called as
Maximum Power Point (MPP), where the PV system produces its maximum output power. Location of MPP
changes with change in environmental condition. The purpose of MPPT is to adjust the solar operating voltage
close to MPP under changing environmental conditions. In order to continuously gather the maximum power from
the PV array, they have to operate at their MPPT despite of the inhomogeneous change in environmental
conditions. The two most commonly algorithms for PV applications as they are easy to Implement are Beta method
Incremental Conductance (Inc. Con.).Beta algorithm is a type of MPPT algorithm. It is having fast tracking
ability. The algorithm has been verified on a photovoltaic system, A review of various MPPT algorithms is
proposed with more focus on above two algorithms.
Keywords: Photovoltaic cell, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Algorithms.
1. INTRODUCTION
The growing energy demand coupled with the possibility of reduced supply of conventional fuels, along with growing
concerns about environmental conservation has driven research and development of alternative energy sources that are
cleaner, renewable, and produce little environmental impact. Among the alternative sources, the electrical energy from
solar energy is currently regarded as a natural energy source that is more useful since it is free, abundant, clean, and
distributed over the earth and participates as a primary factor of all other processes of energy production on earth. One of
the greatest concerns is due to the skyrocketing growth of fossil fuels prices. Another factor is the carbon emission due to
conventional energy sources lead to global warming. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy are best
options available of to achieve all the above objectives .Solar energy is an abundant source, which is free of cost and
available to all. Two methods are there to extract the solar energy 1) Solar thermal plants 2) Solar cells i.e. photovoltaic
cells.photovoltaic cell (Solar PV) is one of the most promising future energy technologies options. The direct conversion
of solar radiation to electricity by PV cells has a number of significant advantages as an electricity generator but some
significant challenges to be overcome to make use of Solar energy like energy cost, energy fluctuation, location
dependence, huge investment requirements.[1]
The equivalent circuit of a PV cell is shown in Figure..1An ideal solar cell is modeled by a current source and a diode in
parallel with it. However no solar cell is ideal there by series resistance which has a very small value. Rsh is the
equivalent shunt resistance whose value is very high.[2]
Applying Kirchoff’s current law to the junction where Iph, diode, Rsh and Rs meet, we get,
Iph = Id + IRp + I
I=Iph – (Id+IRp)

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We get the following equation for the PV cell current
I = Iph-(Io[e(V+IRs/VT)-1]+V+IRs/Rp)
Figure.1.PV CELL EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
2. MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING ALGORITHMS
MPPT algorithms are necessary in PV applications because the MPP of a solar panel varies with the irradiation and
temperature, so the use of MPPT algorithms is required in order to obtain the maximum power from a solar array. Among
all the algorithms Beta Method and Inc Con algorithms are most common as they have the advantage of an easy
implementation. As MPPT algorithms are necessary in PV applications because the MPP of a solar panel varies with the
irradiation and temperature, so the use of MPPT algorithms is required in order to obtain the maximum power from a
solar array. Over the past decades many methods to find the MPP have been developed .when irradiation and/or
temperature change, hardware needed for the implementation or popularity, among others.there are many MPPT
techniques whicr are used to extract the maximum power from solar PV system.[3]
1. Curve Fitting Method
2. Open Circuit Voltage Method
3. Short Circuit Method
4. Perturb & Observe Method
5. Incremental Conductance Method
6. Beta Method
Curve Fitting Method:
The curve-fitting method is an offline method where PV module characteristics, all Data and manufacturing details are
required, mathematical model and equations Describing the output characteristics is pre-decided. PV module
characteristic is given by eq. (1), where a, b, c and d are coefficients determined by sampling values of PV voltage VPV,
PV current IPV and output power PPV Once these Coefficients are calculated, the voltage at which power becomes
maximum is obtained by eq. (2).
PPV = a VPV3 + b VPV2 + c VPV + d (1)
At maximum power point, dPPV/dVPV = 0
VMPP = -b+/-b2-3ac/3a (2)
The advantage of this method is its simplicity. Disadvantage is that it requires large memory as number of calculation is
more speed is less[4]
Open Circuit Voltage Method:
The open circuit voltage algorithm is the simplest MPPT control method .this technique is also known as constant voltage
method .Voc is the open circuit voltage of the PV panel .Voc depends on the property of the solar cells.A commonly used
Vmpp/Voc value is 76% .this relationship can be described by equation 3.
Vmpp=k1*Voc (3)

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Here the factor K1 is always less than unity.it looks very simple but determining best value of K is very difficult and K1 is
varies from 0.71 to0.8.The common vaule is used is 0.76.hence this algorithm is also called as 76% algorithm.the
operating point of the PV array is kept near the MPP by regulating tha array voltage and matching it to a fixed reference
voltage.the refrence voltage value is set equal to the Vmpp of the characteristic PV module or to another calculation.[5]
Short Circuit Method:
This method is similar to Open-Circuit Voltage method, in this current in MPP (IMPP) is linearly proportional to Short-
Circuit current (ISC) given by eq. (5). The value of K2 is considered to be around 0.85 .
Impp=K2*Isc (4)
The way of determining K2 is more complicated than any of fixed value. The advantages and disadvantages are similar to
that of Open-Circuit Voltage method.[4]
Perturb And Observe Method:
In this algorithm a slight perturbation is introduce system. This perturbation causes the power of the solar module
changes. If the power increases due to the perturbation then the perturbation is continued in that direction. After the peak
power is reached the power at the next instant decreases and hence after that the perturbation reverses. When the steady
state is reached the algorithm oscillates around the peak point. In order to keep the power variation small the perturbation
size is kept very small. A PI controller then acts moving the operating point of the module to that particular voltage level.
It is observed that there some power loss due to this perturbation also the fails to track the power under fast varying
atmospheric conditions. But still this algorithm is very popular and simple.[6]
Figure 2. Flow Chart of Perturb & Observe Algorithm

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If dP/dV > 0 then operating point is moving towards MPP and if dP/dV < 0 then operating point is moving away from
MPP. The advantages of this algorithm, as stated before, are simplicity and ease of implementation. However, P&O has
limitations that reduce its MPPT efficiency. One such limitation is that as the amount of sunlight decreases another
limitation of P&O is that it oscillates around the MPP, as this method becomes unstable with rapid change in atmospheric
conditions such as irradiance and temperature. [4]
Incremental Conductance Method:
The disadvantage of the perturb and observe method to track the peak power under fast varying atmospheric condition is
overcome by IC method. The IC can determine that the MPPT has reached the MPP and stop perturbing the operating
point. If this condition is not met, the direction in which the MPPT operating point must be perturbed can be calculated
using the relationship between dl/dV and –I/V This relationship is derived from the fact that dP/dV is negative when the
MPPT is to the right of the MPP and positive when it is to the left of the MPP. This algorithm has advantages over P&O
in that it can determine when the MPPT has reached the MPP, where P&O oscillates around the MPP. Also, incremental
conductance can track rapidly increasing and decreasing irradiance conditions with higher accuracy than perturb and
observe. One disadvantage of this algorithm is the increased complexity when compared to P&O. The Incremental
Conductance method is based on the slope of the PV array power curve is zero at the MPP, positive on the left of the
MPP, and negative on the right, as given by[7]
Figure:3 -Incremental Conductance power slope
Since
…………. (5)
Eqn. (5) can be written as

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Figure.4. Flowchart of the IC Algorithm
Beta Method:
In Incremental Conductance Method duty cycle is fixed, due to that efficiency is reduced. In order to overcome drawbacks
of INC method, beta method is used. Duty cycle is calculated based on the intensity of sunlight. MPP Beta is a variable
used to find the intermediate value between current and voltage. Beta is calculated by using the following equation.
ln (Ipv /Vpv ) – C. Vpv = ln (I0.C) = 𝛽 (6)
Where Ipv denotes panel output current, Vpv denotes panel output voltage. C denotes conductance, is calculated by using
C=q /(𝜂 𝐾 𝑇 𝑁𝑠) (7)
Where q denotes the electron charge (charge carried out by single electron or photon 1.602176565 (35) x 10-19
coulombs), 𝜂 denotes the quality factor of the junction panel, K denotes the Boltzmann constant (1.380648813x 10-23
J/K), T represent the temperature, and NS represent number of cells in series. It may be noted that 𝛽 is independent of
insolation but depends on temperature [8] The initial step of the algorithm is to reading the output voltage (Vpv) and
current (Ipv) measured from Photovoltaic panel. After getting the value Vpv and Ipv the 𝛽 value is calculated. Check 𝛽
value is in steady state or not. If 𝛽 is in the steady state, then 𝛽 is checked whether it is within range of steady state or not.
if 𝛽 in that range then it is switched to Hill climbing or other methods. After that same process repeated again from the
initial state. If the 𝛽 is not in steady state, it starts processing from initial steps. If the 𝛽a is not in the steady state range
and then error value is calculated. 𝛽𝑔, the value of 𝛽 corresponding to the most probable array temperature is used as the
guiding value.

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The steady state value is calculated by a fixed temperature, the difference in the magnitude value of 𝛽 at maximum power
point lies smaller, from that 𝛽 Min and 𝛽 Max ranges are fixed. Smaller changes irradiation level made changes in wide
range. 𝛽 Max is taken from maximum irradiation in maximum temperature. 𝛽 Min is taken in minimum irradiation and in
minimum temperature. Both values 𝛽 Min and 𝛽 Max calculated at maximum power point. Error values are calculated
from the difference between 𝛽 g and 𝛽 a. From that new duty is calculated, by summing the old duty cycle with the
product of error and Boltzmann constant.
Figure.5. Flowchart of the Beta Algorithm
3. CONCLUSION
In this paper, the various MPPT algorithms has been reviewed. As has been demonstrated, there are many ways of
distinguishing and grouping the methods for tracking the MPP to the PV generator. Finally, it has been shown that other
methods also exist by which MPP of PV module can be tracked. PV.The MPPT technique for a specific application is
decided by these imperative constraints. For example, P&O and IC are widely used where low cost is imperative factor.
This assessment of MPPT system helps in choosing particular MPPT technique for specific application and also for
further research in the area of MPPT.

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REFERENCES
[1] Rajeev Ranjan , Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Priyanka Paliwal, “ A Comprehensive Review of Maximum Power Point
Tracking (MPPT) System” IJISET Vol. 1 Issue 3, May 2014. ISSN 2348 – 7968.
[2] DINESHKUMAR. T SUBRAMANI. M, “Design and Implementation Maximum PowerPoint Tracking in
Photovoltaic Cells,” IEEE 978-1-4673-6150-2013.
[3] Williams k. Francis,Prof Shanifa Beevi,Prof Jhonson Mathew; “matlab/simulin model od P & O and DC link CDC
MPPPT Algorithms ,”IJAREEIE vol 3 special issue 5 ,issn 2278-8875,Dec 2014.
[4] Sumedha Sengar, “Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm for photovoltaic system”IROAER ,vol 4 ISSN 147-
154 november 2014.
[5] J.Surya Kumari ,Ch.Sai Babu , “ Comparison Of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm For Photovoltaic
System,”Ijaet,Issn 2231-1963 .nov 2011.
[6] .A.Pradeep Kumar Yadav1, S.Thirumaliah2, G.Haritha , “Comparison of MPPT Algorithms for DC-DC Converters
Based PV Systems”IJAREEIE ,vol 1 ISSN: 2278 – 8875 july 2012.
[7] Roberto Faranda, Sonia Leva , “ Energy Comparison Of MPPT techniques for PV system,IJASR ,vol 2 ,ISSN
NO.2231-1963 nov 2011.
[8] K P J Pradeep, C Chandra Mouli, K Sai Prasad Reddy, K Nagabhushan Raju, “Design and Implementation of
Maximum Power Point Tracking in Photovoltaic Systems” . International Journal of Engineering Science Invention
ISSN (Online): 2319 – 6734, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 6726 www.ijesi.org ||Volume 4 Issue 3 || March 2015 .

A Review of Maximum Power Point Tracking: Design and Implementation

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