A New Technique for Tracking the Global Maximum Power Point of PV Arrays Operating Under Partial-Shading Conditions

Eftichios Koutroulis, Frede Blaabjerg

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

399 Citations (Scopus)
3976 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The power-voltage characteristic of photovoltaic (PV) arrays operating under partial-shading conditions exhibits multiple local maximum power points (MPPs). In this paper, a new method to track the global MPP is presented, which is based on controlling a dc/dc converter connected at the PV array output, such that it behaves as a constant input-power load. The proposed method has the advantage that it can be applied in either stand-alone or grid-connected PV systems comprising PV arrays with unknown electrical characteristics and does not require knowledge about the PV modules configuration within the PV array. The experimental results verify that the proposed global MPP method guarantees convergence to the global MPP under any partial-shading conditions. Compared with past-proposed methods, the global MPP tracking process is accomplished after far fewer PV array power perturbation steps.
Original languageEnglish
JournalI E E E Journal of Photovoltaics
Volume2
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)184-190
ISSN2156-3381
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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