The demonstration experiments to verify the effectiveness of the improved PSO-based MPPT controlling multiple photovoltaic arrays

Abstract

Since PV power output depending on the operating voltage and current, PV systems need maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Further, multiple local maximum power points appear in the power-voltage characteristics under partial shading conditions, finding the global MPP using conventional MPPT is a difficult task. To solve this issue, the authors proposed a PSO technique to solve the problems involved in the MPPT. PSO-based MPPT can be used only one pair of sensors and able to control by a single centralized MPPT. These methods resulting in lower cost, higher overall efficiency and simplicity of its implementation. In this paper, the proposed methods, I-PSO, R-PSO and IR-PSO were used to verify their effectiveness on three photovoltaic arrays under different types of the change in insolation conditions through Simulations and demonstration experiments studies for the first time.