Prototype of Power Optimization Based on Converter Topologies Reconfiguration Using PV String Smart Clustering Method for Static Miniature Photovoltaic Farm Under Partially Shaded Condition

Abstract

Photovoltaic as one of technology that convert sunlight’s radiation to electrical energy has a great chance to develop in tropical countries such as Indonesia. The effect of partially shaded condition reduce the energy generated and efficiency of photovoltaic farm. This paper proposed new method for power optimization by reconfigurating the converter topologies using Smart Clustering Method. The reconfiguration of converter topologies is based on the voltages magnitude of each string on the PV Farm that clustered by smart clustering method. Each converter have MPPT algorithm, so the total of power generated by PV farm is equal as the sum of power generated by each converter topologies. The modified PnO Algorithm is used in the uniform cluster, and firefly Algorithm is used in the non-uniform cluster. For validation of the proposed method, this paper comparing the performance of proposed method versus the performance of MPPT using single converter topologies as conventional method.