Design and implementation of a prototype DC photovoltaic power system simulator with Maximum Power Point Tracking system

In future, solar energy will be an important energy source as it is renewable in nature. A solar cell being the smallest energy unit of any solar power system, an array of such solar cells constitutes a solar panel. The output of a solar panel follows a nonlinear current voltage characteristic which depends primarily on irradiance, temperature and load connected. A distinct point for fixed atmospheric conditions for which maximum power is extracted from the panel is the Maximum Power Point(MPP). A number of constraints are associated with installing, operating and thus studying the behaviour and designing a power system for solar panels. This paper thus discusses about the design of prototype indoor solar panel simulator along with the design of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) System. Using this design efficiently, a large range of panels for various dynamic atmospheric conditions can be simulated. Various MPPT algorithms can be tested and analysed for their performance in actual solar power systems. The entire system consists of DC DC converter, a driver for the MOSFET, Voltage and Current Sensors, microcontroller, a DC programmable source and GUI on Visual Basic. Selection for each component is explained. The system sequential operation, flow of power and communication between various components is elaborated. Lastly, implementation results are discussed where Incremental Conductance MPPT algorithm is tested for a sample IV curve and thus Maximum Power Point is tracked.