A P&O Based Variable Step Size MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is an indispensable component of the Photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize efficiency. Perturb and observe (P&O) is one of the prevalent MPPT methods owing to its easier structure for implementation but it suffers from problems of slow tracking and oscillations around the MPP. In this paper, a modified variable step size MPPT algorithm based on P&O method is proposed to obtain maximum power output from the PV system coupled with a boost DC-DC converter. The proposed method employs the scaled power difference as a control variable to enable variation of step size for each cycle. Results obtained by simulation and experimental work verified that the proposed algorithm is potent mitigating the problems related with classical P&O method.

Keywords

• MPPT
• Modified P&O
• DC-DC converter
• PV systems

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