Automatic Peak Power

Tracker using dSPACE R

M.Tech Thesis Presentation

By
Vikrant A.Chaudhari.
Under the guidance of
Dr.S.Rangnekar.
 Renewable Energy
Alternate sources of energy
1. Biomass.
2. Solar Energy.
3. Wind Emergy.

4. Geothermal Energy.

5. Microhydel.

6. Fuel cells.
 Why Solar Energy.
 Solar energy is the most readily available
source of energy.
 It is free.
 It is also the most important of the non-
conventional sources of energy because it is
non-polluting.
 Facts about solar energy.
 Earth surface receives 1.2x1017 W of power
from sun.
 Energy supplied by the sun in one hour is
almost equal to the amount energy required by
the human population in one year.
 Most if the other source on renewable energy
have their in sun.
How electricity is generated through
Solar Energy
 Solar photo voltaic (SPV). Can be used to
generate electricity form the sun.
 Silicon solar cells play an important role in
generation of electricity.
 Solar cells Characteristics.
 Isc-short circuit current.
 Voc-open circuit
voltage.
 Peak power.

Isc

Voc
How solar cells Generate electricity
 From Cells to Modules
 The open circuit voltage of a single
solar solar cell is approx 0.5V.
 Much higher voltage voltage is
required for practical application.
 Solar cells are connected in series to
increase its open circuit voltage.
Characteristics of a typical Solar Pv
Module.
 Variation of characteristics of Solar
module with change in the atmospheric
conditions

Variation due to isolation Change

 Variation of characteristics of Solar
module with change in the atmospheric
conditions

Variation due to Temperature change.

Conclusion from the Characteristics.
 Power of the module has only single maxima.
 Peak Power of the module changes with the
change in temperature.
 Peak power of the module changes with the
change in isolation level.
 Need to track the peak power in order to
maximize the utilizations of the solar
module/array.
 How Peak Power is tracked.
 Peak Power is tracked by adjusting the
impedance of the load.
 This is obtained by using an interface between
the load and the solar module.
 A Dc/Dc converter can act as a interface
between the load and the module.
Block Diagram
How Peak Power is tracked.
 Conclusion.
 Dc/Dc converter is must in tracking peak
power.
 Duty cycle of the converter needs to be
changed for adjusting the peak power.
 How to adjust the duty cycle?
 Manual or Automatic.?
 DC/DC converters
L

1 2

g m

Ideal Switch
Pulse Vo=D*Vi

Vi DC Voltage
C
RL

m
D=duty cycle
=Ton/T D

a
G3
G4
G2 G1
Step Down Converter

Step down converter Vo=D*Vi

Vo<Vi
 DC/DC converters
L
k
a
Pulse m

D Vo=Vi/(1-D)

Vi DC Voltage
C RL

g
Ideal Switch
D=duty cycle

m
2 =Ton/T

G3 G4
G2 G1
Step Up Converter

Step up Converter Vo=Vi/(1-D)

Vo>Vi
Duty Cycle

D=ton/t
 Methods of obtaining Peak
Power
 Though Manual tracking is possible but is
waste of time.
 Automatic tracking is a better choice.

 Algorithms are used for Automatic Peak

Power tracking.
 Different Algorithms.
 Perturb & Observe. (P&O).

 Incremental conductance.

 Parasitic Capacitance method.

 Voltage Based Peak Power Tracking.

 Current Based Peak Power Tracking.

Perturb & Observe
Incremental Conductance
 Parasitic Capacitance
 Account the parasitic capacitances of
 The solar cells in the PV array . Parasitic capacitance
uses the switching ripple of the
PPT to perturb the array.
 To account for the parasitic capacitance, the average
ripple in the array power and voltage, generated by
the switching frequency, are measured.
 The incremental conductance algorithm is then used
to determine the direction to move the operating point
of the MPPT.
Voltage Based Peak power Tracker.
 Peak Power point of the module is at 76% of
the module open circuit voltage.
 This value is fixed and does not vary much
with the changes in the environmental
conditions.
 By measuring the open circuit voltage and
adjusting the module voltage to about 76% of
Voc the peak power can be tracked.
 Current Based Peak Power
Tracker.
 Peak Power of the module lies at about 95%
of its short circuit current.
 Measuring the short circuit current Isc and
adjusting the operating the converter at 95% of
Isc the module can be made to operate at Peak
power.
Algorithm Used in the Present
Report.
 Algorithm
 Module Voltage and Current measured at k th
instant.
 Power is calculated at kth instant. P(k)
 P(k) stored in the memory.
 Module Voltage and current calculated at k+1 th
instant.
 Power at k+1th.
 ∆P=P(k+1)-P(k).
 Algorithm
 Also ∆V=V(k+1)-V(k).
 Depending on the sign of the ∆P and ∆V the
duty cycle of the module is varied.
 If ∆P>0 and ∆V>0 then D=D- ∆D.
 If ∆P>0 and ∆V<0 then D=D+ ∆D.
 If ∆P<0 and ∆V <0 then D=D+ ∆D.
 If ∆P<0 and ∆ V>0 then D=D- ∆D.
 Were D= duty cycle and ∆D is perturbation.
 Simulation of the Peak Power
tracker
 Simulation in Matlab/Simulink.
 Model of solar PV module developed.
 Model of Dc/Dc converter.
 Load.
 Development of PPT algorithm in Simulink.
 Solar PV Module Model.
Iph IL
> > Rs

Id
V RL
Iph
D

Electrical Model of PV Cell

 Model of PV Module.
amps/W/m^2
1
1 -K- signal +
Rs
insolation
Iph

anode
Product
2 -K-
ambient temp +
temp coeficent Isc diodes v 15.32
-

cathode
25 room Temp constant Voltage 1 Display2

3 -

G1
G4
G3

+
-K- signal L
-
temp coeficent Voc
Controlled Source

G2

Simulink Model of Solar PV Module.

Model of Solar PV Module.
Simulink Model of the PPT
Simulink Model of the Algorithm
Peak Power Tracking.
Peak Power Tracking.
 dSPACE R

 A real time Control solution.

 Control of hardware through Personal
computer.
 Works on Matlab/Simulink Platform.
 Automatic C code generation.
 Easy to generate control logic in
Matlab/Simulink and downloading to the
dSPACE add on card.
 Experimental Setup
 Solar module

 Dc/Dc converter(step up and step

down).
 A load (resistive load)

 Personal computer

(installed with dSPACE hardware)

Experimental Setup.
 Solar Module

Isc=2.9A.
Voc=20V.
Power=38W.
Vp=17.7V.
Ip=2.2A.
Hardware Setup.
 Schematic
D 1 R L o a d
C o u t

R 5 L o u t

PV module. C in
R 4 M 1

R c u rre n t_ s e n s e

Panel
Current
0
TRIGGERING
PULSES

Personel Computer
Panel With dSPACE card
Voltage

SCHEMATIC OF BUCK CONVERTER.

Results
Results.
Results.
Results
Results
Results.
Results.
Results.
Results.
 Conclusions
 Power output of the module improves by about
100%( doubles) with the PPT system than it
was with out the MPPT system.
 The power delivered to the load in case of
step-down and step up converter is almost
same. Only difference that was observed was
with the output voltage.
 Conclusions
 Temperature of the module is an important
parameter. The power output of the module
changes by about 0.5% for every degree rise in
temperature. So a 38W module gives only a
power of about 29W peak
 The module placement also plays an important
role in power output. Module is kept in south
facing. Buts its elevation angle must be adjusted
every month to get high power output.
 Future Scope.
 Perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm for peak
power tracking is explained in the present
report.
 Simulink models of algorithms other than
P&O can be developed and tested on the real
time platform using the dSPACER.
 Microcontroller based dedicated MPPT
controller can be carried out using the same
algorithm.
 Future Scope.
 A whole stand alone system including the
MPPT system and the inverter system can be
developed using the dSPACER.
 References.
 1].Chihchiang Hua, ,Jongrong Lin, and Chihming
Shen,“Implementation of a DSP-Controlled
Photovoltaic System with Peak Power
Tracking”,IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON
INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS, VOL. 45, NO. 1,
FEBRUARY 1998 pp 99-107.
 2].Chihchiang Hua and Chihming Shen, “Control of
DC/DC Converters for Solar Energy System with
Maximum Power Tracking”.
 References.
 3]. K. H. Hussein et al, “Maximum
photovolatic power tracking: An algorithm for
rapidly changing atmospheric conditions,”
Proc. Inst. Elect. Eng. vol. 142, pt. G, no. 1,
pp. 59–64, Jan. 1995.
 4].C.R. Sullivan and M.J. Powers,“A High-
Efficiency Maximum Power Point Tracking
for Photovoltaic Arrays in a Solar-Power Race
Vehicle”, IEEE PESC‘93, 1993, pp.574-580.
 References.
 5].B.K. Bose, P.M. Szczesny and R.L.
Steigerwald,,“Microcomputer Control of a
Residential Photovoltaic Power Condictioning
System”, IEEE Trans. on Industry Applications,
vol. IA-21, no. 5,Sep. 1985, ppll82-1191.
 6].Xuejun Liu and A.C.Lopes,,“An Improved
Perturbation and Observe Maximum Power
Point Tracking Algorithm for PV Arrays”
IEEE PESC ‘2004, pp.2005-2010.
 References.
 7].D. P. Hohm, M. E. Ropp,“Comparative Study
of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms
Using an Experimental, Programmable,
Maximum Power Point Tracking Test
Bed”,IEEE,2000.pp.1699-1702.
 8]. Mohammad A. S. Masoum, Hooman
Dehbonei, and Ewald F. Fuchs, “Theoretical and
Experimental Analyses of Photovoltaic Systems
With Voltage- and Current-Based Maximum
Power-Point Tracking”, IEEE TRANSACTIONS
ON ENERGY CONVERSION, VOL. 17, NO. 4,
DECEMBER 2002.
 References
 9]. T. Markvart, “ Solar Electricity”, John
Wiley & Sons,1994.
 10]. N. Mohan et al., Power Electronics—
Converter, Applications, and Design.
New York: Wiley, 1995.
 12]. www.ieeexplore.ieee.org
 13]. www.mathworks.com
 14]. www.dspace.de
Questions?

?
Thank You.