Maximum power point tracking: Algorithm and software development

Currently, the Nuon Solar Team is building their new solar car, which makes use of solar panels. Solar panels have a Maximum Power Point (MPP), which, when operated at that point, ensures the maximum available power is obtained from them. In this thesis, different options were explored to solve the problem of tracking the MPP of a solar panel. The focus of this thesis was the software part of tracking the MPP and the goal of this thesis was to implement the most efficient algorithm that works in fast changing levels of irradiance and when thesolar panels are partially shaded. In order to realize this goal, we first did a literature survey to learn about the available algorithms and their respective advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, we chose the algorithms which had potential and we could realistically implement. Those algorithms were P&O, In ond and their adaptive variants. We simulated those algorithms for their efficiencies in Simulink and implemented them onto a microcontroller. Lastly, we made an experimental setup and measured the algorithms for their efficiencies. The results showed that based on the simulations, the adaptive InCond algorithm is the most efficient algorithm, also in fast changing levels of irradiance. As the simulation did not simulate partially shaded solar panels, we can not make any conclusions about the performance of the different algorithms in that case. In the experimental setup, we verified that the controller and all implemented algorithms worked correctly. However, we were not able to verify all the simulation results, as we could only only test the sudden shading condition. The MPPT was able to reliably track the MPP of a solar panel, depending on what algorithm was used. Some algorithms were more susceptible to noise than others, and eventually we concluded that the adaptive P&O algorithm performed best in the experimental setup, because it is least susceptible to noise and has the advantages of an adaptive algorithm. We did not measure the efficiency of the MPPT. However, based on the simulations and the measured efficiencies of the other subsystems of the MPPT, we are confident that we succeeded in designing and implementing an MPPT algorithm with an efficiency of at least 95%.

Subject

MPPT
maximum power point tracking
algorithms
comparative
efficiency

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ceb32d5b-985a-4684-ab14-84888f0b1b11

Embargo date

2012-07-24

Part of collection

Student theses

Document type

bachelor thesis

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Moring-Pols-thesis_final__.pdf

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