A deterministic algorithm for global Maximum power point calculation of a solar farm

Abstract

Optimizing the e_ciency plays a very important role in harvesting solar energy by PV systems. This dissertation proposes a few methods which estimate all local maximum power points (MPP) and the global maximum power point of a PV system in short time. They require only a few online measured values. PV systems may be driven directly to global MPP without power searching. Consequently, the time for tracking is reduced, the efficiency of PV systems is, hence, increased. In this dissertation, the solar cell is represented by the single diode model. The relation of voltage and current at (MPPs) is exploited and this di_erentiates the proposed method from the others. Solar cell parameters for the model are not provided by solar cell panel manufacturers. So parameter extraction is a requirement. A new simple method which uses only given data in product datasheet but yields high accurate results is also proposed. Some experiments and simulations evaluate the correctness, robustness and reliability of the proposed techniques. The results obtained are compared with those of other referenced methods. Two programs are written basing on the proposed algorithms. First one is for solar cell parameters extraction using only information in product datasheet. The second is used for simulation and calculation the MPPs of the PV system which may be configured exibly by the users.