Maximum power point tracking for low power photovoltaic solar panels

Why do photovoltaic systems need a maximum power point tracker?

Therefore, maximum power point trackers are needed to harvest more power from the sun and to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic systems. This paper reviews the methods used for maximum power point tracking in photovoltaic systems. These methods have been classified into conventional, intelligent, optimization, and hybrid techniques.

How to track the maximum power in a PV system?

PSO is the most popular and widely used optimization technique to track the maximum power in PV systems. Although FLC and ANN effectively track the maximum power, they require large memory and data for training and implementation. They also need detailed knowledge of the system while implementing the algorithm.

Why is MPPT important in a photovoltaic system?

This data may find an alluring source to help the engineers in setting with the predominant mechanical scenario. An efficient maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method plays an important role to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) generation system. This study provides an extensive review of the cu...

Why do we need a maximum power point tracker?

Solar photovoltaic, being one of the RE technologies, produces variable output power (due to variations in solar radiation, cell, and ambient temperatures), and the modules used have low conversion efficiency. Therefore, maximum power point trackers are needed to harvest more power from the sun and to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic systems.

What is a real maximum power point tracking method?

A Real maximum power point tracking method for mismatching compensation in PV array under partially shaded conditions, power electronics. IEEE Trans. 2011, 26, 1001–1009. [Google Scholar] Lie, M.; Yaojie, S.; Yandan, L.; Zhifeng, B.; Liqin, T.; Jieqiong, S. A high performance MPPT control method.

How many power points can a PV array have?

In the case of uniform irradiance, one maximum power point appears in the PV array characteristics curve that the conventional MPPT techniques can track. However, due to shadows and clouds, PV arrays receive non-uniform irradiation, creating multiple maximum points in the PV array curve.