Dynamic maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic arrays using ripple correlation control

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power electronics Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 1282 - 1291
• Main Authors: Esram, T., Kimball, J.W., Krein, P.T., Chapman, P.L., Midya, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.09.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Arrays; Asymptotic properties; Automatic control; Circuits; Convergence; Correlation; Current control; Electric currents; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Maximum power; Maximum power point tracking (MPPT); photovoltaic (PV); Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Power electronics; Power electronics, power supplies; Power measurement; ripple correlation control (RCC); Ripples; Solar cells; Solar energy; Solar power generation; Studies; Tracking; Velocity measurement; Voltage control; Waveform; Power converter; Correlation; Tracking; ripple correlation control (RCC); photovoltaic (PV); Optimization method; Power electronics; Asymptotic convergence; Implementation; Dynamic method; Maximum; Experimental result; Maximum power point tracking (MPPT); Photovoltaic array; Bottom up method; Ripple; Control method; Gradient method; Power
• ISSN: 0885-8993; 1941-0107
• DOI: 10.1109/TPEL.2006.880242

A dynamically rapid method used for tracking the maximum power point of photovoltaic arrays, known as ripple correlation control, is presented and verified against experiment. The technique takes advantage of the signal ripple, which is automatically present in power converters. The ripple is interpreted as a perturbation from which a gradient ascent optimization can be realized. The technique converges asymptotically at maximum speed to the maximum power point without the benefit of any array parameters or measurements. The technique has simple circuit implementations