Toward Reconfigurable DPP Converters

Differential Power Processing (DPP) converters have been recently utilized for reducing the losses in partially shaded PV systems. Through enabling new paths for currents, shaded panels have less impact on blocking higher currents from series connected PV modules. This ultimately results in harvesting more power from partially shaded PV units. Unfortunately, the number of required DPP converters increases linearly with the number of series PV units. To address this challenge, this paper investigates the possibility of reconfiguring DPP converters reducing the number of needed converters. Instead of using a complete set of DPP converters, reconfiguring DPP converters could substantially reduce the number of needed converters. The used DPP converters will be connected to shaded units and reconfigured online with changes in shadings to reduce the mismatch power losses. Validation and verification through simulation is conducted to demonstration the effectiveness of the proposed idea.