Modelling and Control of Photovoltaic System using the incremental conductance method for maximum power point tracking

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of the electrical operation of a photovoltaic (PV) system. A DC-DC boost converter was chosen for the regulation of the output voltage at the peak power point while also providing a constant voltage. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) control that allows extraction of maximum available power from the photovoltaic (PV) panel has been included. The maximum efficiency is achieved when PV works at its maximum power point which depends on insolation and temperature. Since the insolation and temperature always change with time, a PV system which able to track the maximum power point needs to be developed to produce more energy. This research was aimed to explore the performance of a maximum power point tracking system which implements Incremental Conductance (IC) method. The IC algorithm was designed to control the duty cycle of Boost converter and to ensure the MPPT control work at its maximum efficiency. The simulation results obtained with Matlab / Simulink show the instantaneous oscillation of the operating point of the photovoltaic module around the MPP independently to weather changes, the proper functioning of the converter which provides a voltage at its output greater than that supplied by the PV generator, (a yield of the order of 90%) and the low power losses supplied by this module (less than 10%) allowed to conclude that the PV system simulated during this work was working properly and was satisfactory