Implementation of modified P&O and an adaptive fuzzy logic controller based MPPT tracking system under partial shading and variable environmental conditions

Abstract Most of the conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Algorithms provide the finest efficiency during uniform irradiation conditions, but under variable irradiation or partial shading condition (PSC), the performance deteriorates and the solar PV system is unable to provide the maximum electricity out of the PV Modules. This degradation in performance occurs due to the presence of numerous local maximum power points (LMPP) and a single global maximum power point (GMPP) in the power versus voltage (P-V) characteristics and the perfect tracking of these LMPP is not possible with the prevailing MPPT algorithms. In order to eradicate this shortcoming, we have proposed the implementation of an adaptive Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) based on Perturb and Observe (P&O) technique by employing a boost converter with variable resistive load under uniform irradiance condition (UIC), dynamic atmospheric conditions (DAC) and PSC in this article. We also demonstrated the usage of a simple and improved P&O algorithm by employing a buck boost converter for faster tracking time. These two suggested approaches of FLC and P&O incorporate a variable load scenario and a stable load scenario respectively to address the problem of output voltage oscillation in a PV-based system. The FLC is designed to adjust the dynamic change in step size based on the rate of change of the yield power of the PV panel to reduce oscillations in output of the boost converter and the PV system. According to the results of this analysis, the recommended FLC-based P&O (FLC-P&O) algorithm outperforms the proposed P&O algorithm under DAC and PSC with respect to tracking speed, steady-state error, and dynamic response. Apparently, it can be concluded that the proposed FLC-P&O technique can be applicable to real-time systems for reliable and efficient operation of the boost converter and add to the stability and simplicity of the contemporary PV-based systems.