Maxi mum power point tracking of coupled inductor

interleaved boost converter supplied PV system

M. Veerachary, T. Senjyu and K. Uezato
Abstract: A photovoltaic generator exhibits nonlinear voltage-current characteristics and its
maximum power point varies with solar radiation. A two-cell interleaved boost converter with
coupled inductors is used to match the photovoltaic systemlo the load and to operate the solar cell
array at maximum power point. A maximum power point tracking algorithm is developed using
only load voltage information, eliminating the array current detection. The present converter
systemhas the advantages of low ripple content: both on the load and source side, improved
efficiency and reduced switch stress. as compared to noncoupled two-all interleaved converters. As
a result, a lower value of array capacitancc is sufficient for smoothing thc array voltage and current.
Analytical expressions for the photovoltaic source and interleaved boost converter, corresponding
to maximumpower point operation of the SCA, are derived. Experimental results are presented to
demonstrate the suitability of this converter system. Few experimental observations are also
presented for partial shading conditions. Further, a comparative study of coupled and noncoupled
interleaved boost converters for photovoltaic applications is made. These studies reveal that, by
introducing coupling among the parallel branch inductors, it is possible to improve steady-state
performance while maintaining the dynamic performance of the photovoltaic system.
List of principal symbols
D duty ratio
Dp,, DE
I,,,
IL average load current
L,,, mutual inductance
L, , L,
Po SCA power output
P,,, maximum power of SCA
r , : r2 inductor series resistances
R load resistance
SI, s 2
v,,,
VL average load voltage
11
Y insolation
diodes of individual boost cells
SCA current at maximum power operation
inductances of individual boost cells
switches of individual boost cells
SCA volrage at maximum power operation
efficiency of the interleaved boost converter
1 Introduction
The rapid national trend to industrialise and increased
interest in environmental issues has recently led to the
consideration of renewable forms of energy such as solar
powered. Photovoltaic (PV) generation is gaining increased
importance as a rcnewable source due to such advantages as
the absence of fuel cost, low maintenance, and no noise and
wear due to the absence of moving parts. In particular,
energy conversion from solar cell arrays @CA) has rcccived
considerable attention in the last two decades. The PV
generator exhibits a nonlinear voltage-current Characteristic.
its maximum power (MP) point varies with insolation and
temperature. At a particular insolation, there is a unique
operating point of the PV generator at which its power
output is maximum. Therefore, for maximum utilisation
efficiency, it is necessary to match the PV generator to the
load, such that the equilibrium operating point coincides
with the maximum power point of the PV source. However,
as the maximum power point varies with insolation and
seasons, it is difficult to maintain maximum power
operation at all insolations without changes to the system
parameters. To overcome this problem. the use of an
intermediale DC-DC converter is proposed [1-5], which
continuously adjusts the voltage, current levels and matches
the PV source to the load.
The maximum power point tracking is applied to PV
systems to extract maximum available power from the
SCAs at all insolations. Different methods of peak power
tracking schemes have been proposed by using different
control strategies [&IO]. Boost-converter-based maximum
power point tracking using fuzzy lo&k has been reported in
[ I I]. These studies show that the fuzzy control algorithm is
capable of improving the tracking performance in compar-
ison with the conventional methods. However, in fuzzy
implementation several parameters are selected on a trial-
and-error basis, which mainly depends on the experience
and intuition of the designer. To overcome some of the
disadvantages mentioned here, a fuzzy neural-network-
based maximum power point tracking isproposed [12]. All
these methods depend on the SCA power output and or
load power detection using instantaneous voltage and
current information, thus requiring voltage and current
sensors. This paper presents maximum power point
tracking of SCAs employing a two-cell interleaved boost
71
converter with coupled inductors, using only the load
volyagc information, by eliminating the array current
detection.
These interleaved parallel connected convcrters increase
the power processing capability and availability 01' the
powcr electronic system. I n the development of new
paralleling techniques for DC-DC converters, interleaved
power conversion [13-171 constitutes one of the most
promising alternatives. hccause of the following advantages:
(i) ripple cancellation both in the input and output
waveforms to maximum extent, (ii) a lower value of ripple
amplitude and a high ripple frequency in the resulting input
and output waveforms, (iii) the efficiency of the parallel-
connected converter system can he improved if a proper
nuinher of converters in the system are activated. In
particular, with reference to PV systems, if the PV power
decreases to low level due to changes in physical conditions,
such as low insohtion on the solar array, only few active
converters may be sufficient for power transfer. On the
other hand, when the power transfcr incrcases beyond the
inaxiinum limit of the activated converters, an additional
converter is put on to share the power transfer frorn the
source. Thus, each converter can beoperated at an optiinal
power level to improve the conversion efficiency. Although
the intcrleaving technique increases the number of compo-
nents, the actual increase of cost may not he significant.
This is due to the fact that, when many boost cells are used:
they share the current Row in thc inductors and switching
devices, hence lower current rating devices can beemployed.
The use of integrated magnetic components reduces the
core number, the complexity of the converters, the steady-
state current ripple, conduction losses in the switching
devices and core losses, if a proper core structure is
employed [I J . In addition to thcsc. thc steady-state and
dynamic performance of the interleaved converter system
can be improved, if inverse coupling is introduced among
the inductor branches. Further, parallel connection of
converters has many desirable properties such as reduced
device stresses, fault tolerance for the system, flexibility in
the system design etc.
2
The combined systcm mainly consists of a solar cell array,
interleaved boost converter with coupled inductors and load
and data acquisition system as shown in Fig. I. The analysis
of the system is camed out under the following assump-
tions:
(i) The switching elements (MOSFET and diode) of the
converter are assumed to beideal, i.e. forward voltage drops
and ON-state resistances of the switches are neglected.
(ii) The equivalent series resistance of the capacitance and
stray capacitances are neglected.
(iii) Passive components (R, L, C) are assumed to belinear,
time-invariant and frequency-independent.
(iv) The two parallel boost cells are identical and opcratc in
the continuous inductor current mode.
(v) The switches (SI, S,) operatc in an interleaved fashion.
Mathematical models for the individual components are
developed in the following sections.
2. I PV generator model
The PV generator is formed by the combination of many
PV cells connected in series and parallel fashion to provide
the desired value of output voltage and current. This PV
generator exhibits a nonlinear insolation-dependent voltage-
Mathematical model of the system
12
current Characteristic, mathematically expressed for the
SCA consisting of N, cells in series and A'/, cells in parallel
[I ] as
where R, =cell series resistance; A =(q/ AK7), q =electric
charge; A =completion factor; K =Boltzmann constant;
T =absolute temperature; /,,/,=cell photocurrent; /, =cell
reverse saturation current; la, VA are thc SCA current and
voltage, respectively. For given values of SCA parameters,
the PV generator Va-IA characteristic and maximum
power point depends on the insolation. Rewriting equation
( I ) [I O] as
where IpIz, =I,,/z+ Io. Expanding the term In (1 - &)
into a Taylor series and neglecting higher-order terms
results in the following equation [14]:
2.2 Interleaved boost converter model
Solar cells have relatively low convcrsion efficiency and the
improvement of overall system efficiency is an important
design factor: in the area of PV systems. This can he partly
achieved by using high-efficiency intermediate converters
with maximum power point controllers. The main require-
ments of these converters are: (i) the converter input current
has small ripple and (ii) the converter efficiency should be
high, even at lower intensity insolations. The intermediate
converter produces a chopped output DC voltage and
controls the average DC voltage applied to the load.
Further, the converter continuously matches the output
characteristic of the PV generator to the input characteristic
1E.E Ploc. ~E/kcir. P o w , Appl ., V.rl 150. No /. Jurzuzry 2m3
of the load, so that maximum power is extracted from
the SCA. Many different types of intermediate con-
verters with maximum power point tracking controllers
for PV systems have been proposed [3-91. Simple con-
verters such as buck and boost converters enter
into discontinuous current mode at lower intensity
insolations, resulting in improper utilisation of power
devices and increased conduction losses due to increased
current ripple. To reduce the input current ripple
and Lo alleviate the problem of discontinuous input
current, we propose a twocell interleaved boost converter
for PV applications. Although this converter increases the
number of components compared to conventional boost
converter, the actual increase in cost may not besignificant.
Further, interleaved operation has many desirable features
such as a lower value of ripple amplitude, high ripple
frequency in the resulting input and output waveforms, it
reduces maintenance and increases reliability and fault
tolerance.
A simple two-cell intcrleaved boost converter is
capable of extracting maximum power from the SCA
and exhibits improved performance compared to a
conventional boost converter (141. However, there is
still a need to improve thc performance (both steady-
state and dynamic) of the two-cell interleaved boost
converter. Steady-state performance can be improved
by using large inductances, which reduces the current
ripple and conduction losses both in the switching
device and filter capacitance. However, use of larger
inductances slows down the transient response. To
allcviate the problem of contradictory inductance require-
ments for steady-state and dynamic performances, a
coupled inductance approach has been reported for buck
converters [Ih]. By inlroducing coupling among the parallel
branches, it is possible to obtain different equivalent
inductances, which makes the possibility of improving both
the steady-state and dynamic performance simultaneously.
Whereas if a simple two-cell interleaved converter is used
without any coupling it is necessary to sacrifice the steady-
state performance to achicve a fast dynamic performance or
vice versa. Hence, in this paper, a two-cell interleaved boost
converter with coupled inductors is proposed for PV
applications. The use of coupled inductors reduces the
number of magnetic cores and exhibits lower switch strcss
and lower conduction losses both in the switching device
and filter capacitor on account of the smaller current ripple,
and improves the converter efficiency compared to the
noncoupled case.
The steady-state voltage and current relations
for this converter operating in continuous current mode
are derived using the state-space averagmg technique [17].
I n the general case for this converter system,
more topologies are possiblc, depending on thc control
signals. switching frequcncy and load value. The analysis
presented here is only for an interleaved operation with
D>O.5. However, thc state-space model for D<O.S
can be obtained easily on similar lines. The modes of
operation (conducting devices) in one cycle time period for
D>O.5 are given by the following, mode I: (,SI, S2); mode 2:
(SI, D,,); mode 3: ( , SI, S,); mode 4: (DI)], &). For these four
operating modes, the state-space models have been derived
(see Appendix, Section S.1). Taking the average of
these four state models results in the final state equation
defined by
2 =[ A! [XI +PI [U1 (4)
where A=Al dI +Al r 12+A3d3t A4d4. B=Bl dl +B2d~t
B3d3 +Bede and d, +d2 +d3 t d4 =I . The corresponding A
IEE Proc-Elccrr. Power Appi., 1/01. IXJ, No I. January 2MJ 3
and B matrices are
[ B] = o$ ~
The steady-state behaviour can be obtained from the
following expression:
[PSI =-[Al -' [BI [Ul ( 5 )
From these equations the steady-state voltage gain of the
converter IS
( 7)
h- 2R( I - D)
VA
~-
[2R( I - D)' +r]
If r<<R then the relationship between load and input
voltage is
K4
&=-
(I - D)
Using power balance. the load current expression is
obtained as
I L =? I ( 1 - D)lA
( 9)
where q is the efficiency of the converter, V,, In are the
array voltage and current, respectively. Transforming the
load to the SCA side (Fig. 2), then the reflected equivalent
load on the SCA side is givcn by the following equation:
R, =J l ( 1 - D) 2R
V. =q ( ~ - D)?R
(10)
( 1 1 )
1.e
[ A
Substituting the V, expression ( 3) , subsequent simplifica-
tion results in the following array current expression:
13
Fig. 2
From (12), it can henoticed that, for given values of SCA
parameters, load and insolation, the array current depends
on the converter duty ratio D. That is, by varying the duty
ratio, the array current la can hemade equal to the current
I,,, corresponding to the maximum power point for that
insolation. Hence, the current (1,,1 =lA) corresponding to
the maximum power point operation is obtained from the
expression (12) by substituting D = D,,,. The simplified
equation is
Equyuiculenr cirmir oj t he .sysieni
Further simplification (seeAppendix, Section 8.2) results in
the following optimum duty ratio (D,,,) expression:
where
The current I,,, corresponding to maximum power point is
determined using the procedure outlined in [IO]. Using
expressions (3) and (12), the SCA power output, exti-acted
by the interleaved converter, is computed from the
following expression:
?q =VAl A
(16)
+In (e)
[z Nr R +A AN9/ dm +q(1 - D)'R]
=f(Y l R; D)
From this expression it can be noted that, for given dues
of SCA, converter parameters, load and insolation, the
SCA power output Pg depends on the converter duty ratio
D. Hence, the power output extracted from the SCA can be
changed by varying the duty ratio of the converter.
3 Maxi mum power point tracking control process
The conventional peak power tracking involves sensing the
instantaneous voltage and current infomation the compu-
tation of SCA power output and/or load power. the
maximisation of this power either by hillclimbing or
perturbation and observation algorithms. Thus, this method
of peak power tracking requires voltage and current
sensors. In case of regulated husbar PV systenis [SI, only
load current information is sufficient for peak power
14
tracking. In this case, the power absorbed by the load is
proportional to its current intake because the busbar
voltage is maintained at a fixed value. In this Section, the
maximum power point tracking process of a PV supplied
converter system feeding an arbitrary load using load
voltage information will he discussed. The general case of
loads as viewed by the PV generator consists of storagc
batteries, DC motors, combination of loads in parallel with
storage batteries and electrolysis pools etc. These loads can
modelled according to the Thcvcnin theorem, by a
voltage sourcc in series with a linear resistance [Z]. From the
Theveuin's equivalent of the load circuit, the load power
expression can be written as
where Vo is the load terminal voltage; Vn, and RT12.
respectively, are the Thevenin voltage and resistance of the
load circuit. For maximum load power dPo/dV" =0, which
leads to the condition V , =2 Vo. Substituting this condition
in the load power expression and_ on simplification, the
maximum load power expression becomes
PO(", =KI V,z (18)
where K, =I/Rn? As converter output and input powers
are related by the converter efficiency, the power extracted
from the PV array by the converter is
pcl(,na, =K2 V,' ( 1%
where Kz= l /qRT/,, i.e in the load-voltage-based peak
power tracking (PV supplied converter) schemes, the
converter duty ratio is to he controlled such that the
function K2 6' is maximised. Under these conditions, for
the assumed couverter efficiency, the maxiinum power
extracted from the PV array is proportional to the square of
the load terminal voltage. Based on this concept, the
maximum power point tracking algorithm has been
developed in this paper. The tracking process is explained
in the following.
The flowchart for the peak power tracking control of the
PV supplied converter system is given in Fig. 3. The
tracking process can he started by outputting the command
signal either 0 or 5V to thc PWM gcnerator, which
corresponds to the duty ratio of zero or one, respectively.
Whatever may be the duty ratio (0-l), the load power
(PO =KI h2) is computed by sensing the load voltage.
Change (increase or decrease) the duty ratio of the converter
and then measure the instantaneous load power. This
power is compared with the previous power and a decision
of whether to increase or decrease the duty ratio is taken,
depending on the location of the operating point and
direction of its movement as indicated in Fig. 4. As a
consequence, there are four possibilities (two if the
operating points lcft of the maximum power point, two if
the operating points right of the maximum power point) for
the operating point movement. The duty ratio control
signal iscontinuously adjusted to maximise the load power
hy following the equation d=dkAd. The sign of the
incremental duty ratio Ad is determined by the incremental
power ( dP) and operating point movemcnt as indicated in
Fig. 4. If AP is positive and the operating point is left of the
MP point. then d=(d+Ad), otherwise d=(d-Ad). On
similar lines, if AP is negative and the operating point is left
of the MP point, then d = ( d+ Ad) otherwise d= (&Ad).
This tracking control process repeats itself uiitil the peak
power point is reached, and then deviating back aud forth
within an allowable range about this point. In the simulated
IEE Pro.-El r.cl r I'uaer. Appl.. Vol. I SU, No 1. Jauwr). Xil3
read N,VL.Ad.
compute load
power P,,,
I
0.8
a 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 I .a
Power iruc,kirrq process wifh duty rmio
duty ratio, d
Fig. 4
maximum power point tracking proccss, the instantaneous
load voltage and power are computed, employing the
models developed in preceding Sections, whereas, in real-
time computer implementation, the instantaneous load-
voltagc power infometion is obtained by means of a
data-acquisition system. The maximum power point track-
ing processes both in the simulation and 1-eal-timecomputer
IEE Pro.-El ecrr. Po i l r Appl., Vol. 150, h'o 1. Joni un~ 2W3
implementation. are the same except for the above
mentioned diffcrence.
4 Experimental system description
A prolotypc PV supplied converter systemwas built for
carrying out the experimental studies and its block diagram
is shown in Fig. 1. The data-acquisition systemis set up by
using a PC, interface AZI-3503 card. which mainly consists
of 8-channel 12-bit AID. D/A converters. For power
measurements, a digtal power meter (YOKOGAWA-
WT130) is used, through which a GPlB interface is
connected to the PC to record the SCA power data. The
PWM lnodubator is a voltage comparator made up of an
LF31 I operational amplifier. The reference signal to this
comparator is the signal obtained from the D/A converter,
generated by means of the MPPT algorithm. A synthesised
YOKOGAWA function generator (FG120) WIS used to
obtain phase-displaced triangular carrier signals to the
PWM generator. Each switch of the experimental circuits
has becn implemented by means of MOSFETs (IRF530N)
with appropriate driver circuits and the diode FML-32s.
The coupled inductor is made of a toroidal core (TDK'S:
HF70T) whose dimensions are 25 x I3 x 15 mm. To avoid
saturation. an airgap of about 1 mmis introduced in the
core. The measured values of this coupled inductor are
Li=0.974mH, h=0.978mH and L,,,=0.822niH. To
make fair comparison and to improve the performance of
the converter. the inductance values? both for coupled and
noncoupled cases, are designed [I61 satisfying the relation
L,,, =(I +k)L,,, where k is the coupling coefficient, L,,,. and
L, are the self inductances oT noncoupled and coupled
cases, respectively.
5 Experimental results and discussions
A two-cell interleaved boost converter supplied PV system
has been shown in Fig. 1. Comprehensive simulation studies
were made to investigate the influence of a two-cell
intcrlcnved boost convertcr (SCA parameters are given in
Table I ) as an intermediate maximum power point tracker
for the PV supplied system. The PV array i s simulated using
(3) and (13). As the studies mainly concentrate on
maximuin power operation of the SCA. a simulation
program was developed in the MATLAB environment, for
the PV supplied converter systememploying the mathema-
tical models developed in the preceding sections and the
control flowchart shown in Fig. 3. The simulated dynainic
maximum power point tracking characteristics are shown in
Fig. 5.
The prototype PV supplied converter systemwas built Tor
carrying out the experimental studies. The converter
parameters for the noncoupled case are LI =0.15mH,
L2=0.15mH. C=4.7pF and R=50Q, and, Tor the
Table 1: PV array parameters
Maximum power (P,,,) 24W
Open circuit voltage( V d 20.7V
Shon circuit current (Iz) 2.2A
Operating voltageat maximum power IV,)
Operating current at maximumpower (1,)
12.35V
1.94A
Moduleefficiency 11%
9.85 x 4.45cm Module size
( AM 1.5. 1 kW/mz. 25%)
75
25
20
15
3
i
B
a
10
5
"
25
20
I
-
-
1 .o
0.8
0.6 0
.- 0
I
0.4 2
-
>
I
0.2
n
coupled case, the parameters are L, =0.974mH and
Lz=0.978mH. The measured Va-Ia and VA-P, char-
acteristics of the experimental PV generator for four
different insolations are shown in Fig. 6. Software has been
developed in the C environment to implement the
maximum power point tracking in a real-time system. The
data-acquisition system as shown in Fig. I measures the
instantaneous load voltage information. For a given load,
the maximum power point control algorithm computes the
load power (PO =K, V:) from the known instantaneous
load voltage Vnand changes the duty ratio of the converter
appropriately, so as to reach the maximum power point.
Further, the algorithm tracks the maximum power point
continuously by adjusting the converter duty ratio such that
the load power is maximum
2.5
2.0
1.5
Q
I
'y
5
1 .o
0.5
0
25
i'0
3
b
15 , b
B
10 5
a
VI
ti
I 1
0 4 8 12 16 20
voltage, v
Fig. 6 Me u u ml VA-IA, Va-P,, rlraracrerivic of SCA iiiodule
At one particular insolation 'PI, the experimental load
power tracking characteristic is recordcd as shown in Fig. 7.
For verification of the maximum power operation of the
SCA_ whether i t is operating at maximum power point or
not when the load power is maximum_ the SCA (output
power is also measured. The measured SCA power
16
15
3
L
0
z
a
10
5
1-2 ...................
01
n 5 10 15 20 25
time, s
Fig. 7
MP operution ( Yl )
E.s/wirwnrul SCA, loudpower rrucking rhhriructeristics j ar
characteristics were also plotted in Fig. 7. Comparing these
SCA power characteristics with the VA- P, characteristics
(Fig. 6), it is seen that the duty ratio of the converter is
adjusted such that the load power is maximum, which, in
turn, results in the extraction of maximum power from the
solar cell array. Experimental studies were also made to
observe the effectiveness of the developed tracking algo-
rithm for changing insolations. These experimental ob-
sewations show that the algorithm dcvelopcd is capable of
tracking the inaxiinum power point, even at variable
insolations. Further, the tracking capability of the converter
system is verified under partial shading conditions. For
illustration. when four cells are shaded by 50%. the SCA
and load power tracking characteristics for an insolation of
Yl are shown in Fig. 8. Under this condition, the SCA
power output decreases and settles to a new maximum
power point as shown by Fig. 8.
25
20
15
3
c
2
a
10
5
0
1-q ...................
4 8 12 16 20
time, s
Maximum powcr tracking characteristics are obtained
at different insolations (Yl, Y?, Yx and Y4) and are
plotted in Fig. 9. Comparing these characteristics with
V, -P, characteristics (Fig. 6), it can be stated that this
converter extracts maximuni power from the solar cell array
at all insolations. Experimental investigations are also
carried out on the PV supplied converter systems feeding
nonresistive loads. To show the validity of the proposed
load-voltagc-based peak power tracking method for a
general case of loads, expenmental peak power tracking
results are presented For a battery load in Fig. 10. These
SCA peak power tracking characteristics closely match with
those obtained with a pure resistive load. Thus, the
proposed load-voltage-based peak power tracking scheme
is independent of the type of load connected to the PV
system.
20
25 r
I *I
-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j . . >. < ..,w........ I....- %>......PI... ,_*,~.
-*.
,.>.,
3 15 1 - ..-..~. ..-. . C. . . . . . . . . ...-.L ..._ .....I ...- ...... _._,i .....
I *2
i
1 4h
t
B
10 . . . . .
20 1
........................................................ .......? ... ++.... c.-.<,~?%; .....I ....
11- s i p .i
1-21 ...................
The effect of increased switching frequency has been
extensively investigated [14]. These studies reveal that ripple
content (both current and voltage) reduces with increase in
the switching frequency. However, with increased switching
frequency. converter efficiency slightly reduces on account
of increased switching losses. A comparative study of
noncoupled and coupled interleaved boost converter
supplied PV systems operating at one particular switching
frequency (f=20 kHz) is made and their steady-state
performance parameters are measured. For illustration,
the efficiency variation with duty ratio for both cases are
summarised in Table 2. These results indicate that thc
efficiency of the converter with coupling is improved by 2-
3% over the noncoupled case. Similar measurements were
also made and the experimental ripple amplitudes of array
current, load voltage, switch current and efticiencies at
different loads are tabulated in Table 3 for comparison.
Tabulated measurements show that the inverse coupling
among the inductors will have substantial effect in reducing
the ripple content, especially load voltage and switch current
stresses. The observed reduction in load voltage ripple is
about 5&70%, while that in the switch current stress is 70-
80%. This point clearly indicates that lower current rating
switching devices are sufficient for a coupled converter
system. At one particular insolation, detailed experimental
waveforms of the PV array. inductor branch, switching
device currents and load voltage under maximum power
point tracking conditions are shown in Figs. 11-13 for
coupling and noncoupling cases. It is evident from these
experimental waveforms, that inverse coupling results in
lower value of ripple content even under maximum power
tracking conditions.
Table 2: Efficiency variation wi t h duty ratio for noncoupled
and coupled converter system
Duty ratio
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
NCU
88.96
87.67
87.42
87.39
84.40
83.26
82.01
80.61
78.10
ICU
90.79
90.26
89.86
89.45
88.79
87.94
85.09
82.84
80.66
NCU =noncoupling; ICU =inverse coupling
The converter pctformance also depends oii the value of
the capacitance connected on the PV array side. Particu-
larly, the PV array terminal voltage and current ripple
magnitudes reduce with the use of high value cap? ' citance. '
However, in case of the interleaved converter supplied PV
system, the interleaved operation itself reduces the ripple as
compared to the boost converter supplied PV system. As a
result, a smaller value of capacitance is sufficient for the
interleaved coiiverter supplied PV systems. To demonstrate
the capacitance effect on the array voltage ripple reduction,
experimental observations are presented for the coupled
and noncoupled interleaved converter supplied PV systems
as shown in Fig. 14. These results show that a lower value
11
Table 3: Comparison of experimental ripple amplitudes and efficiency for noncoupled and coupled converter system
Ala. A AVO. V AL, A q, %
NCU ICU NCU ICU NCU ICU NCU ICU
R. n
0.52 0.35 0.96 0.4% 1.024 0.224 86.4% 93.36
100
0.48 0.34 0.88 0.39 1.104 0.268 86.67 92.95
90
0.41 0.32 0.82 0.33 1.192 0.274 86.84 92.39
80
70 0.39 0.30 0.80 0.30 1.208 0.284 87.03 91.65
60 0.35 0.28 0.80 0.27 1.240 0.308 86.76 90.63
50 0.30 0.27 0.16 0.25 1.264 0.324 86.70 89.34
0.24 0.25 0.70 0.22 1.280 0.392 83.16 85.34
40 0.26 0.27 0.72 0.22 1.272 0.376 85.90 87.92
30
NCU =noncoupling: ICU =inverse coupling
22
>
$ 20
-
-
0
18
1.4
1.2
1 .o
Q
i 0.8
?
U
0.6
0.4
0.2
-
-
-
m 2
0 '
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
lime. ps
Fig. 11 E.spcritrr~trtul PV nrruy ituiuctw ciiwenrs or MP
operation f i r coupling rind noircouplifry c u m
1.4
1.2
1 .o
Q
-- 0.8
e
3
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
r: noncoupling
0 50 I00 150 200 250
lime, ps
300
I
14
l 6 1
20
18
>
6 16
0,
0
>
L -
B
' 14
2
12
10
noncoupling
of terminal capacitance is sufficient for the coupled
converter systcmto realise an identical smoothing effect
as can beachieved with the noncoupled case.
As explained in the Section 2.2, inverse coupling
improves both the steady-state and dynamic performance,
simultaneously, compared to the noncoupled case. This
property has so far only been verified from the steady-state
performance aspect. To check whether the coupled and
noncoupled converters exhibit the same dynamic perfor-
mance. experimental starting responses of the converters arc
measured. These responses (PV array terminal voltage, load
voltage and current) for coupled and noncoupled two-cell
interleaved boost converters are shown in Figs. 15 and 16,
respectively. From these results. it can benoted that, even
though the coupled two-cell converter system has large self
inductance, it still results in fastcr dynamics, the same a s
thosc obtained with low-inductance noncoupled two-cell
interleaved boost converter systems. This is mainly due to
~~
25
20
the presence of coupling, introduced among the inductor
branches.
-
-
6 Conclusions
A load-voltage-based maximum power point tracking
algorithm has been developed in this paper for the two-
cell interleaved boost converter supplied PV system.
Analytical expressions for the PV source (intermcdiate
converter corresponding to maximum power point opera-
tion of the SCA) has been derived. Simulated maximum
power tracking characteristics are provided. Experimental
results for maximum power tracking are presented at
different insolations and partial shading conditions. to
demonstrate thc tracking capability of the proposed
converter system. A comparative performance study of
the system, with and without coupling among the inductor
branches, has been made. These studies reveal that inverse
coupling among the inductor branches improves the
converter performance (both transient and steady-state),
especially by reducing the steady-state current ripple while
maintaining the same transient response.
11.0
2o t
> Q
0.6
10
1.4
1.2
: 4 1.0
'0 0.4
4 0.2
7
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
I O
I I
12
13
14
15
16
17
References
APPELBAUM. I.: 'Starting and stcad-state characteristics of DC
motors powered by solar cell c men era tors', IEEE Tmm Energy Cmwr.
1986. 1. pp. 17-24
SINGER, S.. and BRAUNSTEIN, A.: 'Maximum power transfer
fromB nonlinear energy smrce to an arbitrary load. IEE Proc,
G ~ K Trurnni. Disiril~.. 1987, 134, pp. 281-287
SALAMEH. Z., and TAYLOR, 0.: 'Step-up inarimiim powcr
point tracker fur photovoltaic arrays', Sol. Emvqy. 1990. 44.
ALGHUWAINEM. S.M.: 'Stad te performancc or DC moton
supplied frompholovollaic generaton with stcpup convcrtei. IEEE
TEULINGS. W.J.A.. MARPINARD. J .C.. and CAPEL. A.: 'A
marimiimpower point tracker far it regulated power bus'. Eurupcaii
KISLOVSKI, A.S.: 'Power tracking mcthods in photovoltaic
applications'. Proceedings of the Power Conversion Confercnce.
J une 1993. pp. 513-528
COW, 1.A.. and MANNI NG. C.D.: 'Controller arrangement for
boost converter systems sourced fromsoia photovoltaic arrays or
other maximuin power SOUK^'. IEE PWC. Eler.ir POWPI Appi., 2000,
SHARIF. M.F., ALONSO, C.. and MARTINEZ. A,: 'A simple and
robust maximum power point control for ground photovoltaic
generators'. Proceedings of the lntemationsl Power Electronics
Conference (IPEC), 2000. pp. 164169
SIRI, K.. CALISKAN. V.A.. and LEE, C.Q.: 'Pcak powci tricking in
pnr;dlel connected con~crtcrs', IEE Proc. Cirniilr Dr ci w SrsI.. 1993.
140. (2). pp. 106-116
ALGHUWAINEM. S.M.: 'A dosc fonn solution for the maximum
power operating point of a sokmcell anay'. Sol. Ewr gj MNIW Sol.
Cel1.s. 1997, 6. pp. 249-257
WON, C.-Y.. KIM. D.-H.. and KIM, S.-C.: 'A i i cw miiximum
power point tracker of photovoltaic arrays using f uuy controllei'.
Prucrrriinm of the Power E1cctronic.s Stzciiili.st Co,d?rme. 1994.
pp. 5741
space pow.cr conrercncr. 1993, pp. 93-97
147, (I ), pp. 15-20
pp. 3Y&& '
SENJ YU, T.. ARASHIRO. Y.. UEZATO. K.. and HEE, H.K.:
'Mnnimumpower point tracking conlid of photowltnic array uiing
f- neural network. Proceedinzs afthe Intcmationi Conference an
VEERACHARY. M.:'%NIYu. 1. . ilnd UEZATO. K.: 'Maximum
power point trncking cmliol of IDR conv~rtcr supplied PV system',
IEE /'roe. Necir. Powr Appl.,, 2001. 148. (6). pp. 494-502
VEERACHARY. M.: 'Modehog and control of intcrlewed boost
~onverters and their appliration to photovolkic supplies'. Dr. Eng
Thesis. Univenity of the Ryukyus. J apan 2002
LEE, P.W., LEE, Y.S.. CHENG. D.K.W.. and LIU, X.C.: p steady^
79
8 Appendix
8.1
of operations
State-space models for different modes
=[ A, ] [ X] +[ B, ] [ U] . =1. 2, ... 4 (A. 1)
8.2 Simplification for optimal duty ratio
expression corresponding to maximum power
operation
let
Then (B.l) can be written as
For the above quadratic equation two roots are exist. and
the consistent solution (DJ is