Comparative study of maximum power point tracking algorithms

TLDR

Maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) are essential for maximizing photovoltaic array efficiency, yet despite numerous algorithms the perturb‑and‑observe (P&O) method remains the most widely used despite claims of inferiority and a lack of standardized experimental comparisons. This paper provides a standardized experimental comparison of multiple optimized MPPT algorithms. The study quantifies MPPT performance via efficiency, using a microprocessor‑controlled MPPT on both a PV array and a simulator to evaluate three optimized algorithms. Results show that a properly optimized P&O algorithm can achieve efficiencies above 97 % and competes favorably with other algorithms, thereby reducing overall system cost. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) play an important role in photovoltaic (PV) power systems because they maximize the power output from a PV system for a given set of conditions, and therefore maximize the array efficiency. Thus, an MPPT can minimize the overall system cost. MPPTs find and maintain operation at the maximum power point, using an MPPT algorithm. Many such algorithms have been proposed. However, one particular algorithm, the perturb‐and‐observe (P&O) method, claimed by many in the literature to be inferior to others, continues to be by far the most widely used method in commercial PV MPPTs. Part of the reason for this is that the published comparisons between methods do not include an experimental comparison between multiple algorithms with all algorithms optimized and a standardized MPPT hardware. This paper provides such a comparison. MPPT algorithm performance is quantified through the MPPT efficiency. In this work, results are obtained for three optimized algorithms, using a microprocessor‐controlled MPPT operating from a PV array and also a PV array simulator. It is found that the P&O method, when properly optimized, can have MPPT efficiencies well in excess of 97%, and is highly competitive against other MPPT algorithms. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.