Advanced Incremental Conductance MPPT Algorithm with a Variable Step Size

Abstract

This paper proposes an advanced incremental conductance MPPT algorithm with a variable step size for a solar array regulator (SAR) system. This approach adjusts automatically a step size to the solar array operating point, thus improving the MPPT (maximum peak power tracking) speed and accuracy compared with the conventional method with a fixed step size. For the analysis of stability of the proposed algorithm near the maximum power point, the small signal modeling is carried out. Also, it is verified by experiment using a 180 W parallel connected prototype hardware