Modeling the effect of voltage ripple on the power output of photovoltaic modules

Abstract

This paper proposes a model for the static power loss in photovoltaic (PV) panels due to switching-frequency ripple. Small-signal modeling is used to determine the amplitude of the voltage ripple that is imposed on the PV panel, and a closed-form expression is developed for the output power. The expression is shown to be more accurate than the power loss that was predicted by small-signal modeling alone, resulting in a median error of 0.8%. The model presented allows dc-dc converter designers to more precisely choose the input filter components that are critical during times of low insolation.