Simulation platform for dynamic photovoltaic arrays

This paper describes the key properties and functions required by a simulation platform in order to aid the design of dynamically reconfigurable photovoltaic array architectures and algorithms. The simulator uses device level models and the architecture allows the designer to traverse the hierarchy until the complete system has been described. By changing the model at the lowest level, any PV technology can be applied to the switching structure and accuracy is dependent on the complexity of the model used. A structured simulation framework enables various DPVA topologies and reconfiguration strategies to be virtually realised and compared under any irradiance profile. Other features such as bypass diodes or returned energy schemes can be easily implemented and sources of power loss can also be analysed. The simulation platform has been tested using a number of benchmark shading scenarios which are applied to various dynamic array architectures. The results allow a direct comparison of performance between different array architectures and algorithms.