Low-cost sliding-mode power controller of a stand-alone photovoltaic module

This work presents a simple and low-cost power electronic system that allows a flexible control of the operating conditions of the photovoltaic module. The system consists of a buck converter with sliding mode control. Control algorithms for maximum power tracking, module voltage and load current regulation are proposed. Moreover, these algorithms can be readily combined to have a complete control of the energy conversion system. The dynamic analysis reveals that there may be regions of instability that are avoided by appropriate switching logics. Operation and main features of the proposed electronic power controller are validated through simulation and experimental results.