Portable Solar Systems using a Step-up Power Converter with a Fast-Speed MPPT and a Parallel-configured Solar Panel to Address Rapidly Changing Illumination

We describe and validate here an optimum configuration of solar array and power converter connections for operation of photovoltaic arrays in partially shaded or continuously changing shadow conditions for portable and mobile applications. Our results demonstrate that, under complex irradiance conditions, the power generation capability of the solar array using the proposed configuration is enhanced by a factor of 2 without extra component costs. In addition, the maximum power tracking is simplified. By controlling the solar array terminal voltage to follow prescribed voltage values, the power generation is maximized; thus, it is easy to implement and cost-effective.