Implementation of a multiple input converter using fuzzy logic control for a stand-alone photovoltaic system

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly being used as distributive generation sources for renewable energy despite their low solar energy conversion to the grid. PV modules have nonlinear characteristics that are determined by solar irradiance and temperature which influences the overall output power of the system. To account for these nonlinearities, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are implemented to boost the efficiency of the photovoltaic system. A Cuk-Cuk-Cuk Multiple Input Converter (MIC) is presented to accommodate PV sources with different electrical characteristics for simultaneously transferring power to a load. In this paper, a fuzzy logic controller is used to control a Cuk-Cuk-Cuk MIC to extract the maximum power from the PV sources to charge a 12 volt battery. This technique is compared with the Perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm and the results show that the fuzzy logic controller improves the overall performance of the MIC.