PV array characteristics analysis under partial shading & modeling of P&O MPPT applied boost convertor using Matlab/Simulink

This paper deals with analysis of a photovoltaic panel array characteristics by considering partial shading effects and modeling of perturb and observe MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm applied boost convertor using Matlab/Simulink. Performance of a photovoltaic (PV) array is affected by temperature, solar insolation, shading and array configuration. Analysis of photovoltaic array characteristics plays an important role in developing an algorithm based devices for Maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Such devices play an important role in efficient usage of available solar energy. The analyzer developed in command window reads panel temperature, irradiance and number of cells exposed to light and generates corresponding PV characteristics. Maximum power point tracking algorithm is used to generate pulse width modulated signal for boost convertor thus extracting the maximum power from the solar PV module and transferring that power to the load. Perturb and observes algorithm is used, which is the simplest algorithm for implementation.