Title :
Assessment of the Incremental Conductance Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm
Author :
Elgendy, Mohammed A. ; Zahawi, Bashar ; Atkinson, David J.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Newcastle Univ., Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Abstract :
An efficient, cost-effective maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is required to improve the energy utilization efficiency of low power photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the incremental conductance MPPT algorithm when employed by a standalone PV pumping system, using an experimental installation comprised of a 1080-Wp photovoltaic array connected to a 1-kW permanent magnet dc motor-centrifugal pump set. Particular focus is given to the evaluation of the two commonly utilized implementation techniques: reference voltage perturbation and direct duty ratio perturbation. The influence of algorithm parameters on system behavior is investigated and the energy utilization efficiency is calculated for different weather conditions. The performance of the incremental conductance algorithm is compared to that of the commonly used perturb and observe MPPT algorithm and the various advantages and drawbacks of each technique are identified.
Keywords :
DC motors; electric admittance; energy conservation; maximum power point trackers; permanent magnet motors; photovoltaic power systems; pumps; centrifugal pump; direct duty ratio perturbation; energy utilization efficiency; incremental conductance MPPT algorithm; maximum power point tracking; permanent magnet DC motor; perturb and observe algorithm; photovoltaic array; photovoltaic system; power 1 kW; reference voltage perturbation; standalone PV pumping system; weather conditions; Arrays; Current measurement; Meteorology; Noise; Temperature measurement; Voltage control; Voltage measurement; DC–DC power conversion; maximum power point tracking (MPPT); photovoltaic power systems; photovoltaic pumping;
Journal_Title :
Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TSTE.2012.2202698