A Rapid Maximum Power Measurement System for High-Concentration Photovoltaic Modules Using the Fractional Open-Circuit Voltage Technique and Controllable Electronic Load

Monitoring and measuring the maximum power of solar modules in real time is essential for evaluating the performance of a solar electric system. In order to monitor the rapidly fluctuating output power of high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) modules, a simplified maximum power point (MPP) estimation and measuring system is presented in this paper. The fractional open-circuit voltage (FOCV) technique and a controllable electronic load circuit were proposed to estimate and measure the MPP. The feasibility of using the FOCV technique on HCPV modules was evaluated, the results of which demonstrate the maximum voltage and power estimation accuracy of the experimental modules. The main advantages of this simplified HCPV MPP measurement system are rapid response time, low complexity, and ease of implementation.