A Function-Based Maximum Power Point Tracking Method for Photovoltaic Systems

In this paper, a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm based on introducing a complex function for photovoltaic (PV) systems is proposed. This function is used for determination of the duty cycle of the dc-dc converter in PV systems to track the MPP in any environment and load condition. It has been suggested based on analyzing the expected behavior of converter controller. The function is formed by a two-dimensional Gaussian function and an Arctangent function. It has been shown that contrary to many algorithms that produce wrong duty cycles in abrupt irradiance changes, the proposed algorithm is able to behave correctly in these situations. In order to evaluate the performance of method, various simulations and experimental tests have been carried out. The method has been compared with some major MPPT techniques with regard to start-up, steady-state, and dynamic performance. The results reveal that the proposed method can effectively improve the dynamic performance and steady-state performance simultaneously.