Linear open circuit voltage-variable step-size-incremental conductance strategy-based hybrid MPPT controller for remote power applications

This study presents a novel hybrid maximum power point tracking (HMPPT) controller capable of harvesting maximum power from solar panels in a remote power park which can be used for applications such as outdoor uninterruptible power supply, cellular phone and laptop chargers. The proposed HMPPT controller combines two MPPT methods, namely the linear open-circuit voltage method and variable step-size incremental conductance method and it has a simple and robust way of tracking MPP based on the relationship between the solar panel characteristics and load line. A 100 W photovoltaic (PV) generation system with soft switched interleaved flyback (SSIFB) converter is built to implement the proposed HMPPT algorithm. The soft switching of flyback converters in the proposed PV-SSIFB system is achieved by zero voltage switching–pulse width modulation technique. The steady-state performance under various constant irradiations and transient characteristics for rapidly varying irradiations and load changes are investigated. The effectiveness of the controller in the recommended circuit is verified by the simulation results and validated using a prototype model. Both simulation and experimental results show several advantages, namely accuracy, high tracking speed, minimum power loss and increased adaptability for a wide range of irradiations and load.