Modelling of a dynamic cooperation between a PV array and DC boost converter

Photovoltaic (PV) arrays are used in many applications such as water heating, battery charging, hybrid vehicles and grid connected photovoltaic power plants. Their main disadvantage is that their output strongly depends on weather conditions, mainly on a solar irradiance and temperature, thus influencing the operation of each system they feed. Since the changes of PV production could be very fast, it is necessary to use dynamic modelling to evaluate PV system's behavior during these changes. This could be quite challenging, especially if the application is modelled and analyzed from longer-term point of view. This paper describes partial results achieved during the process of building such a model. Simulation models of PV array and DC boost converter with MPPT controller created in software Ptolemy II by using synchronous data flow and finite state machine domain will be presented and evaluated.