AN IMPROVED PERTURB AND OBSERVE MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING TECHNIQUE USING FUZZY LOGIC CONTROLLER

Authors

  • E. A. Kisame Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Nairobi
  • M. J. Gatari Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Nairobi
  • D. M. Mulati Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • M. Lavi Department of Technical and Applied Physics, Technical University of Kenya

Keywords:

maximum power point tracking (MPPT), fuzzy logic control (FLC), photovoltaic (PV), buck DC-DC converter

Abstract

In this work, an improved microcontroller-based maximum power point tracking algorithm for PV solar charge controller is proposed and implemented. The proposed algorithm uses fuzzy logic controller to adaptively modify the step-size of a conventional P&O algorithm, thereby improving its transient and steady-state responses. The proposed algorithm is implemented in a prototype solar charge controller consisting of a solar panel, a buck converter and a microcontroller. The results of the tests performed on the proposed algorithm are compared to those of a conventional P&O algorithm and a PV system with no MPPT, to validate the algorithm. The comparison with the conventional P&O algorithm shows 93% and 72% improvements in transient and steady-state responses, respectively, while that with no MPPT shows 71% improvement in efficiency with which the proposed algorithm extract energy from a solar panel.

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Published

2016-07-05

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2016): JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Section

Articles