Modular Level Power Electronics (MLPE) Based Distributed PV System for Partial Shaded Conditions

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is a very promising renewable energy technology, as solar PV systems are less efficient because of climate conditions, temperature, and irradiance change. So, to resolve this problem, two PV topologies are used, i.e., centralized and distributed PV systems. The centralized technique is quicker than the distributed technique in terms of convergence speed and a faster power tracking approach. In the event of uniform irradiance, the centralized system also has the benefit of supplying superior energy, but in PS scenarios, a huge amount of energy is lost. However, the distributed approach requires current and voltage measurements at each panel, resulting in a massive data set. Nevertheless, in the event of shading circumstances, the distributed technique is highly effective because a modular level power electronics (MLPE) converter is used. While in a centralized PV system, there is only a single DC-DC converter for the whole PV system. In this research work, a DFO-based DC-DC converter is designed for modular level, with an ability to perform a rapid shutdown of the module under fire hazard conditions, troubleshooting, and monitoring of a module in a very efficient way. The robustness of the proposed MPPT DFO algorithm is tested with different techniques such as Cuckoo Search (CS), Fruit Fly Optimization (FFO), Particle swarm optimization (PSO), Incremental conductance (InC), and Perturb and observe(P&O) techniques. The proposed technique shows better results in terms of MPPT efficiency, dynamic responsiveness, and harmonics. Furthermore, the result of MLPE and the centralized system is verified by using the Helioscope with different inverter companies like SMA, Tigo, Enphase, Solar edge, and Huawei. The results prove that MLPE is a better option in the case of shading region for attaining the maximum power point.

Automated summary

Photovoltaic solar energy technology shows promise, with centralized and distributed PV systems being used to address efficiency issues. Centralized systems offer quick convergence speed and rapid power tracking, while distributed systems perform better in shading scenarios.