Modeling and Analysis of PV Configurations to Extract Maximum Power Under Partial Shading Conditions

Photovoltaics (PV) are widely used as renewable energy sources for standalone and grid connected PV systems. But these PV systems face major reduction in output power and efficiency due to Partial Shading Conditions (PSCs). This research paper focuses on the different choices of optimum PV Configuration under a given shading pattern to extract maximum power by mitigating mismatching loss. Various PV configurations, such as Series (S), Series Parallel (SP), Total Cross Tied (TCT), Bridge Linked (BL), Honey Comb (HC) and Alternate Total Cross Tied - Bridge Linked (A-TCT-BL) are modeled and analyzed under PSCs. Nine shading patterns, such as center, diagonal, corner, L-shaped, short and narrow, short and wide, long and narrow, long and wide and random, are considered to study the behavior of a 6 x 6 array form of a PV Configuration. Their performances are compared based on open circuit voltage, short circuit current, global maximum power point (GMPP), maximum voltage, maximum current, shading loss, fill factor, mismatching loss and efficiency. A novel Hybrid Configuration called A-TCT-BL PV Configuration is proposed to generate maximum power under PSCs and to minimize the number of cross ties and wiring complexities. This Configuration is an integration of TCT and BL PV Configuration and the simulation results prove the capability of this proposed PV Configuration to generate maximum power, fill factor, efficiency and minimum mismatching loss compared to S, SP, BL and HC PV Configurations under a majority of the PSCs investigated. A Canadian Solar CS5P-200M PV module is considered for simulation and is simulated using Matlab/Simulink software.

Automated summary

This research paper focuses on optimizing the PV Configuration under shading conditions to maximize power extraction and minimize mismatching loss. Different PV configurations were modeled and analyzed, and a novel Hybrid Configuration called A-TCT-BL PV Configuration was proposed. Simulation results showed that this new configuration outperformed other configurations in terms of power, fill factor, efficiency, and mismatching loss under a majority of the shading conditions investigated.