FPGA-based maximum power point tracker control unit

• Main Author: Bitanga, Ryan Joseph P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Field programmable gate arrays; Computer algorithms; Photovoltaic cells; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2336
• Institution: De La Salle University

Energy yields of photovoltaic cell arrays are dependent upon solar radiation levels and temperature. In order to draw the maximum power available, the circuit must operate at the maximum power point. One common algorithm used to track the maximum power point is the Perturb and Observe algorithm. This work develops a novel algorithm that has an increasing perturbation size as well as a three point history to eliminate oscillation problems associated with the Perturb and Observe algorithm. Performance of the developed algorithm is compared with that of the Perturb & Observe algorithm. Control units for maximum power point trackers are commonly implemented using microcontrollers and digital signal processors. This work proposes the algorithm be implemented in VHDL and programmed into a low-cost FPGA. The FPGA solution provides flexibility while serving as a stepping stone for future ASIC implementations.