Journal of International Council on Electrical Engineering Vol. 1, No. 4, pp.

446~451, 2011


446
Simulation and Analysis of Existing MPPT Control Methods
in a PV Generation System


Seok-Il Go*, Seon-Ju Ahn*, Joon-Ho Choi

, Won-Wook Jung**, Sang-Yun Yun**

and Il-Keun Song**


Abstract Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPPT) techniques are employed in PV systems to make
full utilization of PV array output power which depends on solar irradiation and temperature. Recently,
many MPPT algorithms and control schemes of PV system have been proposed, but different control
methods and different PID controller parameters lead to different output efficiency and dynamic response.
Therefore, in this paper, a PSCAD/EMTDC user defined module of the solar array is established to easily
simulate its inherent characteristics with the basic specification data. Moreover, we also compare the
advantages and weakness of the existing MPPT control methods by simulations to give a reference to the
Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System (GCPS) designers.

Keywords: Photovoltaic (PV) System, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques,
PSCAD/EMTDC, Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System (GCPS)



1. Introduction

As the conventional energy sources are rapidly depleted,
the importance of solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy has been
emerging as an alternative energy resource. Since it is clean,
pollution-free, and inexhaustible, researches on the PV
power generation system have received much attention,
particularly, on many terrestrial applications. [1]. Maximum
Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is one of the most important
and well-known problem for all PV systems. An efficient
MPPT algorithm is very important to increase the efficiency
of PV system.
Recently, many MPPT algorithms and control schemes of
PV generation system have been proposed [2-8]. As for the
non-Artificial Intelligence method of the MPPT algorithms,
Constant Voltage Tracking (CVT) method, Fraction Open-
Circuit Voltage (OCV) method, Hill climbing and Perturb
and Observe (P&O) method, Incremental Conductance
(INC-CON) method, Variable Step Size (VSS) method
based on INC-CON method, and hybrid method which
combined above algorithms are introduced.
In this paper, an Electro-Magnetic Transient Program
(EMTP) user defined module of the solar array is
established to easily simulate its inherent characteristics
with the basic specification data. We also compare and
analyze the advantages and weaknesses of the existing
MPPT control methods through time-domain simulation
studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC software environment.


2. PV Array Characteristics and Modeling

The basic working principle of the PV array is the
photovoltaic effect of semiconductor PN junction. The
complex physics of a PV module can be represented by the
equivalent electrical circuit shown in Fig.1.



Fig. 1. PV module equivalent electrical circuit.

In Fig.1, I
SC
is the short circuit current of a moduleunder
a given solar irradiance and temperature. I
D
is the diode
current, which can be given by the classical diode current
expression. The series resistance R
S
represents the intrinsic
Corresponding Author: Dept. of Elec. Eng., Chonnam National
University, Korea (joono@chonnam.ac.kr)
* Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Chonnam National University,
Korea (riseisgood@nate.com, sjahn@jnu.ac.kr)
** Transmission & Distribution Lab., KEPCO Research Institute,
Korea ({wwjung, drk9034, songilk}@kepco.co.kr)
Received: August 9, 2011; Accepted: September 28, 2011
Seok-Il Go, Seon-Ju Ahn, Joon-Ho Choi, Won-Wook Jung, Sang-Yun Yun and Il-Keun Song



447
resistance to the current flow, and R
SH
represents the
equivalent parallel resistance. Since the value of R
SH
is
usually very large, it can be ignored in the simulation
analysis.
The load current is therefore given by the expression:



= exp 1
SC D SH
S S
SC o
T SH
I I I I
V IR V IR
I I
nV R
=
( | | + +

( |
\ .
(1)

where I is the output terminal current, I
o
is the diode
saturation current [A], and V is the terminal voltage of a
module [V]. n is the ideal constant of diode, V
T
is the
thermal potential of a module, and its value is m(kT/q)
where, k is the Boltzmann constant (1.38e-23[J/K]), T is the
cell temperature [K], q is the magnitude of the electrical
charge on the electron (1.6e-19[C]), and m is the number of
cells in series in a module.
The characteristics of a PV module are nonlinear and
each curve has only one Maximum Power Point (MPP).
Moreover, the output current of a PV module is mainly
affected by irradiation variation, whereas the output voltage
of PV module is mainly affected by temperature variation.
Since the range of output power variation according to the
temperature is very small, the irradiation is the main factor
of output power variation of a PV array [9].
PSCAD/EMTDC (Power System Computer Aided
Design /Electro Magnetic Transients including DC System)
is an industry standard simulation tool for studying the
transient behavior of electrical apparatus and networks. Its
graphic-based user interface enables users to graphically
assemble the circuit, run the simulation, analyze the results,
and manage the data in a completely integrated graphical
environment [10].
The PV array model is described and implemented by
using Fortran Language in a User Defined Module (UDM)
with the reference to PSCAD. The main required
parameters and used data of the PV module and PV array
are listed in Table 1.


3. MPPT Techniques

3.1 Constant Voltage Tracking Method

The constant voltage tracking (CVT) method makes use
of the fact that when the temperature is constant, the MPP is
mostly distributed at a fixed voltage value by analyzing the
P-V curve of the PV array at different irradiations. The ratio
of V
MPP
/V
OC
depends on the solar cell parameters, but a
commonly used value is 76%, so the CVT method is that
the reference MPP voltage is set to 0.76 V
oc
constantly for
tracking the maximum power. The advantages of the CVT
method are in its simplicity and good starting
characteristics. However, the applicability of the system is
poor, when the external environment has been changing.
Due to these characteristics, the CVT method is often
combined with other MPPT techniques.

3.2 P&O Method

The Perturb and Observe (P&O) method is one of the
most commonly used methods in practice. The P&O
algorithms operate by periodically perturbing, i.e.
incrementing or decrementing, the array terminal voltage
and comparing the PV output power with that of the
previous perturbation cycle. If the PV array operating
voltage changes and power increases, the control system
moves the PV array operating point in that direction.
Otherwise the operating point is moved in the opposite
direction.
The logic of this algorithm and the flowchart are
explained in Fig. 2. The operating voltage of the PV system
is perturbed by a small increment of AV, and this resulting
change in AP. If AP is positive, the perturbation of the
operating voltage needs to be in the same direction of the
increment. On the contrary, if AP is negative, the obtained
system operating point moves away from the MPPT and the
operating voltage needs to move in the opposite direction of
the increment.
A common shortcoming of this method is that the array
terminal voltage is perturbed every MPPT cycle. Therefore,
when the MPP is reached, the output power oscillates
around the maximum, resulting in a power loss in the PV
system. Furthermore, it sometimes fails to find the MPP
Table 1. Parameters for PSCAD/EMTDC PV Module
Parameter Label Value
Constant
P-N junction ideal constant n 1.5
Coulomb constant q 1.6e-19C
Boltzmann constant k 1.38e-23J/K
PV
module
Reference temperature T
ref
25
o
C
Open-circuit voltage V
OC
21.7V
Short-circuit current I
SC
3.35A
Maximum power P
max
53W
Maximum power voltage V
max
17.4V
Maximum power current I
max
3.05A
PV array
Number of cell in a module m 36
Number of modules in parallel N
P
20
Number of modules in series N
S
50
Simulation and Analysis of Existing MPPT Control Methods in a PV Generation System



448
under the continuously increasing or decreasing irradiation
conditions.



Fig. 2. P&O method flowchart.

3.3 INC-CON Method

The Incremental Conductance (INC-CON) algorithm is
based on the observation that the following equations (2)
and (3) hold for the MPP. The principle of this method is to
judge whether the system work at MPP or work at the left
or the right.

( )
0
dP d IV dI I
I V I V
dV dV dV V
A
= = + = + =
A
(2)

I I
V V
A
=
A
(3)

Therefore, by analyzing the derivative, one can test
whether the PV generator is operating at its MPP or far
from it using equations (4) - (6).

0 for
MPP
dP
V V
dV
> <
(4)
0 for
MPP
dP
V V
dV
= =
(5)

0 for
MPP
dP
V V
dV
< >
(6)

The MPP can thus be tracked by comparing the
instantaneous conductance (I/V) to the incremental
conductance (I/V). V
ref
is the reference voltage at
which the PV array is forced to operate. Once the MPP is
reached, the operation of the PV array is maintained at this
point unless a change in I is noted, indicating a change
in atmospheric conditions and the MPP. The flowchart of
this method is as shown in Fig. 3.
The main advantages of the INC-CON algorithm are the
fine control the system obtains, and its high stability under
rapidly changing atmospheric conditions. However, its
deficiency is that the tracking steps of the system are
constant, so that the tracking speed and the accuracy
contradict with each other. It also requires a complex
control circuit.

3.4 Variable Step Size (VSS) Method

All the above conventional tracking methods use fixed,
small iteration steps, which is determined by the accuracy
and tracking speed requirements. If the step size is
increased to speed up the tracking, the accuracy of tracking
suffers and vice versa. To overcome the above limitation, a
variable step size method has been proposed in [11]. It
offers the fast response time and good steady-state
performance.
In this method, the large step is adopted to move the PV
system to the MPP quickly when the irradiation changes
abruptly. The small one is adopted to decrease the power
oscillation when the PV module works around the MPP.
START
Sample V(n), I(n)
Vref=Vref+dV Vref=Vref-dV Vref=Vref-dV Vref=Vref+dV
Return
NO
YES
YES YES NO NO
( ) ( 1)
( ) ( 1)
I I n I n
V V n V n
A =
A =
0 V A =
0 I A =
0 I A >
YES
YES
I V I V A A =
I V I V A A >

Fig. 3. INC-CON method flowchart.
Seok-Il Go, Seon-Ju Ahn, Joon-Ho Choi, Won-Wook Jung, Sang-Yun Yun and Il-Keun Song



449
The step size can be calculated by using equations (7) and (8).

step
V e V e dV = A ~ (7)
( ) ( 1)
( ) ( 1)
P n P n P dP
e
V n V n V dV
A
= = ~
A
(8)


3.5 CVT + INC-CON (P&O) + VSS Method

The INC-CON method with variable step-size has good
performance in tracking but makes the starting process
more complex. The CVT method shows a better
performance in the starting process. The control algorithm
is simple, as it only needs to judge whether the output
voltage of the PV array is bigger than the voltage
instruction. The voltage is changed in only one direction,
leading to an increasing power in one direction without
oscillation. The control flowchart is as shown in Fig. 4.


4. Simulation Results

The MPPT control methods introduced in section 3 has
been tested by the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation. The
simulation scenario is as summarized in Table 2, and the
simulation results are shown in Fig. 5.
From the simulation results, we can observe that the
START
Detect Voc
Sample V(n)
Vset=0.78Voc
V(n)>Vset
Decrease output
Voltage
Variable step size
INC-CON/P&O
method
NO
YES

Fig. 4. CVT+INC-CON (P&O) + VSS method flowchart.
Table 2. Simulation case descriptions
Case Statement
Temperature
(
o
C)
Irradiation
(W/m
2
)
Time
(s)
1 MPPT control start 25 1000 5
2 External condition change 20 800 8
3 External condition change 10 600 11


(a)

(b)

(c)
Fig. 5. Simulation results: (a) case 1, (b) case 2, (c) case3.
Simulation and Analysis of Existing MPPT Control Methods in a PV Generation System



450
P&O and INC-CON algorithms have very similar
performances and dynamic response times, and they are
superior to the CVT methods. However, both methods have
shortcoming of steady-state oscillation due to perturbations.
The VSS method shows improved dynamic response time
and increased total power output compared to the P&O and
INC-CON methods. However, it still takes relatively large
amount of time to get to the stable state when the MPPT
first starts at 5 sec. The modified VSS method, which uses
the CVT method during the start process, shows the best
performance in both the response time and the total power
output.


5. Conclusion

In this paper, an electro-magnetic transient model of two
stage grid connected PV systems was presented by using
the UDM models of the PV array and the MPPT controller
using PSCAD. Various MPPT techniques have been
reviewed and simulated with different temperatures and
irradiation environments. From the simulation results, the
validity of the developed modeling has been confirmed.
Moreover, the advantages and weaknesses of the existing
MPPT control methods were also analyzed by the
simulation results.
The summary of MPPT techniques can be beneficial in
understanding the existing MPPT control algorithms for
engineers of PV industry. The discussion and performance
summary of different MPPT methods would serve as a
useful guide in choosing the right MPPT method for
specific PV systems in the practical applications.


References

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Seok-Il Go received B.S. degree in
Electrical Engineering from Chonnam
National University, Gwangju, Korea in
2010. His research interests are dis-
tributed generations, distribution net-
works, Micro-Grid, and Smart-Grid.



Seon-Ju Ahn received the B.S., M.S.
and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical
Engineering from Seoul National
University, Seoul, Korea in 2002, 2004
and 2009. Currently, He is a Full-time
lecturer at Chonnam National Univer-
sity, Korea. His research interests are
power quality, distributed energy resources, Micro-Grid,
Smart-Grid, and real-time simulation.
Seok-Il Go, Seon-Ju Ahn, Joon-Ho Choi, Won-Wook Jung, Sang-Yun Yun and Il-Keun Song



451
Joon-Ho Choi received the B.S., M.S.
and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Eng-
ineering from Soongsil University,
Seoul, Korea in 1996, 1998 and 2002.
Currently, He is an Associate Professor
at Chonnam National University, Korea.
His research interests are distributed
generations, distribution networks, stability, and Smart-Grid.


Won-Wook Jung received his B.S.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from
Chungnam National University, Daejeon,
Korea, in 2003, and the M.S. degree in
Electrical engineering from Seoul
National University, Seoul, Korea, in
2005. His research interests are dis-
tributed generation, distribution networks, and Smart-Grid.


Sang-Yun Yun received the B.S., M.
S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical E
ngineering from Soongsil University,
Seoul, Korea in 1996, 1998 and 20
02. His research interests are smart
distribution design and network secu
rity analysis.


Il-Keun Song received the B.S., M.S.
and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Eng-
ineering from Soongsil University,
Seoul, Korea in 1984, 1986 and 1997.
His research interests are smart dis-
tribution management system and life
time estimation of power equipments.