Perturb and Observe MPPT Algorithm for

Solar PV Systems-Modeling and Simulation

Jacob James Nedumgatt, Jayakrishnan K. B., Kothari D P
Umashankar S., Vijayakumar D., Director General
School of Electrical Engineering Vindhya Institute of Technology and Science
VIT University Indore, India
Vellore, India. dpk0710@yahoo.com
jacob_jned@yahoo.com,
jayakrishnankb007@gmail.com
shankarums@gmail.com, vijayakumar.d@vit.ac.in.

Abstract-The following paper validates an algorithm for
Maximum Power Point Tracking using Perturb and Observe
technique. The algorithm starts by setting the computed
maximum power PMAX to an initial value (usually zero).
Next the actual PV voltage and current are measured at
specific intervals and the instantaneous value of PV power,
PACT is computed. PMAX and PACT are compared.
PMAX and PACT are compared. If PACT is greater than
PMAX, it is set as the new value of PMAX. At every instant
the PACT is calculated, and the comparison is continuously
executed. Hence the final value of PMAX will be the point at
which maximum power can be delivered to the load. For
maximum power transfer across the load, the input
impedance should be equal to the load impedance. Based on
the mechanism of load matching the duty cycle of the
converter is varied so that the output power will almost be
equal to the input in practical systems. The system will be
modelled with the help of MATLAB/SIMULINK.
Keywords-Photovoltaic; maximum power point tracking;
MPPT; P&O
temperature. Therefore, an on-line tracking of the
maximum power point of a PV array is an essential part of
any PV system. This paper looks at the P&O MPPT
technique where the instantaneous values of power are
calculated each time, and the maximum power point value
is updated. Having completed all the calculations and
comparisons, the maximum power point is finally
determined, and the corresponding voltage and current at
the maximum power point is also determined.
II. PV EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
A solar cell basically is a p-n semiconductor junction.
When exposed to light, a dc current is generated. The
generated current varies linearly with the solar irradiance.
The standard equivalent circuit of the PV cell is shown in
Fig. 1.
RS
+
ID ISH

I. INTRODUCTION IL V
RSH
As people are concerned with the fossil fuel exhaustion
and the environmental problems caused by the
conventional power generation schemes present, -
renewable energy sources, photovoltaic panels and wind-
generators, to mention a few are now in great need [2]. Figure 1. Equivalent circuit of Solar PV cell
Among several renewable energy sources, photovoltaic
arrays are used in many applications such as water The basic equation that describes the (I-V)
pumping, battery charging, hybrid vehicles, and grid characteristics of the PV model is given by the following
connected PV systems. The principal advantages equation:
associated with photovoltaic arrays are that it consists of q (V + IR S )
no moving parts. Do not produce any noise and V + IR S
maintenance costs are minimal. It is also a clean source of I = IL − I O ( e KT
− 1) −
energy. Amount of energy produced by the sun is so large, R sh (1)
that in one hour it can provide more than enough energy I is the cell current (A).
for human population in one year. However, due to the low
efficiency of current solar panels, conversion of sunlight IL is the light generated current (A).
into electrical power is very poor. This efficiency further Io is the diode saturation current.
decreases if there is no load matching between the input
side (PV array output) and the output side (load). To q is the charge of an electron = 1.6x10-19 (coulombs).
maximize the power derived from the solar panel it is K is the Boltzman constant (j/K).
important to operate the panel at its maximum power
point, hence an increase in output efficiency. Maximum T is the cell temperature (K).
power point changes with the solar irradiation, and cell
 Rs, Rsh are cell series and shunt resistance (ohms).
V is the cell output voltage (V).
The above equation is valid for a single diode model,
where the ideality factor, n, is equal to unity. This factor
ranges from 1 to 2, if a two diode model is used. Usually
optimization techniques are used to determine a suitable
value for a particular model. The IO in the equation
represents the dark saturation, the current which is
produced where there is no light. It will always be present.
It is thermally generated. Dark saturation current is also
temperature dependent. Hence with a change in the
temperature in Kelvin, ‘T’, the overall current, ‘I’ would
vary. If temperature increases the current ‘I’ reduces. IL is
the light generated current. It is this parameter which plays Figure 4. MPP changes with Temperature (I-V Curves)
the vital role in a solar cell. Illumination of the cell gives
rise to an increase in the minority carrier concentration,
more light more excess hole-electron pairs will be
generated. As a result the IL value increases as the
irradiance levels rise. Below are the figures which show
the characteristic PV Array curves, voltage versus the
power produced by the PV Array and the current versus
voltage. This is a necessity when determining the
maximum power point, if not the PV System will not be
efficient.

Figure 5. MPP changes with Temperature (P-V Curves)

Figure 2. Current vs Voltage Characteristic curve

Figure 6. MPP changes with Irradiance levels(I-V Curves)

Figure 3. Power vs Voltage Characteristic Curve

Figure 7. MPP changes with Irradiance levels (P-V Curves)

 III. P&O MPPT TECHNIQUE duty ratio is varied in such a manner that the input power
The problem considered by MPPT methods is to delivered to the converter will almost be equal to the
automatically find the voltage VMPP or current IMPP at power delivered to the load
which a PV array delivers maximum power under a given
temperature and irradiance. In P&O method, the MPPT V. MATLAB MODELING AND SIMULATION
algorithm is based on the calculation of the PV output The PV Array and the PVIV blocks are embedded
power and the power change by sampling both the PV blocks, where the PV array has been mathematically
Array current and voltage. The tracker operates by modelled [4]. These blocks are necessary to calculate the
periodically incrementing or decrementing the solar array maximum power point, as part of the MPPT technique and
voltage [4]. If a given perturbation leads to an increase also to display the characteristics curves based on different
(decrease) in the output power of the PV, then the irradiance levels. The same can be implemented for
subsequent perturbation is generated in the same (opposite) different ambient temperatures.
direction. The duty cycle of the dc chopper is varied and
the process is repeated until the maximum power point has
been reached. Actually, the system oscillates about the
MPP. Reducing the perturbation step size can minimize the
oscillation. However, small step size slows down the
MPPT. For different values of irradiance and cell
temperatures, the PV array would exhibit different
characteristic curves. Each curve has its maximum power
point. It is at this point, where the corresponding maximum
voltage is supplied to the converter.

Figure 10. Simulink block diagram of complete PV system

. Figure 11. Cuk converter, for a fixed load of 6 ohms

Figure 8. Flowchart of P&O MPPT Technique Cuk Converter is used in this system [5]. It has certain
advantages over the buck boost converter. Like the buck
boost converter, it can step up or step down the output
IV. PV SYSTEM MODELLING voltage. Here the capacitor is the main storage element. It
helps to ensure continuous current flow, and the inductor
which is placed at the load side also reduces the ripple in
the output current. Based on the value of the input voltage,
which is the voltage at the maximum power point, the duty
ratio is varied to give allow maximum power transfer from
the input supply to the load.

Figure 9. General block diagram of P&O MPPT Technique

The above figure is a generalized block diagram. The

input voltage and current from the PV array is used to
calculate the instantaneous power. Based on the MPPT
algorithm the maximum power point is identified and the
duty ratio of the converter is varied in accordance. The
A. The following are results shown, with a variation of
irradiance levels. The irradiance levels change at fixed
intervals of time while maintaining the ambient
temperature constant.

Figure 15. Variation in Output Voltage and Input Voltage

Figure 12. Variation of irradiance levels to the pv array while keeping

the ambient temperature constant.

Figure 16. Variation in Input Power and Output Power

Figure 13. Pulses to the gate

Figure 17. Variation in Output Current and Input Current

Figure 14. Voltage across Inductor L1 and Capacitor C1

Figure 18. Variation in duty cycle

B. The following are results shown, with a variation of
ambient temperature. The ambient temperature
changes at fixed intervals of time maintaining a
constant irradiance level.
Figure 19. Variation of ambient temperature tacon
pv array while G is constant (G=1)
Figure 20. Variation in output voltage and input voltage
Figure 21. Variation in output power and input power
Figure 22. Variation in output current and input current
Figure 23. Variation in duty cycle
The simulation results show that the duty ratio varies in
such a manner that the output voltage across the load is
constant. There are loads that are sensitive to voltage,
hence a constant output voltage is a requirement.
VI. CONCLUSION
The PV Array has been mathematically modelled. The
programmes implemented in the MPPT technique achieve
the maximum power point. It has been shown that for the
particular irradiance levels the maximum power delivered
by the PV Array is delivered to the load. The same is
carried out if there is a variation in temperature. It is a
simple MPPT setup resulting in a highly efficient system.
In conclusion, non-conventional energy sources will
dominate the conventional sources of energy in the near
future and here one uses the greatest renewable energy of
all, the sun’s energy.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] N. Femia, et. Al. “Optimization of Perturb and observe Maximum
PowerPoint tracking Method,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron., Vol.
20, pp.963-973, July 2005.
[2] E. Koutroulis; et. al , “ Development of a Microcontroller-
basedphotovoltaic maximum power tracking control system”, IEEE
Trans. Onpower Electron., Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 46-54, 2001.
[3] J.A.Jianget. Al. , “Maximum Power Tracking for Photovoltaic
PowerSystems”, Tamkang Journal of Science and Engineering,
Vol. 8, No. 2,pp. 147-153, 2005.
[4] Thesis-Akihiro Oi,”Design and simulation of photovoltaic water
pumping system”,September 2005
[5] Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland, William P. Robbins, “Power
Electronics, Converters, Applications and Design”, Third Edition,
New Delhi,Wiley India (P.) Ltd.
[6] Stuart Bowden and Christiana Honsberg,
http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom
 VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Jacob James Nedumgatt was born in
Kollam, Kerala. He is currently pursuing
Master’s Degree in Power Electronics at
VIT University, Vellore. He received his
Bachelor Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering in the year 2009 at
Rajagiri School of Engineering and
Technology, affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi.
University, Kerala. His research interests are
Power Electronics applications in Solar PV
systems and Multilevel Inverters.
Jayakrishnan K B was born in Ernakulam
Kerala. He is currently pursuing Master’s
Degree in Power Electronics & Drives at
VIT University, Vellore. He received his
Bachelor Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering in the year 2009
from TKM College of Engineering ,
affiliated to University of Kerala. His
research interests are Power Electronics
applications in Renewable Energy Systems
and Power System protection.
Umashankar. S (M’11) received his
Bachelor Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering and Master Degree
in Power Electronics in the year 2001 and
2004 respectively. Currently he is Asst.
Professor-Senior in the School of Electrical
Engineering at VIT University, Vellore. He
worked as Senior R&D Engineer and Senior
Application Engineer in the power
electronics and Drives field for more than 6
years. He has published/presented many
national and international journals/conferences. He has also co-
authored/co-edited many books/chapters on wind power/energy and
allied areas. His current areas of research activities include renewable
energy, real time digital simulator, HTS generator, FACTS, and
power quality.
D. P. Kothari (F’10) received the B.E.
degree in electrical engineering, the M.E.
degree in power systems, and the Ph.D.
degree in electrical engineering from the
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
(BITS), Pilani, India. Currently, he is
Advisor to Chancellor of the VIT University,
Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. He was Head,
Centre for Energy Studies, lIT Delhi (1995-
97), and Principal, Visvesvaraya Regional
Engineering College, Nagpur (1997-98). He has been Director i/c, lIT
Delhi (2005) and Deputy Director (Administration), lIT Delhi (2003-
06). He has published/presented around 600 papers in national and
international journals/conferences. He has also co-authored/co-edited
22 books on power systems and allied areas. His activities include
optimal hydrothermal scheduling, unit commitment, maintenance
scheduling, energy conservation, and power quality. He has guided 28
Ph.D. scholars and has contributed extensively in these areas as
evidenced by the many research papers authored by him. He was a
Visiting Professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,
Melbourne, Australia, in 1982 and 1989. He was a National Science
Foundation Fellow at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, in 1992.
He is a Fellow of the IEEE, Indian National Academy of Engineering
(INAE) and Indian National Academy of Sciences (FNASc). He has
received the National Khosla award for Lifetime Achievements in
Engineering for 2005 from lIT Roorkee. The University Grants
Commission (UGC) has bestowed UGC National Swami
Pranavananda Saraswati award for 2005 on Education for outstanding
scholarly contribution.
D. Vijayakumar received his Bachelor
Degree in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering and Master Degree in Power
Systems in the year 2002 and 2005
respectively. He worked as a Lecturer in
Pallavan College of Engineering from 2005
to 2006. He received his Doctorate in 2010
at Electrical Department in Maulana Azad
National Institute of Technology (MANIT),
Bhopal, India. Presently, He is an Associate
Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering, VIT University,
Vellore. His current areas of research interest are power system
protection, and Renewable energy sources.