On-line optimization of the P&O MPPT method by means of the system identification

One of the main functions any photovoltaic system is equipped with is the maximum power point tracking. The perturb and observe technique is one of the mainly used algorithms for tracking the optimal operating point of the photovoltaic source. Its performances depend on the values of the two design parameters, that are the amplitude and the frequency of the perturbations it applies for identifying the position of the maximum power point. In this paper, two methods for an on-line optimization of the perturbation period are presented. They are based on the identification of the dc/dc converter, that controls the photovoltaic source, by means of its impulse and frequency response, both evaluated by using the cross-correlation method. Such methods, as well as the tracking algorithm, are effectively implemented by using a Field Programmable Gate Array. The feasibility of the proposed methods has been confirmed by Matlab simulations. © 2013 IEEE.