Automated Solar PV Simulation System Supported by DC–DC Power Converters

Solar photovoltaic simulators are valuable tools for the design and evaluation of several components of photovoltaic systems. They can also be used for several purposes, such as educational objectives regarding operation principles, control strategies, efficiency, maintenance, and other aspects. Thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Designs 2023-03, Vol.7 (2), p.36
Main Authors: Cordeiro, Armando, Chaves, Miguel, Gâmboa, Paulo, Barata, Filipe, Fonte, Pedro, Lopes, Hélio, Pires, Vítor Fernão, Foito, Daniel, Amaral, Tito G., Martins, João Francisco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Alternative energy sources
buck-boost DC–DC converter
Climate change
Electricity
Energy resources
Load
Load fluctuation
Maximum power
Microcontrollers
Panels
Photovoltaic cells
Power converters
Power supply
programmable logic controller
Programmable logic controllers
PV simulator
Renewable energy sources
Renewable resources
SCADA system
Simulation
Simulators
sliding mode controller
Software
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Summary:Solar photovoltaic simulators are valuable tools for the design and evaluation of several components of photovoltaic systems. They can also be used for several purposes, such as educational objectives regarding operation principles, control strategies, efficiency, maintenance, and other aspects. This paper presents an automated solar photovoltaic simulation system with the capability to generate automated tests considering different parameters of solar photovoltaic panels and different operation conditions. The proposed simulator is composed of three buck-boost DC–DC power converters controlled in such a way that will behave similarly to solar photovoltaic panels. It allows to introduce additional variable loads and maximum power point tracker algorithms similar to real systems. Some converters are controlled by a DSP microcontroller connected to a single programmable logic controller which generates the automated tests. Thus, using the presented solution, it is possible to implement the I-V and P-V characteristic curves of solar photovoltaic panels and evaluate different maximum power point tracker algorithms considering different meteorological conditions and load variations, being a useful tool to teach subjects related to renewable energy sources and related applications. Several simulation results using Matlab/Simulink and experimental results are presented to validate the operation of the proposed solution. Experimental results achieve a ripple between 2% and 5% of the desired average current in MPP conditions.
ISSN:2411-9660
2411-9660
DOI:10.3390/designs7020036