School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer
Engineering
Electrical Design 5
(ENEL4EA)
TOPIC: PV MPPT with Boost Converter
Report, Phase 2
Supervisor: Ntuba Irene Nkhasi
Abstract
In the world of technological progression, conventional resources of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear
fuels, gas etc.) are at the edge of extinct. To overcome this problem, non-conventional energy sources
(solar energy, wind energy, ocean thermal energy, biomass or biogas, geothermal, tidal energy etc.)
play a vital role, in which solar energy is most important energy source, which produces electricity by
the photovoltaic effect. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to convert solar energy into unregulated
electrical energy. These solar PV cells exhibit nonlinear characteristics and give very low efficiency.
Therefore, it becomes essential to extract maximum power from solar PV cells using maximum power
point tracking (MPPT). The power output from a PV panel depends on a few parameters, such as the
irradiation received by the panel, voltage, panel temperature, and so forth. The power output also
varies continuously throughout the day as the conditions affecting it change. In recent years, many
techniques have been purposed for tracking the maximum power point (MPP). Maximum power point
tracking is used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize the photovoltaic array output power,
irrespective of the temperature and radiation conditions and of the load electrical characteristics. The
PV array is modelled using basic circuit equations. Its voltage-current characteristics are simulated
with different conditions. The algorithms utilized for MPPT are generalized algorithms and are easy
to model or use as a code. The algorithms are written in m-files of MATLAB. The PV MPPT with
boost converter was implemented using MATLAB Simulink to achieve required specification, the
input voltage and input current is depended to the chosen PV array to give produced output voltage of
300V and output power within the ranging of 2kW-3kW and these specifications were met by
choosing are solar panel with 2 parallel strings and 9 series connected modules per string. All results
were achieved using a MATLAB oscilloscope which is used to display results obtained.
Page | 1
,Table of Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................1
Lists of Figures.......................................................................................................................................3
Lists of Tables........................................................................................................................................4
1.Introduction........................................................................................................................................4
2. Theoretical Background.....................................................................................................................5
2.1 Photovoltaic cell...........................................................................................................................5
2.2 Synopsis of Maximum Power Pointer Tracking (MPPT)...............................................................6
2.2.1 Types of MPPT Techniques...................................................................................................6
2.2.2 Block diagram...........................................................................................................................7
2.2.3 Operation Principle...................................................................................................................7
3. Literature Review...............................................................................................................................7
4. Feasibility study.................................................................................................................................9
5. Design Problem Statement and project specifications......................................................................9
5.1 Problem definition.......................................................................................................................9
5.2 Aim and Objectives....................................................................................................................10
5.2.1 Aim......................................................................................................................................10
Page | 2
, 5.2.2 Objective.................................................................................................................................10
5.2.3 Requirements.........................................................................................................................10
5.2.3.1 Functional Requirements.................................................................................................10
5.2.3.2 Non-Functional Requirements........................................................................................10
6. Boost Converter...............................................................................................................................10
6.1 Fundamental Principle of a Boost Converter.............................................................................10
6.2 Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM)........................................................................................11
6.3 Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM)....................................................................................11
6.4 Closed Loop Feedback Control System......................................................................................13
6.5 Component Selection.................................................................................................................14
6.5.1 Switching Device Selection..................................................................................................14
6.5.2 Power Diode.......................................................................................................................15
6.5.3 Output Capacitor................................................................................................................15
6.5.4 Inductor..............................................................................................................................15
6.6 Calculations................................................................................................................................15
6.6.1 Parameter Calculation.........................................................................................................15
6.6.2 Power Losses Calculations......................................................................................................16
6.6.2.5 Boost Converter Efficiency...............................................................................................18
7. Design of Solar Panel.......................................................................................................................18
8.Design and Simulation......................................................................................................................20
8.1 Control Circuit............................................................................................................................20
8.2 Simulation results..........................................................................................................................21
8.2.1 Simulation Graph results.............................................................................................................22
9. Design Methodology........................................................................................................................23
10. Cost Organisation...........................................................................................................................23
10.1 Cost estimate...........................................................................................................................23
11. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................24
12. References.....................................................................................................................................25
13. Appendix A.....................................................................................................................................26
14. Appendix B Matlab MPPT code......................................................................................................26
15. Appendix C Components Datasheets.............................................................................................28
15.1 MOSFET IRFB33........................................................................................................................28
Lists of Figures
Figure 1.Typical Structure of Photovoltaic cell [7].................................................................................6
Figure 2.Block diagram for Photovoltaic (PV) generation system..........................................................7
Page | 3
Engineering
Electrical Design 5
(ENEL4EA)
TOPIC: PV MPPT with Boost Converter
Report, Phase 2
Supervisor: Ntuba Irene Nkhasi
Abstract
In the world of technological progression, conventional resources of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear
fuels, gas etc.) are at the edge of extinct. To overcome this problem, non-conventional energy sources
(solar energy, wind energy, ocean thermal energy, biomass or biogas, geothermal, tidal energy etc.)
play a vital role, in which solar energy is most important energy source, which produces electricity by
the photovoltaic effect. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to convert solar energy into unregulated
electrical energy. These solar PV cells exhibit nonlinear characteristics and give very low efficiency.
Therefore, it becomes essential to extract maximum power from solar PV cells using maximum power
point tracking (MPPT). The power output from a PV panel depends on a few parameters, such as the
irradiation received by the panel, voltage, panel temperature, and so forth. The power output also
varies continuously throughout the day as the conditions affecting it change. In recent years, many
techniques have been purposed for tracking the maximum power point (MPP). Maximum power point
tracking is used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to maximize the photovoltaic array output power,
irrespective of the temperature and radiation conditions and of the load electrical characteristics. The
PV array is modelled using basic circuit equations. Its voltage-current characteristics are simulated
with different conditions. The algorithms utilized for MPPT are generalized algorithms and are easy
to model or use as a code. The algorithms are written in m-files of MATLAB. The PV MPPT with
boost converter was implemented using MATLAB Simulink to achieve required specification, the
input voltage and input current is depended to the chosen PV array to give produced output voltage of
300V and output power within the ranging of 2kW-3kW and these specifications were met by
choosing are solar panel with 2 parallel strings and 9 series connected modules per string. All results
were achieved using a MATLAB oscilloscope which is used to display results obtained.
Page | 1
,Table of Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................1
Lists of Figures.......................................................................................................................................3
Lists of Tables........................................................................................................................................4
1.Introduction........................................................................................................................................4
2. Theoretical Background.....................................................................................................................5
2.1 Photovoltaic cell...........................................................................................................................5
2.2 Synopsis of Maximum Power Pointer Tracking (MPPT)...............................................................6
2.2.1 Types of MPPT Techniques...................................................................................................6
2.2.2 Block diagram...........................................................................................................................7
2.2.3 Operation Principle...................................................................................................................7
3. Literature Review...............................................................................................................................7
4. Feasibility study.................................................................................................................................9
5. Design Problem Statement and project specifications......................................................................9
5.1 Problem definition.......................................................................................................................9
5.2 Aim and Objectives....................................................................................................................10
5.2.1 Aim......................................................................................................................................10
Page | 2
, 5.2.2 Objective.................................................................................................................................10
5.2.3 Requirements.........................................................................................................................10
5.2.3.1 Functional Requirements.................................................................................................10
5.2.3.2 Non-Functional Requirements........................................................................................10
6. Boost Converter...............................................................................................................................10
6.1 Fundamental Principle of a Boost Converter.............................................................................10
6.2 Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM)........................................................................................11
6.3 Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM)....................................................................................11
6.4 Closed Loop Feedback Control System......................................................................................13
6.5 Component Selection.................................................................................................................14
6.5.1 Switching Device Selection..................................................................................................14
6.5.2 Power Diode.......................................................................................................................15
6.5.3 Output Capacitor................................................................................................................15
6.5.4 Inductor..............................................................................................................................15
6.6 Calculations................................................................................................................................15
6.6.1 Parameter Calculation.........................................................................................................15
6.6.2 Power Losses Calculations......................................................................................................16
6.6.2.5 Boost Converter Efficiency...............................................................................................18
7. Design of Solar Panel.......................................................................................................................18
8.Design and Simulation......................................................................................................................20
8.1 Control Circuit............................................................................................................................20
8.2 Simulation results..........................................................................................................................21
8.2.1 Simulation Graph results.............................................................................................................22
9. Design Methodology........................................................................................................................23
10. Cost Organisation...........................................................................................................................23
10.1 Cost estimate...........................................................................................................................23
11. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................24
12. References.....................................................................................................................................25
13. Appendix A.....................................................................................................................................26
14. Appendix B Matlab MPPT code......................................................................................................26
15. Appendix C Components Datasheets.............................................................................................28
15.1 MOSFET IRFB33........................................................................................................................28
Lists of Figures
Figure 1.Typical Structure of Photovoltaic cell [7].................................................................................6
Figure 2.Block diagram for Photovoltaic (PV) generation system..........................................................7
Page | 3
