Comparative analysis of differential power conversion architectures and controls for solar photovoltaics

Pradeep S. Shenoy, Katherine A. Kim, Philip T. Krein

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion architectures are often forced to trade off efficiency and cost for increased power production. The differential power processing approach overcomes this limitation by enabling each PV element to operate at its maximum power point (MPP) while only processing a small fraction of the total power produced. This paper analyzes several differential energy conversion architectures and the associated local controls. Models are developed to describe operation of PV-to-PV and PV-to-bus differential converters. The overall power output of each system under various environmental conditions is compared. A Monte Carlo approach is used to compare three differential conversion implementations over a range of MPP conditions. Experimental results are included for a PV-to-PV, buck-boost differential converter to demonstrate the potential for increased energy production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2012 IEEE 13th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2012
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Event2012 IEEE 13th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2012 - Kyoto, Japan
Duration: Jul 10 2012Jul 13 2012

Publication series

Name2012 IEEE 13th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2012

Other

Other2012 IEEE 13th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2012
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityKyoto
Period7/10/127/13/12

Keywords

  • differential power processing
  • energy conversion
  • maximum power point tracking
  • power optimizer
  • solar photovolatics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Modeling and Simulation

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