Thermography-based virtual MPPT scheme for improving PV energy efficiency under partial shading conditions

Abstract

This paper proposes a new thermography-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) scheme to address photovoltaic (PV) partial shading faults. Solar power generation utilizes a large number of PV cells connected in series and in parallel in an array, and that are physically distributed across a large field. When a PV module is faulted or partial shading occurs, the PV system sees a nonuniform distribution of generated electrical power and thermal profile, and the generation of multiple maximum power points (MPPs). If left untreated, this reduces the overall power generation and severe faults may propagate, resulting in damage to the system. In this paper, a thermal camera is employed for fault detection and a new MPPT scheme is developed to alter the operating point to match an optimized MPP. Extensive data mining is conducted on the images from the thermal camera in order to locate global MPPs. Based on this, a virtual MPPT is set out to find the global MPP. This can reduce MPPT time and be used to calculate the MPP reference voltage. Finally, the proposed methodology is experimentally implemented and validated by tests on a 600-W PV array.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2014.2325062
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Additional Information: © 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Uncontrolled Keywords: fault diagnosis,maximum power point tracking ,partial shading,photovoltaics,thermography
Publication ISSN: 1941-0107
Last Modified: 26 Feb 2024 08:16
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2016 13:00
Full Text Link: http://ieeexplo ... rnumber=6847186
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PURE Output Type: Letter
Published Date: 2014-11
Published Online Date: 2014-07-01
Accepted Date: 2014-04-07
Submitted Date: 2014-02-21
Authors: Hu, Yihua
Cao, Wenping (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-8133-3020)
Wu, Jiande
Ji, Bing
Holliday, Derrick

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Version: Accepted Version


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