A Strategy to Evaluate MPPT Techniques

Photovoltaic (PV) cell possesses non-linear power-voltage (P-V) characteristics. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques search the panel voltage at which maximum power can be achieved. In literature several converter topologies are used for testing and implementation of MPPT algorithm. These include buck, boost, buck-boost etc. Such implementations can't account for the efficiency of MPPT technique alone. This is due to the losses which could occur in different converter topologies. In this paper, a strategy which is based on an ideal converter, for testing the MPPT algorithms is proposed. Some of the major MPPT techniques are discussed and evaluated through the proposed strategy. Comparison among the MPPT algorithms is carried through MATLAB/Simulink. It is found that the proposed strategy is unbiased and suitable for testing MPPT algorithms.