Maximum power point tracking algorithm based on inflection voltage for photovoltaic systems

In this thesis study, two novel search algorithms have been added to the literature for the purpose of Maximum Power Point Tracking for photovoltaic systems under partial shading conditions. These two algorithms based on inflection voltage and named as Alp method and Alp climbing algorithm. The Alp method first calculates the inflection voltages of the photovoltaic system and then applies the open circuit voltage method to each of these voltages to obtain maximum power points. Finally, it chooses the biggest power point from these power points and determines that point as the global maximum power point. The Alp climbing algorithm aims to achieve a 100% convergence to the global maximum power point by climbing from the largest possible power point found by the Alp method. Current/voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic array were obtained under different shading conditions and these characteristics were used as data sets for the success comparison of the algorithms. Alp method and Alp climbing algorithm have been compared with the stochastic climbing algorithm, the open circuit voltage method, the stochastic beam search algorithm and the simulated annealing algorithm using these experimental data. Experimental studies show that the Alp method and the Alp climbing algorithm successfully converge to the global maximum power point under partial shading. Alp climbing algorithm has shown to be much more successful than other algorithms compared. The Alp method has come to the forefront in terms of ease of application and very close to the maximum power point using very few steps.