Increasing MPPT performance in PV systems with interleaved converter

Solar energy is one of the most preferred renewable energy sources. PV panels are used to generate electricity with solar energy. Output power of PV panels varies according to the amount of radiation in the environment, temperature and connected load. Despite the varying output powers, there is a maximum power value that the panels can produce in the temperature and radiation they are in. With MPPT (maximum power point tracking) applications, maximum power can be obtained from PV panels at varying irradiance and temperatures. There are many studies on MPPT produced both academically and commercially. In this study, a 4-phase boost converter that performs MPPT operation for PV panels and operates in critical current mode is designed. While the switching losses are reduced by switching at zero current with the critical current mode, the current ripple drawn from the panel is reduced with the interleaved structure. The operation of the designed converter in critical current mode is ensured by the open loop control method, and a hybrid MPPT algorithm, in which perturb and observe (P&O) and short circuit current (SCC) methods are used together, is designed to bring the panel to the maximum power point. The designed system has been tested both in the simulation environment and in the real environment. PLECS program was used in the simulation. As a result of the tests carried out in the real environment, it has been observed that the MPPT efficiency of the designed converter is 98%. In addition, the designed 4-phase converter is compared with a conventional boost converter operating in a single-stage continuous current mode designed to draw the same current ripple from the panel in the simulation environment. As a result of the comparison, the ripple in the current drawn from the panel of the interleaved boost converter, which is designed in the study and works in the 4-phase critical mode with 1mH inductor on each floor, was found to be 0.07A. The same current ripple from the panel can be achieved with the 11.4mH inductor of the boost converter operating in the traditional single-phase continuous mode.