Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions

The optimization of the operational performance of PV systems requires tracking the PV operating point at which maximum power is available. Given that, in practice, the PV system is subjected to environmental parameters, which are random, the continuous tracking of this point, the maximum power poin...

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Main Authors: Ambe Harrison, Jean de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo, Njimboh Henry Alombah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/31/1/49
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author Ambe Harrison
Jean de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo
Njimboh Henry Alombah
author_facet Ambe Harrison
Jean de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo
Njimboh Henry Alombah
author_sort Ambe Harrison
collection DOAJ
description The optimization of the operational performance of PV systems requires tracking the PV operating point at which maximum power is available. Given that, in practice, the PV system is subjected to environmental parameters, which are random, the continuous tracking of this point, the maximum power point (MPP), becomes an absolute necessity. Numerous techniques for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) have been reported in the literature. However, these techniques suffer from numerous problems, such as oscillation around the maximum power point and robust inabilities. Taking into account the nonlinear nature of the PV coupled to the nonlinear time-variant nature of power electronic converters interfaced in PV systems, nonlinear control is a vital strategy to guarantee both an oscillation free and a robust PV-MPPT system. This work presents a nonlinear robust strategy for the MPPT control of the PV system using a Boost DC-DC converter. The nonlinear strategy is based on the integral backstepping controller. The control system uses a trained artificial neural network (ANN) to generate a reference voltage that is injected into the closed system for reference tracking. The stability of the closed system has been verified using Lyapunov functions. To ensure the effective and robust response of the closed loop system, mathematical equations derived by initializing tuning goals in the control law have been developed. Therefore, the closed-loop system forms a robust integral backstepping (RIBS) control. The performance of the RIBS-MPPT system has been investigated in real environmental conditions under the light as well as heavy load variations, which are perceived by the nonlinear controller as disturbances, while its performance has been benchmarked against the conventional perturb and observed (P&O). It was noted that the RIBS outperformed the P&O under all test conditions. An interesting feature of the proposed RIBS lies in its high reference tracking and zero steady-state oscillations potential under heavy disturbances in real environmental conditions. Therefore, the proposed nonlinear control scheme is suitable for the effective and efficient optimization of PV systems.
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spelling doaj.art-ab5b565e5c0740a2abc04d8d9008e9b22023-11-18T10:16:14ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912022-12-013114910.3390/ASEC2022-13779Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental ConditionsAmbe Harrison0Jean de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo1Njimboh Henry Alombah2Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, College of Technology (COT), University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonDepartment of Electrical and Power Engineering, Higher Technical Teacher Training College (HTTTC), University of Bamenda, Bambili P.O. Box 39, CameroonDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, College of Technology, University of Bamenda, Bambili P.O. Box 39, CameroonThe optimization of the operational performance of PV systems requires tracking the PV operating point at which maximum power is available. Given that, in practice, the PV system is subjected to environmental parameters, which are random, the continuous tracking of this point, the maximum power point (MPP), becomes an absolute necessity. Numerous techniques for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) have been reported in the literature. However, these techniques suffer from numerous problems, such as oscillation around the maximum power point and robust inabilities. Taking into account the nonlinear nature of the PV coupled to the nonlinear time-variant nature of power electronic converters interfaced in PV systems, nonlinear control is a vital strategy to guarantee both an oscillation free and a robust PV-MPPT system. This work presents a nonlinear robust strategy for the MPPT control of the PV system using a Boost DC-DC converter. The nonlinear strategy is based on the integral backstepping controller. The control system uses a trained artificial neural network (ANN) to generate a reference voltage that is injected into the closed system for reference tracking. The stability of the closed system has been verified using Lyapunov functions. To ensure the effective and robust response of the closed loop system, mathematical equations derived by initializing tuning goals in the control law have been developed. Therefore, the closed-loop system forms a robust integral backstepping (RIBS) control. The performance of the RIBS-MPPT system has been investigated in real environmental conditions under the light as well as heavy load variations, which are perceived by the nonlinear controller as disturbances, while its performance has been benchmarked against the conventional perturb and observed (P&O). It was noted that the RIBS outperformed the P&O under all test conditions. An interesting feature of the proposed RIBS lies in its high reference tracking and zero steady-state oscillations potential under heavy disturbances in real environmental conditions. Therefore, the proposed nonlinear control scheme is suitable for the effective and efficient optimization of PV systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/31/1/49MPPTANNrobust integral backstepping (RIBS)perturb and observed (P&O)PV systems
spellingShingle Ambe Harrison
Jean de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo
Njimboh Henry Alombah
Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
Engineering Proceedings
MPPT
ANN
robust integral backstepping (RIBS)
perturb and observed (P&O)
PV systems
title Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
title_full Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
title_fullStr Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
title_short Robust Nonlinear Control and Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV Solar Energy System under Real Environmental Conditions
title_sort robust nonlinear control and maximum power point tracking in pv solar energy system under real environmental conditions
topic MPPT
ANN
robust integral backstepping (RIBS)
perturb and observed (P&O)
PV systems
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/31/1/49
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AT njimbohhenryalombah robustnonlinearcontrolandmaximumpowerpointtrackinginpvsolarenergysystemunderrealenvironmentalconditions