Maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

Types of maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

Maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams refer to the methodologies employed in solar systems to harvest the most energy under given situations. The important variations include:

• Conventional method

  This conventional method of tracking MPP uses the method of perturb and observe to track the maximum power point. This tracking method would change the duty cycle of a buck-boost converter based on the findings on current and voltage. The duty cycle of the converter would be changed by perturbing the panel voltage, observing the results on power, and helping to track the solar cell circuit maximum power point. It needs the automatic converter.

• Hybrid tracking setup

  The Hybrid tracking circuit diagram mixes up the perturb/observe method and the incremental conductance method to a certain extent, having both advantages. The hybrid tracking method would conduct better by combining the two methods of tracking maximum power point in a harmonious fashion, changing the converter duty cycle based on outcomes on current and voltage rather than a purely observational method.

• RGB maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

  This RGB maximum power point tracking circuit diagram uses an integrated circuit operational amplifier to track the maximum power point of solar panels. Cadmium telluride thin film solar cells manufactured using RGB MPPT integrated maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm would produce high efficiency and robustness.

• Wave harmonic elimination method

  This DC-DC Wave harmonic elimination converter is used to achieve maximum power tracking. The converter is capable of eliminating the lower order harmonics existing in the solar cell circuit to obtain a higher duty ratio.

Materials & Durability of maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

The circuit diagrams for solar cells feature different components with various constructions, which are adequately durable for decent operations, and they, therefore, are composed of the following:

• Semiconductor materials

  The operational part of a maximum power point tracking circuit diagram is the semiconductor. Semiconductors used are silicon, cadmium telluride, or gallium arsenide. Silicon solar cells are more commonly used and are both durable and compact. CdTe solar panels have decent efficiency and low cost and use thin film technology. GaAs solar cells are tough and efficient but ultimately expensive and mostly used in space applications.

• Solar panels

  Solar panels consist of the glass layer shown on top of the photovoltaic cells, the layer of the cell, the back layer, and the weatherproofing layer. Glass is about 3 mm thick and thick enough to guard against environmental conditions. Most solar cells use a polymer for their insulative back layer, and polyamide is able to last longer than other polymers.

• Common components used in circuit diagrams

  Many components such as resistors, capacitors, and diodes are used in the MPP tracking circuit, and these components have various constructions. These components are connected to MPP tracking circuit diagrams constructed with quality materials. Components are constructed with high-grade metals and alloys like nickel, gold, copper, and silver. These metals are used in terminals and traces for their electrical conductivity. Resistors might be constructed with carbon composition, metal film, or wirewound resistors. These resistors are made durable, though wirewound resistors are more durable. Capacitors consist of durable dielectrics such as ceramic film electrolytic. The inductors in maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams use coils and magnetic core constructions. They are made of copper wire and are thus efficient and durable.

• Protection from external factors

  The first layer of the solar panel has the important task of shielding all the internal parts from external factors like moisture, dust, and physical damage. This layer technology adopted in photovoltaic panels is advanced enough to work steadily for a minimum of 25 years.

• MPPT charger controller circuit

  Cheap solar panel chargers are Maximum power point tracking solar chargers, which increases energy extraction. This kind of charger is mostly made of batteries, voltage regulators, and charge controllers.

Commercial use cases of maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

Maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams are used widely in almost all sectors in solar power systems where the efficient extraction of solar energy is crucial.

• Residential solar power systems

  Large number people install PV arrays on their roof and connect to MPPT solar chargers. Maximum power point tracking systems ensure charge optimization in batteries, providing sufficient energy for home appliances.

• Solar power in industries

  Maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams are applied in industrial sectors to these grid-connected solar panel systems used to offset the cost of electricity. MPPT systems would maximize power at all times, helping the system save money by maximizing production.

• Remote off-grid power solutions

  Remote areas depend on solar energy for off-grid electricity with no access to the electric grid. Using solar cells and MPPT systems, power is provided to households and industries in these remote areas.

• Commercial solar farms

  Big scale solar power stations commonly employ the maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams to give better efficacy to the system. They use both hardware and software approaches for tracking maximum power point.

• Mobile and portable solar chargers

  Solar phone charger and other gadgets would use maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams to optimize charging inside portable gadgets embedded with MPPT technology.

How To Do maximum power point tracking circuit diagram

The perturb observe method is the most common way to use maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams to achieve the maximum power point of a solar energy system. It consists of a series of steps:

• Initializing system parameters

  Starting system parameters need to be initialized to begin the tracking process. These parameters include output current, output voltage, and the input voltage of a solar panel.

• Perturbation and observation

  A perturbation is done on voltage by changing duty cycle slightly. The system observes the reported values of output voltage and output current to calculate output power.

• Comparing previous and current power values

  When the perturbation operation is done, it is then observed what happened with power output. If the new power output is higher than the previous one, then the perturbation done has been positive.

• Updating duty cycle

  In case the perturbation is positive, then the system voltage perturbation will be continuous to increase output power. When the observation shows that the current power output is lower than the previous one, then a reverse perturbation will be applied. The duty cycle will be decreased to allow the system to move back to the maximum power point.

• Repeating process

  The whole procedure will continue to maintain the maximum power point of a solar energy system.

Q&A

Q1: Which is the function of MPPT in a solar system?

A1: The function of the MPPT in a solar system is to ensure that the system works at the maximum possible efficiency by optimizing power output under any condition.

Q2: Can MPPT chargers be connected to any type of solar panel?

A2: Yes, MPPT chargers can be connected to any type, like monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin film solar panels.

Q3: Are maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams difficult to build?

A3: No, maximum power point tracking circuit diagrams are easy to build as various resources are available online.

Q4: Do MPPT solar systems work in shadow conditions?

A4: Yes, MPPT solar systems work effectively in shaded conditions by adjusting the parameters to reach the solar cells' maximum power point.