A Novel Magic Square Based Physical Reconfiguration for Power Enhancement in Larger Size Photovoltaic Array

Abstract

Partial shading is the prevailing problem in Photovoltaic arrays. It results in severe consequences like multiple peaks in electrical characteristics, hot spots on Photovoltaic panels, disruptions in tracking maximum power and reduced output power. During most of the shading conditions, the shade concentrates in a particular area of the Photovoltaic (PV) array. This shading reduces PV array efficiency. Several physical reconfiguration schemes based on puzzle patterns are proposed to minimize this problem. The majority of these methods deduced to fixed PV array size for which the algorithm has proposed. Further, few of them are applicable only to lower size PV array. This paper presents a novel magic square puzzle for scattering the shade in the PV array to overcome the above constraints. In this method, the module physical position remains the same. However, the electrical wiring alters according to the puzzle pattern to change the row current in the Total-Cross-Tied topology PV array. The efficiency of the proposed system is examined under different shading conditions using characteristic curves. The relative analysis was carried between the conventional Total-Cross-Tied topology and the proposed Novel Magic Square-based Total-Cross-Tied topology. The MATLAB/SIMULATION results demonstrate that placing the modules according to the proposed reconfiguration method minimizes the peaks and enhances the output power (11.53%), with the global peak always on the right side of the PV curve under partial shading conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Photovoltaic arrays
• Total-Cross-Tied
• Reconfiguration
• Magic square
• Partial shading
• Power enhancement

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and technology (DST), Government of India [CRG/2018/003908].

Notes on contributors

G. Harish Kumar Varma

G Harish Kumar Varma was born in Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1992. He received the BTech degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram, India, in 2013, and the MTech degree in power electronic drives from the Gudlavalleru Engineering College, Gudlavalleru, India, in 2015. He is currently working towards the PhD degree in electrical engineering with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology Goa, India. His research interests include renewable energy applications, PV array reconfigurations, multilevel inverters.

Venugopal Reddy Barry

Venugopal Reddy Barry received his BTech degree in electrical engineering from JNTU College of Engineering, Hyderabad, India in 2001. He received the MTech and doctoral degrees from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, in 2005 and 2013, respectively. He is currently working as an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Goa, India. His research interests include renewable energy systems, PV array reconfigurations, multilevel inverters,multilevel PWM switching strategies, multilevel inversion realized through open-end winding Induction motor drives. E-mail: [email protected]

Rohit Kumar Jain

Rohit Kumar Jain was born in Bundi, Rajasthan, India in 1994. He received BTech degree (first class with honours) in electrical engineering from University College of Engineering, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, India and MTech degree in power electronics and power systems from National Institute of Technology, Goa, India in 2016 and 2019, respectively. He is currently working towards his PhD degree at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Goa, India. His current research interests include design and development of control of power electronic converter, inverter and power electronic drives for renewable sources for water pumping application and grid connected systems. E-mail: [email protected]