Maximum Power Point Tracking Using Disturbance Observer-Based Sliding Mode Control for Estimation of Solar Array Voltage

Abstract

The output power of solar panel in photovoltaic systems is affected by changes in environmental and load conditions. Most currently developed MPPT control algorithms require measurements of panel output voltage, output current, and converter output voltage. In this paper, a new scheme that can cater to uncertainties in the environmental and load condition, is developed using a disturbance observer-based sliding mode control (DOSMC). The proposed DOSMC scheme obviates the need of using a panel output voltage sensor. The proposed scheme does not use a discontinuous control, thereby overcoming the problems of chatter normally associated with the conventional sliding mode control (SMC). The stability is proven in the sense of ultimate boundedness. The proposed scheme is validated by extensive simulation and laboratory experimentation under various scenarios of irradiation, temperature, and load conditions and compared with two existing popular schemes.

Keywords:

• maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
• dc-dc converter
• disturbance observer (DO)
• sliding mode current control
• robustness

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amruta Sachin Deshpande

Amruta S. Deshpande received the B.E. degree in Instrumentation & Control in 2006 and M.Tech. degree in Instrumentation & Control in 2009 from Pune University, India. She is the Ph.D. student with Pune University, India. She has over 10 years of experience in teaching and research. She is currently working as an Assistant professor in Department of Instrumentation & Control, College of Engineering Pune, India. She has published technical papers in various international conferences. She is a member of professional societies like IEEE- Measurement and Instrumentation society and Instrumentation Society of India (ISOI). Her current research includes process control, renewable energy control and instrumentation and control.

Sanjaykumar L. Patil

Sanjaykumar L. Patil received the B.E. degree in Electronics and Industrial Electronics Engineering in 1991 from the University of Pune, India and M. E in Instrumentation Engineering in 1994 from Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. He received Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India in 2009. During his outstanding academic career spanning 25 years, he has served in various Engineering Colleges. Presently he is Professor and Dean Alumni & International relations, College of Engineering, Pune. He has published several technical papers in national and international journals including IEEE. He was a member of the Board of studies of many Technical Institutions. He is also a member of professional societies like IEEE- Industrial Electronics society, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) and Instrumentation Society of India (ISOI). His research area includes power electronics, power converters and non-conventional energy.

Sanjeev Kumar Pandey

Sanjeev Kumar Pandey received the B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in 2011 from SRM University, Chennai, India and M.Tech. degree in Process Instrumentation in 2014 from College of Engineering Pune, India. He received his Ph.D. from Pune University, India in 2019. He has over 18 months of experience in teaching and two years in research and development in industry. He is currently working as a Technical Lead in KPIT, Pune, India. He has published several research papers in international conferences and journals including IEEE. He is a member of IEEE-Industrial Electronics society. His research interests include motor control, sensor less drives, dc/dc converter and electric/hybrid vehicle applications.