Hardware Implementation of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms for Photovoltaic Systems: A comparative study

Abstract

This paper presents a hardware implementation of Maximum Power Point Tacking (MPPT) algorithms for photovoltaic system using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPAG). Firstly, a comparison between different MPPT algorithms in terms of efficiency and accuracy is studied in this paper. Secondly, the FPGA is suggested to overcome the software solutions limitations like microcontrollers and digital signal processors in terms sequential of processing, which increases the execution time and the sampling period of the system. In fact, if the sampling period increased the control loop delays raise which consequently affects the system performances. The FPGA has a hardware architecture that executes the control algorithm with very low execution time, thanks to its parallel processing. The architectures of the MPPT algorithms are carried out using a Vivado Xilinx System Generator (XSG) toolbox and implemented on an FPGA Zed-Board Zynq-7000.