Design of an MPC Controller for Controlling the Active Optical Filter Used for the PV-Cell to Achieve the Optimal Output Power at Each Ambient Temperature

Abstract

In the past three decades, photovoltaic power generation has emerged as a key player in the field of green electricity market. Conventional coal-based power generation, causing all kinds of adverse environmental impacts, is even established in the electricity market only based on its efficiency and matured technology advantage. Now, based on new technology and research, photovoltaic power generation is also enjoying the reliable and efficient technology advantage. By enhancing the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation, the economic gap (per unit energy cost) between conventional and renewable one can be mitigated, by generating more energy during available sunny-times. The efficiency of the photovoltaic cell decreases drastically with an increase in module temperature. The responsible wavelength of the spectrum of solar irradiance can be filtered with the help of a passive optical filter or an active (thermo-electrical) optical filter. In this article, a new model-based predictive controller (MPC) is proposed for controlling the active optical filter that optimizes the Photovoltaic electrical power output efficiency at every wavelength of solar irradiance. This proposed MPC controller is simulated in MATLAB-R2022b, with the real-world solar irradiance and ambient temperature available at NIT K solar energy lab. The results are further verified at the real-time OPAL-RT platform to ensure the viability of the proposed work at the hardware level. The MATLAB and OPAL-RT results show that the overall performance of the PV cell has been increased.