Novel ubiquitous configuration algorithm for power enhancement of PV array operating under partial shading conditions

Abstract

The power-generating capacity of a photovoltaic (PV) array decreases dramatically under partial shade. Operating conditions reduce the power-generating capacity of the array and complicate MPP tracking. Reconfiguring the PV array can mitigate the partial shading effect. This paper presents a Novel Ubiquitous Configuration Algorithm (NUCA) for dynamically reconfiguring the PV array. Efficacy of the proposed algorithm has been tested on a PV array of 7 × 5 modules for mismatch in power loss, performance ratio, and fill factor. A relative comparison has also been made of the proposed configuration to the benchmark configurations, namely SP-TCT, TCT, BLHC, and BL-TCT. The PV array under NUCA has achieved a 10.8 % higher global maximum power point (GMPP) and 15.3 % lower power loss than the best-performing configuration. This completed research has been conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.