A novel approach for performance improvement of partially shaded solar arrays

This paper proposes a novel scheme for the total cross tied interconnection of photovoltaic modules for reducing partial shading losses and thus power generation. The performance improvement over classical total-cross-tied connection has been validated by extensive simulation results. The novel scheme of arrangement is also compared with the optimal total cross tied configuration and results show that the new scheme of arrangement showed very similar operational characteristics. The rearrangement of modules is performed without varying the electrical connection of the modules in the array. This reduces the multiple local maxima in power-voltage (P-V) characteristics and improves the nominal voltage of PV array. Thus, tracking of global maximum power point (GMPP) in the present approach is simpler. The performance of the system is investigated for five different shading patterns.