Distributive Maximum Power Point Tracking for Serial Photovoltaic Panels with Partial Power Regulation

To improve the power utilization of photovoltaic (PV) system, this paper proposes a circuit topology with partial power regulation based on distributive maximum power point tracking. In this topology, MPPT is performed on each PV panel by regulating a part of generated power through the attached flyback converter. By taking account for the efficiencies of the flyback converters, the system global maximum power point (SGMPP) can be estimated. As the partially shaded condition on the serial PV panels changes, the SGMPP can be re-estimated with the new voltages and currents on the PV panels. To verify the theoretical analyses of the proposed approach, a laboratory system formed by three serial PV panels is set up for experimental tests. The tested results demonstrate that the system is capable of executing partial power regulation to track the estimated SGMPP and under partially shaded conditions.