An adaptive utility interactive photovoltaic system based on a flexible switch matrix to optimize performance in real-time

Authors

Mahmoud Alahmad, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Mohamed Amer Chaaban, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Siu Kit Lau, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jonathan Shi, University of Florida, Gainesville,Follow
Jill Neal, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OHFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

Solar Energy 86 (2012) 951–963

Comments

Published by Elsevier Ltd. This article is a U.S. government work, and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

Abstract

Reconfigurable architectures are of great interest to system designers to improve the system’s operation and efficiency. In this paper, we propose an adaptive utility interactive photovoltaic (PV) system based on a novel Flexible Switch array Matrix topology. This proposed system maximizes the generated power in real-time in response to operational conditions such as shading, soiling, mismatches, and module failure among others. The proposed system is a compromise in the utilization of power conditioning equipment to maximize energy capture and system efficiency. Simulation results demonstrate an average 13% improvement in efficiency when compared with the central inverter topology performance. A prototype system has been designed and tested. The experimental results validate the proposed topology and its benefits for a wide range of applications.