Discrete-Time Ripple Correlation Control for Maximum Power Point Tracking

Ripple correlation control (RCC) is a high-performance real-time optimization technique that has been applied to photovoltaic maximum power point tracking. This paper extends the previous analog technique to the digital domain. The proposed digital implementation is less expensive, more flexible, and more robust. With a few simplifications, the RCC method is reduced to a sampling problem; that is, if the appropriate variables are sampled at the correct times, the discrete-time RCC (DRCC) algorithm can quickly find the optimal operating point. First, the general DRCC method is derived and stability is proven. Then, DRCC is applied to the photovoltaic maximum power point tracking problem. Experimental results verify tracking accuracy greater than 98% with an update rate greater than 1 kHz.