Development of an Analog Maximum Power Point Tracker for Photovoltaic Panel

Maximum power point trackers (MPPT) are used to operate a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel at its maximum power point (MPP). A number of tracking algorithms have been used in the past. A simple and cheap analog MPPT has been simulated and constructed. The MPP tracking algorithm is based on the fact that the MPP voltage is approximately a fixed percentage of the open circuit voltage of the PV panel. The PV panel is usually disconnected from the load after regular intervals, to record the open circuit voltage. In the present work, an unloaded pilot PV panel, with characteristics similar to those of the main PV panel and installed under similar conditions, is used to measure the open circuit voltage. The main PV panel is never disconnected from the load, resulting in increased energy output. The simulation and experimental results show that the panel tracks the MPP under changing atmospheric and load conditions