Model predictive control of grid-tied photovoltaic systems: Maximum power point tracking and decoupled power control

This paper presents maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and decoupled power control for single phase grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems. Model predictive control (MPC) technique is used to extract the maximum power from the PV array and feed it to grid. The stochastic behavior of solar energy necessitates MPPT of PV system to operate at maximum power point and make the system economical. Power control of grid-tied inverters are commonly based on synchronous reference frame transformation, this methodology requires the phase angle information by phase-looked loop (PLL). In this paper MPC technique is used for decoupled active and reactive power control of the single phase grid-tied inverter. The proposed technique does not need PLL, modulation module and synchronization transform, which makes the control algorithm simple for digital implementation. Comparing the developed technique to the conventional perturb & observe (P&O) method indicates significant improvement in PV system performance. The simulation result is validated by implementing the control algorithm experimentally using dSPACE 1007.