Control techniques analysis of DC-DC converter for photovoltaic application using SIMSCAPE

This paper presents design and simulation of a dc -dc boost converter for photovoltaic solar system, using two different control techniques, using SIMSCAPE. SIMSCAPE is software used for simulation of PV cell and panel. A photovoltaic solar system exhibits nonlinear voltage-current characteristic and it varies with solar insolation and temperature. Also maximum power output of PV array varies with the change in temperature and insolation conditions. A DC-DC boost converter efficiently converts DC voltage to a higher voltage, and is also used for PV maximum power tracking purpose to obtain maximum power possible from PV solar system. This paper proposes step by step process of designing and simulation of DC to DC boost converter for a Solar panel of 12 Volts open circuit voltage, 50 Ampere short circuit current and a load of 120 ohms. The DC to DC converter is first simulated at a switching frequency of 100 kHz using PWM controller and then the same converter is simulated using hysteresis controller.