Maximum power point tracker using fuzzy control for photovoltaic arrays

The solar cell has an optimum operating point to be able to get the maximum power. To obtain the maximum power from a photovoltaic array, the photovoltaic power system usually requires a maximum power point tracking controller. This paper proposes a maximum power point tracking control of photovoltaic array using fuzzy control; the controller only uses the output power. Therefore, this control method is easy to implement to a real system. Moreover, this method can track maximum power point rapidly with fuzzy inference even if the optimum operating point changes. The usefulness of this control method is confirmed by experiments using step-down chopper with constant resistive rod