Simulation and laboratory characterization of a hybrid MPPT technique based on the fast estimate of the maximum power voltages in PV applications

In photovoltaic (PV) applications, under mismatching conditions, the adoption of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique which is able to regulate not only the voltages of the PV modules of the array, but also the DC input voltage of the inverter is necessary. Such a technique can be considered an Hybrid MPPT (HMPPT) technique which is neither only distributed on the PV modules of the PV array or only centralized at the input of the inverter. In this paper a new HMPPT technique is presented and discussed. Its main advantages are the high MPPT efficiency and the high speed of tracking obtained by means of a fast estimate of the maximum power voltages of the PV modules and of the inverter. The new HMPPT technique is compared with traditional HMPPT techniques. Mathematical formulation, simulation and a test system for laboratory characterization of the presented technique are discussed.