Boost Chopper Behaviors in Solar Photovoltaic System

This paper investigates the behaviors of Boost DC Chopper used in Photovoltaic energy systems where the solar irradiation changes during the day time causing current and voltage changes. Varying the solar irradiation causes output chopper voltage changes in order to keep working at maximum extracted solar power. The chopper voltage changes leading to variable duty cycle operation of chopper switch and causes a significant change in switch losses in terms of the dissipated power. In addition to that the chopper behaviors are studied when the chopper voltage is boosting up to a predetermined reference value leading to a significant change in chopper current, voltage, duty cycle and occurred losses. A mathematical model for chopper performances and switch losses is derived, and a simulation model using Matlab/ Simulink platforms is conducted to follow the chopper behaviors. Simulation results for concreteSUNPOWER panel type SPR-315E-WHT-D with 315 Watts peak indicates that during the daylight time transistors are exposed to complicated changes in their current, voltage and dissipated power. Furthermore changing the output voltage according to load requirements causes heavy stress on the transistor in terms of current, oscillations and losses as well. Simulation results show that there are optimized values of irradiation, chopper voltage and duty cycle where the transistor losses are minimized. In addition to that, projecting the transistor losses over the daylight time at a given irradiation rate shows how these losses vary among the year, and the amount of energy dissipated across the main chopper switch which is around 2970 Whr/yr for the present case. Furthermore, the conducted simulation also shows the occurred in the transistor behaviors when solar irradiation changes, and can be serving for further studies.

PV-Grid Tie System Energizing Water Pump

This paper presents the behaviours of three-phase induction motor driving centrifugal pump under various solar irradiation levels, where the motor speed and torque depend on the source voltage and frequency, while the water-flow rate depends on the motor speed, density, and static head according to affinity flow. Matlab/Simulink model is proposed for studying the behaviours of these machines with respect to water flow capacity, motor current, electro-magnetic torque, and motor efficiency. The proposed photovoltaic with maximum power point tracking model based on observation and perturbation (O&P) maximum power tracking model is applied. The output voltage is regulated throughout Buck-Boost converter with purpose maintaining the output voltage at predetermined values. Since Induction motors are widely used in pump systems, the electromagnetic torque, water-flow rate are studied for various source frequencies. Comparison analysis is conducted for both motors with respect to water flow-rate, heads elevation, and motor current. In addition to that, the proposed system presents Photovoltaic-Grid (PV-Grid) Integrated model, where the power shortage required for normally operation of the pump is drawn from the electrical grid.