Abstract-Many different techniques for maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic arrays were introduced. This paper develops an adaptive maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for optimizing solar array performance based on incremental conductance (INC) and gradient descent algorithm .In conventional INC method the step size determines how fast the MPP is tracked. Fast tracking can be achieved with bigger increments but the system might not operate exactly at the MPP and oscillate about it instead; so there is a tradeoff between the time needed to reach the MPP and the oscillation error. In this work we have an adaptive step that brings the operating point of the PV array close to the MPP with a bigger step size and then uses INC to exactly track the MPP with a lower step. The experimental results show the notable improvement in the time needed to reach the MPP and also minor oscillation error which increases the accuracy of the system. The method was simulated in PSIM.
Index Terms—Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Incremental conductance (INC), Adaptive incremental conductance (AINC)
INTRODUCTION
Solar energy is one of the most important renewable energy sources that has been gaining increased attention in recent years. Solar energy is plentiful; it has the greatest availability compared to other energy sources. The amount of energy supplied to the earth in one day by the sun is sufficient to power the total energy needs of the earth for one year [1]. Nowadays research on solar power generates great interest in achieving the only aim to get the maximum energy that PV can provide. The power generated from a given PV module mainly depends on solar irradiance and temperature. For optimal operation of a PV module...
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