On application of a new hybrid maximum power point tracking (MPPT) based photovoltaic system to the closed plant factory
Journal
Applied Energy
Journal Volume
124
Pages
309-324
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) generation systems have been shown to have a promising role for use in high electric-load buildings, such as the closed plant factory which is dependent upon artificial lighting. The power generated by the PV systems can be either directly supplied to the buildings or fed back into the electrical grid to reduce the high economic costs and environmental impact associated with the traditional energy sources such as nuclear power and fossil fuels. However, PV systems usually suffer from low energy-conversion efficiency, and it is therefore necessary to improve their performance by tackling the energy loss issues. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control technique is essential to the PV-assisted generation systems in order to achieve the maximum power output in real time. In this study, we integrate the previously proposed direct-prediction MPP method with a perturbation and observation (P&O) method to develop a new hybrid MPPT method. The proposed MPPT method is further utilized in the PV inverters in a PV system installed on the roof of a closed plant factory at National Taiwan University. The tested PV system is constructed as a two-stage grid-connected photovoltaic power conditioning (PVPC) system with a boost-buck full bridge design configuration. A control scheme based on the hybrid MPPT method is also developed and implemented in the PV inverters of the PVPC system to achieve tracking of the maximum power output of the PV system in real time. Based on experimental results obtained in an outdoor environment over a period of one year, the hybrid MPPT method not only decreases energy loss but also increases power utilization. These results demonstrate the applicability of the PV system to a closed plant factory for saving energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Bridges; Conversion efficiency; Electric inverters; Electric power system economics; Energy conservation; Energy dissipation; Energy utilization; Environmental impact; Fossil fuels; Maximum power point trackers; Nuclear fuels; Perturbation techniques; Photovoltaic cells; Real time systems; Carbon reduction; Maximum Power Point Tracking; Perturbation and observations; Photovoltaic systems; Plant factory; Electric power transmission networks; carbon emission; cost-benefit analysis; energy conservation; environmental impact; hybrid; light effect; photovoltaic system; power generation; Taiwan
Type
journal article