Sliding-mode controller for a photovoltaic system based on a Cuk converter

Abstract

The wide range of step-up and step-down input-output voltage characteristic of the Cuk converter makes it a good candidate to interface photovoltaic arrays in both classical and distributed maximum power point tracking systems. Because its two inductor structure, Cuk converters have continuous input and output currents, which reduce the additional filtering elements usually required for interfacing dc/dc converter topologies. However, PV systems based on Cuk converters usually do not provide formal proofs of global stability under realistic conditions, which makes impossible to ensure a safe operation of the PV installation. Therefore, this paper proposes a high performance sliding-mode controller for PV systems based on Cuk converters, which regulates the PV voltage in agreement with the commands imposed by a MPPT algorithm, rejecting both load and environmental perturbations, and ensuring global stability for real operation conditions. Finally, the performance of the regulated PV system is tested using both simulations and experiments.

Modernisation of DC-DC converter topologies for solar energy harvesting applications: A review

“…This component converts the PV-produced variable DC voltage into a fixed voltage that is proportionate to the load requirements. The MPPT controller simultaneously works to achieve MPP conversion from PV and provide a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to drive the DC-DC converter's switching mechanism [22], [23], [25], [27], [28], [32], [38], [39], [42], [43], [52], [77], [81], [93], [94], [98], [108], [112], [121]- [146]. These two processes happen simultaneously.…”

“…Solar tracking is the traditional way that is utilized to get the most out of the energy that is collected [156] [157]. One other approach that may be taken to get maximum power is called MPPT [6]- [8], [11], [12], [15], [19], [27], [28], [35], [41], [42], [48], [51], [52], [57], [62], [64]- [66], [69]- [71], [74], [77], [80], [82], [83], [85], [89], [90], [93], [95], [96], [98], [106], [108], [112], [113], [158]- [245]. The MPP can be detected with the use of an MPPT algorithm that is placed on the microcontroller [246].…”

“…Numerous methods are utilized on a regular basis to accomplish the task of tracking maximum power point in PV systems [185]. These methods include hill-climbing, perturbation and observation (P&O), look-up table, incremental conductance (Inc-Cond), linearization-based, DC-link capacitor droop control, curve fitting, extremum seeking control, feedback voltage or current, feedback of power variation with voltage, feedback of power variation with current, firefly algorithm, fractional open-circuit voltage (FOCV), fractional short-circuit current (FSCI), artificial neural network (ANN), fuzzy logic, genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization (PSO), ant colony based optimization, one cycle control (OCC), ripple correlation control (RCC), parasitic capacitance, and slidingmode [6]- [8], [11], [12], [15], [19], [27], [28], [35], [41], [42], [48], [51], [52], [57], [62], [64]- [66], [69]- [71], [74], [77], [80], [82], [83], [85], [89], [90], [93], [95], [96], [98], [106], [108], [112], [113], [158]- [245].…”

“…A negative capacitive output is characteristic of a Cuk converter, much like that of a buck-boost converter [28], [31], [116], [138], [147], [319], [326], [327], [341], [346]- [351]. The Cuk converter is unusual from other comparable devices in that it stores energy and transmits power using a capacitor rather than an inductor.…”

Controller design for PV experimental bench with ADRC strategy supervised by Labview created interface

“…DC-DC converters can be used as switching mode regulators to convert an unregulated DC voltage to a regulated DC output voltage [14]- [15]. The regulation is normally achieved by PWM and the controlled switch is normally MOSFET or IGBT [16].…”