Chapter 147

PSCAD Simulation for the Maximum Power

Point Tracking Control of a Photovoltaic
Power System

Guoqin Zhang

Abstract A simulation model for photovoltaic array is developed based on the

mathematical model of photovoltaic array under Power Systems CAD (PSCAD)
environment. By the model, the I-V and P-V characteristics of photovoltaic array
can be simulated at any intensity of solar radiation, ambient temperature and parame-
ters of the photovoltaic module. In addition, a simulation model of Maximum Power
Point Tracking (MPPT) controller is also developed using the method of incremental
conductance. It can be used in the dynamic simulation of the stand-alone PV systems
and the PV grid-connected generation systems.

Keywords Photovoltaic array · Photovoltaic power system · Maximum Power Point

Tracking (MPPT) · Power Systems CAD (PSCAD) · Simulation

Introduction

The solar energy is known as the new energy which has high technical content and
can be developed in future. It has merits such as big reserves, is economical and clean.
However, the Photovoltaic Power System has problem: the change of temperature
and the illumination radiation intensity all may cause the output characteristic to
have big changes. We hope the photovoltaic cell (PV cell) can generate power as
far as possible under the similar sunshine and similar temperature norms. This is
also called as Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) of Photovoltaic Cell. The
DC/DC transformation is connected behind the PV cell in mostly all Photovoltaic
Power Systems. The output load of PV cell is adjusted by controlling the duty factor
of switching valve in the DC/DC converter, then the output voltage and the output

G. Zhang ()
College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073,
China
e-mail: zhang_guoqin@163.com

R. Chen (ed.), 2011 International Conference in Electrics, Communication 1151

and Automatic Control Proceedings,
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8849-2_147, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
1152 G. Zhang

Fig. 147.1 The scheme of

MPPT system PV cell array DC/DC converter load

MPPT PWM controller

current of the PV cell is controlled, and hence the biggest power track also gets
realized [1, 2]. The functional block diagram of the MPPT system is shown in
Fig. 147.1.
Power Systems CAD (PSCAD) is one kind of software package for the elec-
tromagnetism transition condition analysis. It mainly studies the transition process
of the electrical power system [3]. This software package can also be suitable in
the common electricity electronic circuit. PSCAD enables the user to schematically
construct a circuit, run a simulation, analyze the results, and manage the data in a
completely integrated, graphical environment. Online plotting functions, controls,
and meters are also included, so that the user can alter system parameters during a
simulation run, and view the results immediately. The power electronic circuit is uni-
versally one part of the Photovoltaic Power System, therefore the PSCAD software
suits simulation of Photovoltaic Power System.

The Output Characteristic and Math Model

of the Photovoltaic Cell

The Output Characteristic of the Photovoltaic Cell

The typical photovoltaic cell characteristic is shown in Figs. 147.2 and 147.3.
Figure 147.2 expresses the photovoltaic cell’s I-V characteristic curve under def-
erent intensity of the solar radiation. Figure 147.3 expresses the photovoltaic cell’s
P-V characteristic curve under different intensities of the solar radiation.

The Mathematical Model of Photovoltaic Cell

The photovoltaic cell supplier usually provides four parameters: Im (biggest power
current), Vm (biggest power voltage), Isc (short-circuit current), Voc (open-circuit
voltage). These parameters are referred to under the reference condition: the temper-
ature is 25 ◦ C, the intensity of solar radiation is 1 KW/m2 . According to these four
parameters, the paper [4 ] gave the formulas as follows:

I = Isc (1 + C1 [exp [V /(C2 Voc )] − 1]) (147.1)

147 PSCAD Simulation for the Maximum Power Point Tracking Control 1153

Fig. 147.2 I-V characteristics 8

of PV cell
7 1KW/m 2 →

6
0.7KW/m 2 →
5

Apv(Amp)
4 0.4KW/m 2 →

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Vpv(Volt)

Fig. 147.3 P-V 140

characteristics of PV
120
1KW/m2 →
100
Ppv(Watt)

80 0.7KW/m2 →

60 0.4KW/m2→

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Vpv(Volt)

C2 = (Vm /Voc − 1)[ln (1 − Im /Isc )]−1 (147.2)

C1 = (1 − Im /Isc ) exp [−Vm /(C2 Voc )] (147.3)

T = Tair + K × S (147.4)

T = T − Tref (147.5)

S
S = −1 (147.6)
Sref
1154 G. Zhang

S
Isc = Isc × (1 + αT ) (147.7)
Sref

Voc = Voc (1 − cT )(1 + bS) (147.8)

S
Im = Im × (1 + αT ) (147.9)
Sref

Vm = Vm (1 − cT )(1 + bS) (147.10)

In these formulas: Sref -Intensity of solar radiation reference value, 1,000 W/m2
Tref -Battery temperature reference value, 25 ◦ C; Tair -Ambient temperature.
K-Temperature coefficient of the solar cell, uses its typical value 0.3 ◦ C · m2 /W .
T -Differential value between the actual battery temperature and the reference
battery temperature. S-Intensity of radiation. Outside the reference condition, corre-

sponding solar cell short-circuit current is Isc ; open-circuit voltage is Voc biggest
power current is Im , biggest power voltage is Vm . a, b, c is the constant, the


recommendation value in this paper [3] are: a = 0.0025/◦ C, b = 0.5/◦ C, c = 0.0028/◦ C.

MPPT Algorithm

This chapter chooses the incremental conductance method (IncCond). Using this
method, the output voltage of the PV cell may be able to track the strength of
illumination changes in a steady way; moreover, the oscillation amplitude on the
biggest power point is also small. Although this method has few power losses, the
track speed is quicker [5]. The control flow of IncCond is shown in Fig. 147.4.

The Simulation Realization and the Results

PSCAD Simulation Model Establishment

First, the outward appearance of PV cell’s model is completed by “the Component

Wizard.” The guiding ideology to design this module is that the PV cell is regarded
as a controlled current supply. This module has three input ends and three output
ports. The input ends are Vin (input voltage), S (the intensity of solar radiation),
and T (ambient temperature). The output ports are Iout (similar to the current supply
output), Ground (similar to the current supply ground terminal), and Pout (power
output). As shown in Fig. 147.5, the PV cell’s function is then completed according
to the formula (147.2)–(147.11) with the FORTRAN language programming.
According to Fig. 147.4, the flow chart of IncCond, realizes the MPPT function
with the FORTRAN language programming. The outward appearance of the MPPT
module is shown in Fig. 147.6. This module has two input values (input voltage Vin,
147 PSCAD Simulation for the Maximum Power Point Tracking Control 1155

Start

input voltage UN,

input current IN

dU = UN-UN-1;
dI = IN-IN-1;

Yes
dU=0

No No
dI = 0
Yes
dl/dU=-I/U No

No No
dI > 0
Yes
dl/dU>-I/U
No
No

Vr = Vr+deta V Vr = Vr-deta V Vr = Vr-deta V Vr = Vr+deta V

UN-1 = UN;
IN-1 = IN;

End

Fig. 147.4 Flow chart of InCond control

input current Iin) and one Output value (Vref) which is used to control the duty factor
of PWM control signal [5].

The Establishment of the MPPT Control

The simulation system has been established based on the module of PV Cell, the
module of MPPT, and the boost electric circuit. The output reference voltage (Vref)
of MPPT module and the modulating wave carry on the comparison to produce the
1156 G. Zhang

Fig. 147.5 Model of PV

Vin lout

PVCell
S Ground

T Fout

Fig. 147.6 Model of MPPT

Vin
MPPT
Vref

lin

la
D

100.0 [ohm]
Vin 0.1 [H} Ea

Vin lout
1000.0 [uF]

5000.0 [uF]

10.0 [ohm]
Vin PVCell
D
S Ground
S Gin
T Fout

T Pout

Vin
MPPT ator
Vin Vref Vref B Compar-
lin Vref
la Em A Gin

Fig. 147.7 The MPPT of Photovoltaic Power System

PWM control signal which actuates the IGBT switching valve movement to mediate
the PV cell’s output voltage and the output current and causes the PV cell working
on the maximum power point. The simulation system is shown in Fig. 147.7.
147 PSCAD Simulation for the Maximum Power Point Tracking Control 1157

Fig. 147.8 Changes of the PV

output power with different
intensity of solar radiation

Fig. 147.9 Changes of the PV

output voltage with different
intensity of solar radiation

Simulation Results

As the intensity of the solar radiation (S) has a big influence on the output power of
the photovoltaic cell array, this simulation has given the change situation of the power
and the voltage when the intensity of solar radiation changes from 600 W/m2 , to 800
W/m2 , again to 1,000 W/m2 , in Figs. 147.8 and 147.9. From Figs. 147.8 and 147.9,
we find that the voltage has basically not changed, but the output power obviously
has increased when the intensity of solar radiation S changes from 600 W/m2 to 800
W/m2 again to 1,000 W/m2 , which is same with the P-V characteristics curve of PV
cell in Fig. 147.2. In the chart, the power and the voltage existence small-scale shake
is related with the method of IncCond which is used to realize MPPT. The Vref also
has the small-scale undulation after the system is stable, and it is inevitable.
1158 G. Zhang

Conclusion

In fact, the photovoltaic cell array is a power source which has highly nonlinear
correlation with many parameters. The photovoltaic cell array simulation model and
the MPPT model have been discussed in this chapter by using the PSCAD software.
The photovoltaic cell array simulation model can simulate the I-V characteristics of
PV cell and the P-V characteristics of PV cell under different intensities of solar
radiation and different ambient temperatures. The MPPT model can realize that the
MPPT causes the output power of photovoltaic cell array come to the maximum
point in a short time. The simulation system can be used in the dynamic simulation
of the stand-alone PV systems and the PV grid-connected generation systems.

References

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Converter[J]. Power Electronics, 2004, 38(3):55–57.
2. LI Wei, ZHU Xin-jian: The Maximum Power Point Tracking Control of a Photovoltaic Power
System[J]. Computer Simulation, 2006, 23(6):239–243.
3. LI Guang-kai, LI Geng-yin. The Summary of Power System Simulation Software [J]. Journal
of IEEE, 2005, 27(3):61–65.
4. Su Jianhui, Yu Shijie, et al.: Investigation on Engineering Analytical Model of Silicon Solar
Cells. J. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2001, 22(4):409–412
5. SUN Zi-yong, YU Hang, et al.: PSCAD simulation models for photovoltaic array and MPPT
controller [J] Power System Protection and Control, 2009, 37(19):61–64