Patent ID: 8093872
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: G05F,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that converts the power provided by the photovoltaic cell and provides an output current at an output voltage that is greater than and not dependent on the input voltage, said method comprising: (a) connecting the photovoltaic cell to a power converter containing an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current and determining the relationship between the characteristic of the output wave form and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current, wherein said input regulating element is a hysteretic voltage comparator; (b) directly measuring the photovoltaic cell voltage; (c) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and the relationship between said characteristic of the output wave form of the input-regulating element and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current to determine the photovoltaic cell current, (d) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and the photovoltaic cell current determined in step (c) in a MPPT algorithm to determine the voltage at which the input-regulating element should operate the photovoltaic cell to achieve MPPT; and (e) adjusting the voltage at which the input-regulating element is operating the photovoltaic cell to the level determined in step (d).