# A Novel Analog Circuit Design for Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Panels

Authors: Nesrine Mhiri; Abdulrahman Alahdal; Hamza Ghulman; Anis Ammous
Journal: Advances in Power Electronics
 (2017)

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## Abstract

A new analog technique is proposed in order to track the maximum power point (MPP) of PV panels. The proposed technique uses the well-known simple functions of electronic circuits. The proposed technique is validated by applying it to boost based off grid PV system. The simulation of the PV system was done on the circuit oriented simulator Proteus-ISIS. A good efficiency of the analog technique (more than 98%) was registered. The variation of irradiation was introduced in order to study the robustness of the proposed analog MPPT technique.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Currently, the production of domestic and industrial energy is based, in large part, on a limited resource: oil. Oil sources are becoming more and more rare, while the energy demands of the world rise continually. Since this form of energy covers a large part of the current energy production, it is necessary to find another solution to take over. The imposed constraint is to use an energy source that is economical and less polluting because the protection of the environment has become an important point [1–3].The search for alternative energy resources has therefore become a crucial issue these days. Many scientific researches have been carried out, not only in the field of nuclear energy production, but also in the sector of unlimited energy sources, such as wind power generation and energy transformation. In the latter case, the design, optimization, and realization of photovoltaic systems are topical issues since they lead to a better exploitation of solar energy [2].These photovoltaic powers generating systems can be operated in different places: electrification of isolated sites, installation in buildings or direct connection to network of electricity, and so on.A major problem with PV systems is to realize transfer of maximum power from PV generator to load. For several years, many MPPT control methods have been developed and implemented, like Fuzzy Logic Method [4–7], perturbation and observation (P&O) method [5, 6, 8], and Incremental Conductance (Inc.Con.) method [7, 9–11]. These techniques are generally complex and expensive to implement [4, 9, 12]. They differ in several aspects like complexity, range of effectiveness, cost, convergence speed, implementation hardware, required sensors, and popularity, plus other respects. However, these techniques are digital implementation.Alternatively, the MPPT can be implemented by analog circuits [13–15]. The potential benefit from analog solution is that the MPPT can be integrated with DC-DC controller such that “plug and play” can be expected for many low power PV applications. In fact, integration of certain functions into a normal PWM controller chip is the most desirable way for special applications to reduce the implementation complexity and system cost.In this paper, a new analog MPPT technique suitable for PV system applications is presented and validated by simulations.


## 2. Solar Cell Characteristics and PV Module

Solar cell is the main building block of PV arrays, which consist of many photovoltaic cells linked in parallel/series manner for each module. A PV cell can be modeled from the equation defining the static behavior of the PN junction of a conventional diode. Thus, Figure1 illustrates the electrical equivalent scheme of a real PV cell. In this equation, the short-circuit current and the various resistors modeling the losses due to the connection are taken into account. Thus, in static state, the behavior of a PV cell made up of a silicon-based PN junction can be described by [16, 17](1)Ipv=IPH-ID-VDRp.Figure 1
Equivalent circuit of solar PV cell.The primary solar cell equivalent circuit can involve a current source in parallel with a diode and a shunt relatively large resistance (Rp), in addition to a usually small parasitic series resistance (Rs). However, Rp is mainly attributed to the p-n junction, the nonlinearity, and impurities near the junction [16, 17].The currentID is given by the Shockley equation: (2)ID=I0ExpqVnKT-1,where I0, q, K, and T are, respectively, the cell’s reverse saturation current, the charge of electrons, Boltzmann’s constant, and the cell’s working temperature, n is the diode ideality factor, and V is the voltage across the diode terminals.The PV module characteristic has a current boundary called short-circuit currentIsc=IPH and a voltage boundary called open circuit voltage Voc given by the following equation: (3)Voc=nKTqlnII0.The PV module can also be characterized by the maximum power point where the product of its voltage (Vmp) and its current (Imp) is at its maximum value. The maximum power output is derived by finding the local maxima of the product of PV output current and voltage:(4)dV∗IdV=0,Vmp=Voc-KTqlnVmpnKT/q+1.The goal for a solar direct electricity generation system or photovoltaic system is to provide high quality, reliable, and green electrical power. Usually a number of PV modules are arranged in series and/or parallel combinations to meet the output energy requirements. The series connection increases the module’s voltage whereas the parallel connection increases its current [17].At the temperature 25°C and irradiation of 1000 W/m2, Table 1 shows the electrical characteristics of the used PV module given by manufacturer data sheet [18].Table 1
Typical electrical characteristics of a PV module, JA SOLAR.
Characteristics
Specifications
Maximum power rating
265 W
Open circuit voltage (Voc)
38.38 V
Short-circuit current (Isc)
8.8 A
Maximum power voltage (Vmp)
31.24 V
Maximum power current (Imp)
8.48 A


## 3. Operation Principle of the New Analog MPPT Controller

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is the important factor in PV systems to maintain maximum power output. It is the component that tracks the maximum power point of the PV panel’s curve.The problem addressed by MPPT techniques is to maintain the output voltageVMPP and current IMPP at which a PV array should operate to produce the maximum power output PMPP under controlled conditions of irradiation and temperature.Figure2 shows the current-voltage (I-V) and power-voltage (P-V) characteristics of a typical solar cell. For overall optimal operation of the PV system, the load operating point has to match the PV array’s MPP.Figure 2
I-V and P-V characteristics of a solar cell showing MPP.Here, the design of a photovoltaic system equipped with a new analog Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique is studied. Its main parts are the switch-mode DC-DC converter, the control system, and the tracking system. Proteus-ISIS simulation tool was used to show proposed analog technique performance [18].


### 3.1. Typical PV System Using Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The two main categories of PV systems are grid tie and stand alone. In our case, we have chosen to develop the analog MPPT controller on a simple and classical stand-alone PV system. Specific equipment is required to control, transfer, distribute, and store the energy produced by the PV arrays. Figure3 shows the basic block diagram of a typical off grid PV system that has been used in our application.Figure 3
Block diagram of the proposed photovoltaic system.The different blocks constituting the system are as follows:(i)
The PV panels.(ii)
Load; in our case a simple impedance.(iii)
DC-DC boost power converter. In this case the output voltage is higher than the one delivered by the PV panel. The converter involves one controlled switch (Mosfet or IGBT).The semiconductor device controlled by a variable frequency and duty cycle (α) driving signal.(iv)
Analog MPPT controller. It allows the track of the maximal power point of the PV array, which depends on climate conditions [19]. Consequently, the controller guides the power point of the PV panel to converge to its maximum. Its operating principle is based on the automatic variation of the duty cyclic (α) to continuously maximize the power at the PV array output.The detailed diagram of the photovoltaic technique is presented in Figure4. This controller uses the voltage and current of photovoltaic panels to calculate the instantaneous power delivered by panels.(i)
A shunt resistor (Rsh) is used as a current sensor of the PV panel.(ii)
A voltage divider composed by two resistors “R1 and R2” used to obtain an image of the voltage across PV panels.(iii)
An analog multiplier is used to calculate the instantaneous output power delivered by the PV panels.(iv)
The blockPref generator produces a reference signal that represents the reference power. This signal has a constant magnitude, adjustable period Ts, and constant Toff (few milliseconds). The slope rates values of the Pref waveform can be modified depending on system response time (Figure 7). The generator function is based on NE555 integrated circuit.(v)
Comparator (2) compares the really generated power (Preal) and the reference power signal (Pref).(vi)
Hysteresis (2) is used to detect the maximum power point and to control the hold circuit, its output commutes to (+15 V) when the comparator (2) output reachesɛ3 indicating the failover of the panels operating point to the left side of the P(V) characteristic (point C in Figure 2).(vii)
A hold circuit can block the value of the reference signal (Pref) and gives Pblocked signal. The blocked value is slightly higher than the MPP of the panels arrays. When Pref is blocked, the panel operating point is in (C).(viii)
An RC cell generates a pulse when the maximum power is reached (define the values ofΔV2 and (ΔV1 + ɛ3) of the generated power shown in Figure 7).(ix)
The summation block producesPgenerated from Pblocked and the RC circuit outputs. This block output allows bringing the panel operating point from (C) to (D) and to obtain, in the steady state, the optimal value of the power detected by our technique (point E in Figure 2).(x)
Comparator (1) calculates the difference betweenPreal and Pgenerated signals.(xi)
Hysteresis (1) is used to control the real powerPreal close to the generated power waveform Pgenerated which is considered as the optimal power of the PV panel deduced from our technique. If the difference between the real and generated power reaches the upper/lower limit, the power is forced to decrease/increase. The hysteresis control has the benefit of very quick response, variable switching frequency, and simpler process than other control techniques. This signal is injected to MOSFET transistor of the DC-DC boost converter through the driver.Figure 4
The detailed synoptic diagram of the whole photovoltaic technique.Figure5 shows the transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2) blocks.Figure 5
The transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2).The transfer function of hysteresis 1 block, for example, is given by the following equations:(5)-ε1=R26Vsat-R26+R28,ε2=R26Vsat+R26+R27.Figure6 shows the electrical circuit corresponding to the proposed analog MPPT technique. The circuit contains mainly one multiplier, a precision timing circuit, a hold circuit, and six operational amplifiers.Figure 6
The proposed analog MPPT technique circuit.Figure 7
Different power waveforms evolutions and the corresponding panel operating point inP(V) characteristic.


### 3.2. Principle of the Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The majority of MPPT techniques attempt to vary PV currentIMPP in order to match the maximum power point or to find the PV voltage that results in the maximum power point VMPP.Figure7 shows the principle of the proposed analog technique using powers waveforms. The proposed analog technique is based on the generation of a reference power signal (Pref) to be followed by the PV panel’s real power (Preal) while Preal is lower than the maximum power Pmax (between A and B of the power static characteristic P(V)). Pgenerated and Pblocked signals are equal to Pref while the error between Pref and Preal is within hysteresis 2 tolerance band. Preal signal is regulated to Pgenerated signal by hysteresis 1 band.If the power magnitude is able to increase usually (from zero and initially from open circuit condition of theP(V) characteristic) this means that the maximum power is not reached yet, but if, at a given moment, the power magnitude decreases this means that the maximum power was reached and a rapid blocking of the power is necessary.When the reference signalPref increases and if the actual real power could not pursue this signal (the maximum power Pmax is reached), the panel operating point will be brought to the left side of the P(V) characteristic (point C). At this situation, hysteresis (2) acts on the hold circuit in order to block the Pref signal and obtain the signal Pblocked.The hold circuit is just necessary to block the “Pref generator” block output to a constant value indicating the detection of the PV panels maximum power. The signal “Pblocked” is therefore generated at the output of this hold circuit.The signal which has a variable magnitude and allows the regulation of the real power is the signal “Pgenerated” issued from “Pbloked” signal which is obtained from “Pref generator” block. In fact, when the detection of the maximum power was occurred by “hysteresis 2” block, the signal issued from “Pref generator” creates the signal “Pbloked.” The “Pbloked” signal will have a variable magnitude depending on irradiation value. The signal “Pbloked” takes the same dynamic proprieties from the “Pref generator” block output but with different variable magnitude.In the above situation, the real power cannot be regulated to the blocked value which is slightly higher than the maximum powerPmax and the panel operating point will decrease to zero of the left side of the P(V) characteristic (the increase of boost duty cycle decreases power in the left side of the P(V) characteristic).In order to avoid the above behavior of the operating point, thePgenerated signal is created in order to regulate real power to this signal in the rest of the time Ton. In fact, the panel operating point should be brought, from point (C), to the right side of the P(V) characteristic (point D). A first-order pulse (generated by the RC cell block) is declined from the blocked signal Pblocked and Pgenerated signal is therefore obtained. Since the Preal signal is regulated to the Pgenerated signal by hysteresis (1), the panel operating point goes within its tolerance band (point D). During this transition, the operating point passes by the maximum power value (B).The regulated real power pursuesPgenerated until the operating point (E) which is slightly lower than the maximum value Pmax.The hysteresis bands and first-order pulse magnitude are chosen so that the operating point (E) is below the operating point (B) in the right side of theP(V) characteristic.At the end of (Ton) and when the Pref signal decreases and becomes lower than actual power Preal (ɛ4 is exceeded), hysteresis 2 reacts and cancels the hold block control signal, Pgenerated and Pblocked signals become equal to the reference signal, and the regulated actual power Preal decreases too and reaches the operating point (A). The initialisation phase was then started and will continue during the time Toff.The band 1 of “hysteresis 1” block (defined byɛ1 and ɛ2) is fixed by the user based on current ripple and modulation frequency considerations. Band 2 of “hysteresis 2” block (defined by ɛ3 and ɛ4) should be larger than band 1. There are no special other considerations for these bands values.The value ofΔV2 is fixed by the RC cell circuit and it is chosen and given by the following condition:(6)ΔV2-ε2>ε3.This condition is necessary to be sure that the operating point of the PV panels is kept in the right side of the maximum point of theP(V) characteristic.The used circuit of the RC cell block is given by Figure8. The input signal of this circuit is the inverse signal (-VHysteresis2) of hysteresis 2 block output.Figure 8
The RC cell block circuit and its output voltage waveform.


### 3.3. Simulation Results

The proposed MPPT technique, power converter, and PV arrays models are implemented in the Proteus-ISIS circuit oriented simulator. For different irradiance conditions, the different voltage waveforms corresponding to the above-mentioned power are registered and shown in Figure9. It is clear that the real power converges, during the steady state, to a value (E) slightly lower than the array maximum power (B). The difference between the generated real power and the optimal panel power contributes to the performance assessment of the proposed analog technique.Figure 9
Tracked maximum power under variable solar radiation.Figure10 shows the evolution of the Ipv current and Vpv voltage images during one cycle of Pref signal.Figure 10
Image of the PV panels current and voltage.The efficiency of the proposed MPPT technique was computed for differentTon values. Figure 11 shows the evolutions of this efficiency as a function of radiation intensity for two Ton values (Toff=4 ms). The efficiency was calculated by the following equation:(7)η=∫0TsPreal∫0TsMPP.Figure 11
New MPPT technique efficiencies for unipolar input referencePref.We notice that in the input of the boost converter there is no filtering capacitance added and this in order to control instantaneously the real current in PV panels. This is considered as an advantage of the proposed MPPT technique. The choice of the value of storage inductance of the boost and hysteresis 1 band defines the variable switching frequency of the power device. This value is in general limited by maximum junction temperature in the active device.In order to increase the efficiency of the proposed analog MPPT technique a bipolar (+15 V/−15 V)Pref signal is used. In fact, when the variation of Pref becomes equal to 30 V, the relative error generated by the proposed MPPT technique, in order to detect the optimum power, decreases. Figure 12 shows the change of the MPPT technique’s efficiency as a function of irradiation. We notice that the maximum efficiency reaches 99.3% at 1000 W/m2. In literature [19–21], the various classical P&O or conductance incremental algorithms yield MPPT efficiency between 95% and 98%.Figure 12
Proposed MPPT technique efficiency as a function of irradiation when the reference power signal (Pref) vary between −15 V and 15 V.BeyondTon duration equal to 2 s, the efficiency of the proposed technique tends to 99.5%.In the proposed analog MPPT technique, we obtained a good efficiency of the technique compared to the analog techniques proposed in literature [22, 23] (varying between 95% and 99.5%). If we compare our technique to the best one, allowing a comparable efficiency, published in literature, we can find that the proposed technique uses a low number of discrete devices and only one multiplier circuit is used. The good technique efficiency associated with a low number of electronic functions can be promising and the integration of the proposed analog MPPT solution can offer an interest in IC circuit.


## 3.1. Typical PV System Using Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The two main categories of PV systems are grid tie and stand alone. In our case, we have chosen to develop the analog MPPT controller on a simple and classical stand-alone PV system. Specific equipment is required to control, transfer, distribute, and store the energy produced by the PV arrays. Figure3 shows the basic block diagram of a typical off grid PV system that has been used in our application.Figure 3
Block diagram of the proposed photovoltaic system.The different blocks constituting the system are as follows:(i)
The PV panels.(ii)
Load; in our case a simple impedance.(iii)
DC-DC boost power converter. In this case the output voltage is higher than the one delivered by the PV panel. The converter involves one controlled switch (Mosfet or IGBT).The semiconductor device controlled by a variable frequency and duty cycle (α) driving signal.(iv)
Analog MPPT controller. It allows the track of the maximal power point of the PV array, which depends on climate conditions [19]. Consequently, the controller guides the power point of the PV panel to converge to its maximum. Its operating principle is based on the automatic variation of the duty cyclic (α) to continuously maximize the power at the PV array output.The detailed diagram of the photovoltaic technique is presented in Figure4. This controller uses the voltage and current of photovoltaic panels to calculate the instantaneous power delivered by panels.(i)
A shunt resistor (Rsh) is used as a current sensor of the PV panel.(ii)
A voltage divider composed by two resistors “R1 and R2” used to obtain an image of the voltage across PV panels.(iii)
An analog multiplier is used to calculate the instantaneous output power delivered by the PV panels.(iv)
The blockPref generator produces a reference signal that represents the reference power. This signal has a constant magnitude, adjustable period Ts, and constant Toff (few milliseconds). The slope rates values of the Pref waveform can be modified depending on system response time (Figure 7). The generator function is based on NE555 integrated circuit.(v)
Comparator (2) compares the really generated power (Preal) and the reference power signal (Pref).(vi)
Hysteresis (2) is used to detect the maximum power point and to control the hold circuit, its output commutes to (+15 V) when the comparator (2) output reachesɛ3 indicating the failover of the panels operating point to the left side of the P(V) characteristic (point C in Figure 2).(vii)
A hold circuit can block the value of the reference signal (Pref) and gives Pblocked signal. The blocked value is slightly higher than the MPP of the panels arrays. When Pref is blocked, the panel operating point is in (C).(viii)
An RC cell generates a pulse when the maximum power is reached (define the values ofΔV2 and (ΔV1 + ɛ3) of the generated power shown in Figure 7).(ix)
The summation block producesPgenerated from Pblocked and the RC circuit outputs. This block output allows bringing the panel operating point from (C) to (D) and to obtain, in the steady state, the optimal value of the power detected by our technique (point E in Figure 2).(x)
Comparator (1) calculates the difference betweenPreal and Pgenerated signals.(xi)
Hysteresis (1) is used to control the real powerPreal close to the generated power waveform Pgenerated which is considered as the optimal power of the PV panel deduced from our technique. If the difference between the real and generated power reaches the upper/lower limit, the power is forced to decrease/increase. The hysteresis control has the benefit of very quick response, variable switching frequency, and simpler process than other control techniques. This signal is injected to MOSFET transistor of the DC-DC boost converter through the driver.Figure 4
The detailed synoptic diagram of the whole photovoltaic technique.Figure5 shows the transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2) blocks.Figure 5
The transfer function of hysteresis (1) and hysteresis (2).The transfer function of hysteresis 1 block, for example, is given by the following equations:(5)-ε1=R26Vsat-R26+R28,ε2=R26Vsat+R26+R27.Figure6 shows the electrical circuit corresponding to the proposed analog MPPT technique. The circuit contains mainly one multiplier, a precision timing circuit, a hold circuit, and six operational amplifiers.Figure 6
The proposed analog MPPT technique circuit.Figure 7
Different power waveforms evolutions and the corresponding panel operating point inP(V) characteristic.


## 3.2. Principle of the Proposed Analog MPPT Controller

The majority of MPPT techniques attempt to vary PV currentIMPP in order to match the maximum power point or to find the PV voltage that results in the maximum power point VMPP.Figure7 shows the principle of the proposed analog technique using powers waveforms. The proposed analog technique is based on the generation of a reference power signal (Pref) to be followed by the PV panel’s real power (Preal) while Preal is lower than the maximum power Pmax (between A and B of the power static characteristic P(V)). Pgenerated and Pblocked signals are equal to Pref while the error between Pref and Preal is within hysteresis 2 tolerance band. Preal signal is regulated to Pgenerated signal by hysteresis 1 band.If the power magnitude is able to increase usually (from zero and initially from open circuit condition of theP(V) characteristic) this means that the maximum power is not reached yet, but if, at a given moment, the power magnitude decreases this means that the maximum power was reached and a rapid blocking of the power is necessary.When the reference signalPref increases and if the actual real power could not pursue this signal (the maximum power Pmax is reached), the panel operating point will be brought to the left side of the P(V) characteristic (point C). At this situation, hysteresis (2) acts on the hold circuit in order to block the Pref signal and obtain the signal Pblocked.The hold circuit is just necessary to block the “Pref generator” block output to a constant value indicating the detection of the PV panels maximum power. The signal “Pblocked” is therefore generated at the output of this hold circuit.The signal which has a variable magnitude and allows the regulation of the real power is the signal “Pgenerated” issued from “Pbloked” signal which is obtained from “Pref generator” block. In fact, when the detection of the maximum power was occurred by “hysteresis 2” block, the signal issued from “Pref generator” creates the signal “Pbloked.” The “Pbloked” signal will have a variable magnitude depending on irradiation value. The signal “Pbloked” takes the same dynamic proprieties from the “Pref generator” block output but with different variable magnitude.In the above situation, the real power cannot be regulated to the blocked value which is slightly higher than the maximum powerPmax and the panel operating point will decrease to zero of the left side of the P(V) characteristic (the increase of boost duty cycle decreases power in the left side of the P(V) characteristic).In order to avoid the above behavior of the operating point, thePgenerated signal is created in order to regulate real power to this signal in the rest of the time Ton. In fact, the panel operating point should be brought, from point (C), to the right side of the P(V) characteristic (point D). A first-order pulse (generated by the RC cell block) is declined from the blocked signal Pblocked and Pgenerated signal is therefore obtained. Since the Preal signal is regulated to the Pgenerated signal by hysteresis (1), the panel operating point goes within its tolerance band (point D). During this transition, the operating point passes by the maximum power value (B).The regulated real power pursuesPgenerated until the operating point (E) which is slightly lower than the maximum value Pmax.The hysteresis bands and first-order pulse magnitude are chosen so that the operating point (E) is below the operating point (B) in the right side of theP(V) characteristic.At the end of (Ton) and when the Pref signal decreases and becomes lower than actual power Preal (ɛ4 is exceeded), hysteresis 2 reacts and cancels the hold block control signal, Pgenerated and Pblocked signals become equal to the reference signal, and the regulated actual power Preal decreases too and reaches the operating point (A). The initialisation phase was then started and will continue during the time Toff.The band 1 of “hysteresis 1” block (defined byɛ1 and ɛ2) is fixed by the user based on current ripple and modulation frequency considerations. Band 2 of “hysteresis 2” block (defined by ɛ3 and ɛ4) should be larger than band 1. There are no special other considerations for these bands values.The value ofΔV2 is fixed by the RC cell circuit and it is chosen and given by the following condition:(6)ΔV2-ε2>ε3.This condition is necessary to be sure that the operating point of the PV panels is kept in the right side of the maximum point of theP(V) characteristic.The used circuit of the RC cell block is given by Figure8. The input signal of this circuit is the inverse signal (-VHysteresis2) of hysteresis 2 block output.Figure 8
The RC cell block circuit and its output voltage waveform.


## 3.3. Simulation Results

The proposed MPPT technique, power converter, and PV arrays models are implemented in the Proteus-ISIS circuit oriented simulator. For different irradiance conditions, the different voltage waveforms corresponding to the above-mentioned power are registered and shown in Figure9. It is clear that the real power converges, during the steady state, to a value (E) slightly lower than the array maximum power (B). The difference between the generated real power and the optimal panel power contributes to the performance assessment of the proposed analog technique.Figure 9
Tracked maximum power under variable solar radiation.Figure10 shows the evolution of the Ipv current and Vpv voltage images during one cycle of Pref signal.Figure 10
Image of the PV panels current and voltage.The efficiency of the proposed MPPT technique was computed for differentTon values. Figure 11 shows the evolutions of this efficiency as a function of radiation intensity for two Ton values (Toff=4 ms). The efficiency was calculated by the following equation:(7)η=∫0TsPreal∫0TsMPP.Figure 11
New MPPT technique efficiencies for unipolar input referencePref.We notice that in the input of the boost converter there is no filtering capacitance added and this in order to control instantaneously the real current in PV panels. This is considered as an advantage of the proposed MPPT technique. The choice of the value of storage inductance of the boost and hysteresis 1 band defines the variable switching frequency of the power device. This value is in general limited by maximum junction temperature in the active device.In order to increase the efficiency of the proposed analog MPPT technique a bipolar (+15 V/−15 V)Pref signal is used. In fact, when the variation of Pref becomes equal to 30 V, the relative error generated by the proposed MPPT technique, in order to detect the optimum power, decreases. Figure 12 shows the change of the MPPT technique’s efficiency as a function of irradiation. We notice that the maximum efficiency reaches 99.3% at 1000 W/m2. In literature [19–21], the various classical P&O or conductance incremental algorithms yield MPPT efficiency between 95% and 98%.Figure 12
Proposed MPPT technique efficiency as a function of irradiation when the reference power signal (Pref) vary between −15 V and 15 V.BeyondTon duration equal to 2 s, the efficiency of the proposed technique tends to 99.5%.In the proposed analog MPPT technique, we obtained a good efficiency of the technique compared to the analog techniques proposed in literature [22, 23] (varying between 95% and 99.5%). If we compare our technique to the best one, allowing a comparable efficiency, published in literature, we can find that the proposed technique uses a low number of discrete devices and only one multiplier circuit is used. The good technique efficiency associated with a low number of electronic functions can be promising and the integration of the proposed analog MPPT solution can offer an interest in IC circuit.


## 4. Experimental Validation of the Proposed MPPT Technique

For this purpose, the boost converter is realized, and the used semiconductor devices are the STGW30V60F N-channel IGBT Transistor and the STTA3006P Diode.The realized analog MPPT circuit is shown in Figure13.Figure 13
Photo of the realized analog PMMT control circuit.A PV panels (JA SOLAR) generating a maximum power around 580 W, at the temperature 25°C and irradiation of 1000 W/m2, are used.The open circuit voltage of the PV panels is equal to 105 V.We notice that, in the experimental waveform shown in Figure14, the Ton duration value of the Pref signal was chosen equal to 800 ms and Toff duration equal to 40 ms in order to see the transient phenomena of the Preal evolution in oscilloscope. In practice the value of Ton can reach a higher value and Toff a lower value in order to increase the efficiency of the tracking technique.Figure 14
P
r
e
a
l experimental curve for Ton=800 ms, (Preal in brown, 1 V scale = 100 W).


## 5. Conclusion

A new technique to track the maximum power point operation using analog MPPT controller is proposed in this paper. The proposed MPPT control strategy has the ability of fast tracking of the MPP for PV systems. It uses DC-DC boost converter. Through simulation by Proteus-ISIS and experiments, the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed method were validated. The idea proposed showed its accuracy to detect the optimal generated power by the PV panels. An improvement of the technique efficiency, by using a bipolar voltage of the referencePref signal, was registered. The efficiency of the analog MPPT technique reaches values higher than 99%.



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