Modeling and Analysis of a Fast and Robust Module-Integrated Analog Photovoltaic MPP Tracker

Analog circuitry-based photovoltaic (PV) maximum power point (MPP) tracking (MPPT) technique is attractive due to its low cost and capability of easy integration with normal dc-dc switching converters. However, realization of classical digital MPPT algorithms using analog circuitries is a challenging task. It necessarily requires to store the information of module voltage/current and power in order to find the desired MPP. While at the same time, improper design of digital MPPT controllers may cause poor tracking performances or limit cycle oscillations to manifest, which are generally seen as being undesirable. This paper proposes a fast and robust analog PV MPP tracker without imposing any external control or perturbation. The fast dynamic performances with absolute robustness are ensured here by integrating the concepts of Utkin's equivalent sliding mode control law and fast-scale stability analysis of actual switched converter systems. Moreover, the superiority of the proposed MPP tracker (in terms of high-tracking performances) over classical ones, and its impact in series-connected converters configuration are analytically demonstrated through the procedure developed in this paper. Finally, the analytical results have been validated by means of simulations and experiments.