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Study on a maximum power point tracking controller for photovoltaic

panels
To cite this article: G N Popa et al 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 477 012030

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

Study on a maximum power point tracking controller for

photovoltaic panels

G N Popa, C M Diniş, A Iagăr and S I Deaconu

Politehnica University of Timisoara, Department of Electrical Engineering and
Industrial Informatics, 5 Revolution Street, Hunedoara, 331128, Romania

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract. The maximum power point tracker is a DC-DC electronic converter that optimizes
the match between the solar array (photovoltaic panels) and the battery bank (stand-alone type)
or utility grid (grid-tie type). They convert a higher and variable voltage DC output from
photovoltaic panels down to the lower voltage needed to charge batteries or for on-grid
inverters. The MPPT controller depends on the operating conditions of the photovoltaic panels,
but also on the electrical characteristics of the electrical loads. The aim of the MPPT controller
is to keep the operating point as close to the maximum power point. The paper presents a
MPPT controller with 8-bit microcontroller. The microcontroller monitors the voltage and
current of the photovoltaic panel as well as charging the battery. The controller is a buck
converter, having a P channel MOSFET transistor. A microcontroller that also manages the
charging of the batteries with the three charging stages, bulk, absorption, float and, also, the
manual equalization option. Also, the battery bank is monitoring by measuring the temperature
with a NTC thermistor.

1. Introduction
The global energy context leads to an intense concern in the field of unconventional energies. Of
these, solar power occupies an important place.
Solar technologies can generally be [1], [2]:
- passive (orientation of a building to the sun, optimal design of spaces, etc.);
- active (with photovoltaic panels and thermal collectors).
The maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is a DC-DC electronic converter that optimizes the
match between the solar array (photovoltaic panels) and the battery bank (stand-alone type) or utility
grid (grid-tie type). They convert a higher and variable voltage DC output from photovoltaic panels
down to the lower voltage needed to charge batteries [3-7].
The MPPT controller depends on the operating conditions of the photovoltaic panels, but also on
the electrical characteristics of the electrical loads [8].
The aim of the MPPT controller is to keep the operating point as close to the maximum power
point.

2. Photovoltaic panels and systems

Photovoltaic (PV) or solar cells are semiconductor devices that convert solar energy into DC energy.
Photovoltaic cells directly convert solar radiation into electricity.

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

A photovoltaic cell is similar to a diode (Figure 1). The upper layer is type N, and the lower layer is
type P [9], [10].

Figure 1. Structure of a photovoltaic junction P-N: design and operation [11]

When the photons hit the cell, the electrons are released. This causes a potential difference between
the two material types (P and N). If a load is connected, an electric current will occur.
Basically, a PN junction is made up of a N-type silicon-tin pill, about 1 mm thick and 5 cm in
length / width, placed on a metal base having a P-type thickness material just a few thousandths of a
centimeter.
There have been different PVs called first generation, second generation and third generation
(Table 1). PV efficiency has reached tens of percent efficiency (third generation).
In practice, different PV architectures are used (Figure 2): there are PV systems without battery bank
and without connection to the grid - PV direct (Figure 2.a.), PV systems with battery bank and without
grid connection - PV stand-alone (Figure 2.b), PV systems without battery bank and with grid
connection with an on-grid inverter - Grid TIE without battery (Figure 2.c), and PV systems with
battery bank and grid connection - Grid TIE with battery backup (Figure 2.d). The systems of Figure
2.a are the cheapest and easiest to use, and the systems in Figure 2.d are the most complex.

Table 1. Commercial PV Module Types [12]

Technology First generation Second generation Third generation
Cell efficiency (%) 14-22 5.4-12.7 30-38
Module efficiency (%) 11-19.7 20-22 24-25
Area/kW 7-8 10-15 12

a. b.

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

c. d.
Figure 2. Types of photovoltaic systems [1], [13], [14]
a. PV direct; b. PV stand-alone; c. Grid TIE without battery;
d. Grid TIE with battery backup

3. Charge controllers for photovoltaic systems

Charging regulator is used to charge the batteries in photovoltaic systems. The correct dimensioning of
the capacity for an accumulator battery is made according to the rated power of the consumers and the
consumption diagram on hourly intervals.
The battery life of a battery depends on how much it is discharged and the working temperature
[15]. If it is not discharge more than 30%, the batteries resist several thousand charge/discharge cycles.
If the batteries discharged regularly up to 80%, it takes about a thousand cycles. It is very important
how the voltage of a battery varies during charging and discharging, because the charger, which
regulates the current flow from the panel to the batteries, uses voltage as a "control signal" to protect
batteries and extend their life [3-5].
The electrical power delivered by a photovoltaic cell is not sufficient for most domestic or
industrial applications. For this reason, the photovoltaic cells are connected in series to increase the
voltage value at the terminals and thus a panel (module) is made. Then the modules connect either in
series to increase the voltage even more, or in parallel to increase the current through the circuit
(series-parallel connections form the photovoltaic systems).

Figure 3. Typical charging of lead acid battery [16]

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

The voltage-current characteristic (U-I) of a photovoltaic panel depends mainly on the intensity of
solar radiation and cell temperature [8].

Figure 4. PV panels depends on solar incident radiation and temperature [17]

At the intersection of the PV U-I characteristic with the consumers characteristic of the
photovoltaic panel terminals, there is the operating point (PF). This point generally differs from the
maximum power point (MPP) at which the system can work when the optimum power transfer is
achieved between the photovoltaic panel and the load.

Figure 5. PV cells connected in series and parallel

Figure 6. PV characteristics and MPP

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

As a result, MPP depends on the operating conditions of the photovoltaic panel, but also on the
electrical characteristics of the terminal loads. The purpose of MPPT is to keep the operating point as
close MPP.

4. MPPT for photovoltaic systems

Figure 7 shows the basic scheme of a MPPT solar charger. The key element is a DC-DC converter that
allows the panel to operate at a voltage different from that of the battery. The MPPT controller quickly
determines, in real-time, the maximum power point (MPP) of the solar panel system, depending on the
power of the consumers and the battery charge status, at different times of the day, and in various
stages of the weather [5-7], [18], [19].

Figure 7. The schematic diagram of an MPPT

controller

Figure 8. Block diagram of a MPPT controller with microcontroller

The microcontroller monitors the voltage and current of the photovoltaic panel as well as charging
the battery.
When the MOSFET Q1 is on-state the current i1 passes through the coil L1 to the capacitor C2 and
the battery. When Q1 is off-state, the energy stored in the L1 coil is transmitted via the D2 diode to the
battery (current i2).
The rate of change of IL can be calculated from:
dI L
VL  L  (1)
dt
with equal to during the on-state to during the off-state.
Therefore, the increase in current during the on-state is given by:

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

ton VL V  Vo 
I Lon    dt  i  t on , t on  DT (2)
0 L L
where D is a scalar called the duty cycle with a value between 0 and 1.
Conversely, the decrease in current during the off-state is given by:
T ton toff VL V
I Loff    dt   o  t off , t off  1  D  T (3)
0 L L
The proposed MPPT controller is made with microcontroller (PIC 16F88) [17], [20]. The
microcontroller monitors the voltage and current of the photovoltaic panel as well as charging the
battery. The controller is a buck converter, having a P channel MOSFET transistor.

Figure 9. The electronic diagram of a MPPT controller made with microcontroller

A microcontroller that also manages the charging of the batteries with the three charging stages,
bulk, absorption, float (Figure 10) and the manual equalization option (Figure 11). Also, the
temperature of battery is monitoring with a NTC thermistor to prevent overheating.
The photovoltaic panel chosen is MWG-10, having the following features: maximum power: Pmax =
10 W; tolerance = + 3%; voltage at maximum power: V mp = 17.49 V; current at maximum power: Imp
= 0.57 A; open circuit voltage: Voc = 21.67 V. The following tables (Tables 2 and 3) show the
variation of voltage and charging current according to the vertical inclination angle of the photovoltaic
panel, as compared to the orientation to the cardinal points for two accumulators with different A·h
capacities.

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

Figure 10. The main flowchart for program

Figure 11. Standard charging

Table 2. Experiments with battery 7 Ah, U=13.14 V

Elevation N-E Orientation E orientation

angle (º) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA)
15 14.03 120 13.67 60 14.33 240 13.87 180
30 14.05 130 13.69 80 14.36 280 13.88 220
45 14.46 170 13.72 120 14.20 290 13.72 220
60 14.07 100 13.65 50 14.36 310 13.87 240
90 13.94 40 13.61 20 14.19 250 13.74 190

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

Elevation S-E Orientation S Orientation

angle (º) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA)
15 14.43 290 13.98 210 14.32 270 13.86 210
30 14.24 160 13.82 100 14.23 260 13.77 200
45 14.35 220 13.89 150 14.36 190 13.65 140
60 14.54 260 14.09 200 14.14 110 13.57 70
90 14.29 180 13.88 120 13.96 50 13.52 10

Table 3. Experiments with battery 9 Ah, U=11.12 V

Elevation N-E Orientation E orientation

angle (º) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA)
15 12.60 230 11 210 12.33 330 11.83 250
30 12.12 270 11.65 210 12.38 330 11.86 270
45 12.53 240 11.57 180 13.02 330 11.88 270
60 12.20 230 11.57 160 12.30 300 11.80 240
90 12.06 150 11.55 100 12.06 220 11.52 150
Elevation S-E Orientation S Orientation
angle (º) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA) UPV (V) IPV (mA) Ubat (V) Ibat (mA)
15 12.33 300 11.83 240 12.23 280 11.74 220
30 12.37 330 11.86 260 12.61 270 11.72 230
45 12.34 320 11.83 260 12.12 250 11.65 200
60 12.26 300 11.77 240 12.57 220 11.57 180
90 12.07 250 11.61 190 12.04 210 11.6 160

The measurements were made only with PV, MPPT and an lead acid battery (without any electrical
load). The two batteries used in experiments were not preloaded. When the measurements were made,
it was a sunny summer day, between 900 h to 1200 h. The place where the measurements were made
was Romania, at the latitude of 450, for which an ideal elevation angle is 300 for summer and 600 for
winter for fixed PVs (without automatic solar tracking systems).
The current absorbed by the PV depends on the panel orientation, the elevation angle, and the lead
acid battery charge state. It was found that the maximum charge (by maximum current) of lead acid
batteries was obtained for orientation S-E, S and E (depending on the time interval when the
measurements were made) at elevation angles between 150-450. The charging current is higher for the
larger capacity battery.

5. Conclusion
Despite the price and dependence on external factors, solar panels for power generation are a solution
for the future. The most significant advantage is that, at least theoretically, they have a long service
life and a very low maintenance cost. Initial investment is the major drawback of all alternative energy
systems and photovoltaic panels.
There are, of course, other drawbacks, among which we can list the low photovoltaic cell yield and
the acute dependence on solar radiation (radius angle, temperature, intensity, etc.). The MPPT Charge
Controller is essential under the following conditions:
- in winter and/or sky with rain, when it is always necessary to have extra power;
- cold weather - solar panels work better at low temperatures;

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International Conference on Applied Sciences IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 477 (2019) 012030 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/477/1/012030

- when the battery is very low, the lower the voltage on the batteries, the MPPT controller introduces a
higher current.

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