Design of a perturb and observe and neural network algorithms-based maximum power point tracking for a grid-connected photovoltaic system

Abstract

Integrating photovoltaic systems (PV) into the grid has garnered significant attention due to increasing interest in renewable energy sources. Maximizing the PV systems output power is crucial for improving energy efficiency and reducing operating costs. This paper presents a comparative analysis of two different techniques of maximum power point tracking (MPPT): perturb and observe (P&O) and artificial neural network (ANN) MPPT, focusing on their application in grid-connected PV systems. The paper evaluates their performance under various operating conditions, including changes in irradiance and temperature, that are discussed in three cases. The comparative analysis includes metrics such as voltage regulation and powerloss. MATLAB Simulink is utilized to implement P&O and ANN MPPT methods, which include a PV cell connected to an MPPT-controlled boost converter. The simulation demonstrates the power loss of the PV model as well as the voltage regulation in the three cases for the two methods. The results obtained in simulation and implementations show that the ANN method outperforms the P&O in the three cases discussed in terms of powerloss, voltage regulation, and efficiency. The results also show that the change in output power from PV is noticeable when compared to changes in radiation, while the change is slight when temperatures change.