Implementation of dithering digital ripple correlation control for photovoltaic maximum power point tracking with windowed sensing

This thesis presents the hardware demonstration of a new method for rapid and precise maximum power point tracking in photovoltaic applications using dithered PWM control. Constraints imposed by efficiency, cost and component size limit the available PWM resolution of a power converter, and may in turn limit the MPP tracking efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) system. In these scenarios, PWM dithering can be used to improve average PWM resolution. This thesis provides the hardware demonstration of a control technique that uses ripple correlation control (RCC) on the dithering ripple, thereby achieving simultaneous fast tracking speed and high tracking accuracy. Moreover, the proposed method solves some of the practical challenges that have to date limited the effectiveness of RCC in solar PV applications. The theoretical derivation of dithering digital ripple correlation control (DDRCC) is reviewed, and a low-cost method of using digitally enhanced windowing to improve the effective sensing resolution of the system is presented. Finally, experimental results that show excellent tracking speed and accuracy with basic hardware requirements are given.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Barth, Christopher

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pilawa-Podgurski, Robert C.

• digital control of photovoltaics
• digital ripple correlation control (DRCC)
• energy harvesting
• maximum power point trackers (MPPT)
• Photovoltaic cells
• ripple-based control
• ripple correlation control (RCC)
• solar energy
• maximum power point tracking
• digitally enhanced analog
• windowed analog-to-digital converter (ADC)

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2014 Christopher Barth

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72811

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72811