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Virginia Tech

Maximum Power Point Tracking Using Kalman Filter for Photovoltaic System

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis proposes a new maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for photovoltaic (PV) systems using Kalman filter. The Perturbation & Observation (P&O) method is widely used due to its easy implementation and simplicity. The P&O usually requires a dithering scheme to reduce noise effects, but the dithering scheme slows the tracking response time. Tracking speed is the most important factor for improving efficiency under frequent environmental change. The proposed method is based on the Kalman filter. An adaptive MPPT algorithm which uses an instantaneous power slope has introduced, but process and sensor noises disturb its estimations. Thus, applying the Kalman filter to the adaptive algorithm is able to reduce tracking failures by the noises. It also keeps fast tracking performance of the adaptive algorithm, so that enables using the Kalman filter to generate more powers under rapid weather changes than using the P&O. For simulations, a PV system is introduced with a 30kW array and MPPT controller designs using the Kalman filter and P&O. Simulation results are provided the comparison of the proposed method and the P&O on transient response for sudden system restart and irradiation changes in different noise levels. The simulations are also performed using real irradiance data for two entire days, one day is smooth irradiance changes and the other day is severe irradiance changes. The proposed method has showed the better performance when the irradiance is severely fluctuating than the P&O while the two methods have showed the similar performances on the smooth irradiance changes.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Kang, Byung O.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lindner, Douglas K.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Baumann, William T.
  • Ha, Dong Sam

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-01122011-021740
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/30920

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Kang, Byung O.. Maximum Power Point Tracking Using Kalman Filter for Photovoltaic System. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30920