Modeling and Simulation of PV Arrays in a Low Voltage DC Microgrid

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) arrays are a popular energy source in standalone microgrids due to their small size and ease of installation. A PV cell, which is the fundamental component of an array, is an electronic device composed of semiconductor material that converts light energy into electricity through the photoelectric effect. Light is absorbed by the semiconductor and the energy is transferred to the electrons which allows them to flow freely through the material as electric current. Due to the variance in sun light on a given surface throughout the day, a solar panel by itself cannot be relied on like a back-up generator. Modeling of the system is necessary is to ensure proper operation prior to installation. The nonlinear single-diode model for a PV array providing primary power to a low-voltage dc microgrid is explored in this work. The incremental conductance maximum power tracking (MPPT) technique is implemented to force the PV system to provide as much power as possible throughout the day. Dynamic simulations are performed in Simulink with both ac and dc loads.