Simple and Low-Cost Photovoltaic Module Emulator

• DOI: 10.3390/electronics8121445
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02T15:50:45Z
• Authors: Massimo Merenda; Demetrio Iero; Riccardo Carotenuto; Francesco G. Dell...
• Keywords: Current source

The design and testing phase of photovoltaic (PV) power systems requires time-consuming expensive field-testing activities for the proper operational evaluation maximum point trackers (MPPT), battery chargers, DC/AC inverters. Instead, use a PV source emulator that accurately reproduces electrical characteristic panel or array is highly desirable in-lab rapid prototyping. In this paper, we present development low-cost microcontroller-based emulator, which allows static dynamic performance considering different module types variable operating environmental conditions. novelty simple adopted resides in using current generator single MOSFET converter to reproduce, from fixed source, exact amount predicted by model actual load I–V calculated real-time diode exponential under user-selectable proposed method has advantage reducing noise high-frequency switching, eliminating ripple demand output filters, it does not require DC Power providing high accuracy results. fast response system very MPPTs algorithms, thus overcoming main limitations state-of-art emulators are unable respond quick variation load. Experimental results carried on hardware prototype reported validate concept. As whole result, an average error ±1% reproduction characteristics have been obtained reported.