Experimental Studies on a New Array Design and Maximum Power Tracking Strategy for Enhanced Performance of Soiled Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

Soiling poses a significant challenge to the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems in desert climates. This phenomenon can be attributed to three primary factors: 1) the accumulation of nondispersed shades, 2) the emergence of multiple power peaks, and 3) the inability of conventional maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) to locate the global MPP (GMPP). To address these issues, this study proposes a new array design that disperses shades caused by soiling through the relocation of PV modules. Distinct to existing works, this method not only enhances power delivery during soiling conditions but. also ensures inverter-friendly MPP tracking by aligning the GMPP with the array's open circuit voltage. This alignment is crucial for eliminating voltage fluctuations, allowing even conventional MPPTs to effortlessly track the GMPP without the need for complex tracking algorithms. Furthermore, an advanced tracking strategy has also been proposed to improve the tracking speed. For validation purposes, both shade dispersion and GMPP tracking capabilities of the proposed method are fully tested using various soiling shade profiles. The results clearly demonstrate that this developed methodology offers the flexibility to operate the PV array in both MPP and constant power generation modes, making it highly advantageous for grid-connected applications. © 1986-2012 IEEE.