Optimization of photovoltaic energy production through an efficient switching matrix

This work presents a preliminary study on the implementation of a new system for power output maximization of photovoltaic generators under non-homogeneous conditions. The study evaluates the performance of an efficient switching matrix and the relevant automatic reconfiguration control algorithms. The switching matrix is installed between the PV generator and the inverter, allowing a large number of possible module configurations. PV generator, switching matrix and the intelligent controller have been simulated in Simulink. The proposed reconfiguration system improved the energy extracted by the PV generator under non-uniform solar irradiation conditions. Short calculation times of the pro…

Dynamic programming and Munkres algorithm for optimal photovoltaic arrays reconfiguration

Abstract In this paper, an original formulation of the control problem for optimal PV array reconfiguration, following a Total Cross Tied layout, is proposed. The formulation follows the well-known subset sum problem, which is a special case of the knapsack problem. The reconfiguration is a measure devoted to mitigate the mismatch effect and maximize the output power of small photovoltaic plants under non-homogeneous working conditions. Therefore, reconfiguration means changing the connections of the solar panels adaptively by a dynamic switching matrix. The control system implements an easy dynamic programming algorithm to change the switches layout. The use of the Munkres assignment metho…

Indoor free space optics link under the weak turbulence regime: Measurements and model validation

In this study, the authors present the measurements performed on a free space optics (FSO) communications link using an indoor atmospheric chamber. In particular, the authors have generated several different optical turbulence conditions, demonstrating how even the weak turbulence regime can strongly affect the FSO link performance. The authors have carried out an in-depth analysis of the data collected during the measurements, and calculated the turbulence strength (i.e. scintillation index and Rytov variance) and the important performance metrics (i.e. the Q-factor and bit error rate) to evaluate the FSO link quality. Moreover, the authors have tested, for the first time, an appositely de…

An economic study about the installation of PV plants reconfiguration systems in Italy

This paper shows the economic convenience of the application of a reconfiguration system for photovoltaic plants, considering the incentives system in Italy and its recent modifications. The reconfiguration is an alternative to the Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking, DMPPT, technique used to overcome the mismatch problem in Photovoltaic, PV, plants. The reconfiguration techniques employ a microprocessor-based system that modifies the layout of the PV plant by physically changing the connections among modules. After the explanation of the working principle of the PV reconfiguration system allowing the improvement of the efficiency of the same plant and the relevant installation, the ma…

RICONFIGURATORE DELLE CONNESSIONI DI SISTEMI FOTOVOLTAICI SOTTOPOSTI AD OMBREGGIAMENTO PARZIALE

A Dynamic Electrical Scheme for the optimal reconfiguration of PV modules under non-homogeneous solar irradiation

This paper presents a strategy for the maximization of the output power of photovoltaic (PV) systems under non homogeneous solar irradiation by means of automatic reconfiguration of the PV arrays layout. The innovation of the proposed approach is the employment of a simple Dynamic Electrical Scheme (DES), allowing a large number of possible modules interconnection, to be installed between the PV generator and the inverter. The models of the PV generator and of the DES have been realized and simulated with Simulink (Dynamic System Simulation for MATLAB). The attained experimental results appear to be quite interesting in terms of the attainable benefit in power and thus energy terms. The lim…