Enhancing Photovoltaic Efficiency with the Optimized Steepest Gradient Method and Serial Multi-Cellular Converters

Abstract

Many methods have been developed to aid in achieving the maximum power point (MPP) generated by PV fields in order to improve photovoltaic (PV) production. The optimized steepest gradient technique (OSGM), which is used to extract the maximum power produced by a PV field coupled to a multicell series converter, is one such promising methodology. The OSGM uses the power function’s first and second derivatives to find the optimal voltage (𝑉𝑝𝑣 ) and converge to the voltage (𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓) that secures the MPP. The mathematical model was developed in Matlab/Simulink, and the MPPT algorithm’s performance was evaluated in terms of reaction time, oscillations, overshoots, and stability. The OSGM has a faster response time, fewer oscillations around the MPP, and minimal energy loss. Furthermore, the numerical calculation of the gradient and Hessian of the power function enables accurate modeling, improving the system’s precision. These findings imply that the OSGM strategy may be a more efficient way of obtaining MPP for PV fields. Future research can look into the suitability of this method for different types of PV systems, as well as ways to improve the algorithm’s performance for specific applications.