Effect of solar array capacitance on the performance of switching shunt voltage regulator

Due to high power demand photovoltaic regulators are being switched at high frequency. The solar cell capacitance increases the ripple voltage of the switching regulators at higher switching frequencies. Increased ripple due to array capacitance is calculated and its effect in limiting the maximum design switching frequency is studied. An experimental switching regulator is designed and used to confirm the theoretical considerations. This study has identified a method of solar cell capacitance measurement that is relevant to the design of a switching voltage regulator.