A medium power PV-array simulator with a robust control strategy

This paper introduces strategies to simulate photovoltaic arrays with arbitrary and reproducible insolation conditions. The operating point of the simulator can be controlled and it is stable, so electrical tests and comparisons can be made with high accuracy. Medium power units (1 kW) were built using an efficient switch-mode strategy together with a novel control strategy having superior performance under variable load conditions. This new control strategy can also be used in many other applications in power electronics.