Control characteristics of a fibonacci-search-based maximum power point tracker when a photovoltaic array is partially shaded

This paper deals with maximum power point tracking control of photovoltaic generators. Photovoltaic generation systems need maximum power point tracker (MPPT) because the output power depends on the operating voltage and current. The authors have proposed the MPPT employing line search algorithm with fibonacci sequence. Finding maximum power point is difficult when a photovoltaic array is partially shaded, because two or more maximum power points may appear. In this paper, the authors improve the proposed method in order to find the global maximum under the partially shaded condition. The improved algorithm has good performance in many experiments. In addition, the authors also mention that the compensation of the large output fluctuation caused by the proposed MPPT by using a wind turbine generator as a kind of flywheel energy storage.