A Hybrid MPPT Algorithm for Solar PV Water Pumping Systems

Solar photovoltaic (SPV) water pumping systems require efficient and robust control strategies for optimal system performance. This paper presents a hybrid sampling technique for a single-stage standalone SPV powered water pumping system. The proposed algorithm utilizes a Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm for tracking the maximum power point (MPP). The algorithm combines both fast and slow sampling-based P&O maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. It uses a fast sampling-based MPPT during changes in the environmental conditions. Subsequently, it uses a slow sampling-based algorithm when the PV array operates near the maximum power point (MPP) at steady state. The proposed hybrid sampling-based MPPT algorithm for SPV water pump application system is modeled and its performance is also compared with both fast and slow sampling-based algorithms. The results demonstrate that the algorithm accurately tracks the MPP and also improves the water pump performance by minimizing the motor slip, torque ripple, and speed ripple. The given maximum power point tracking (MPPT) solution can be easily integrated with existing V/f control strategies to improve the overall performance of the system.