A Simulated Assessment of Loading Effect on Buck-Boost Converters used in Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract: This paper makes a comparative investigation resistive loading on buck-boost and its effect for use as interface for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) application in photovoltaic (PV) generators using the direct duty ratio control tracking algorithm. Analysis of the buck – boost converter has been undertaken to study the behaviour of the converter’s performance with respect to the changing atmospheric conditions and in-turn duty ratio variation (as a result of MPPT) and the tracking efficiency of each converter. Effect of different resistive loads on the output of the converter side has also been considered for the same converter topology and it has been observed that the buck-boost converter is able to track the maximum power point (MPP) under variation of insolation, temperature and loading effect, with good tracking efficiency.

Keywords: PV, BUCK-BOOST converters, MPPT, Tracking efficiency, Hill climb algorithm