A Novel Combined Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm MPPT Control Method for Multiple Photovoltaic Arrays at Partial Shading

The output characteristics of multiple photovoltaic (PV) arrays at partial shading are characterized by multiple steps and peaks. This makes that the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of a large scale PV system becomes a difficult task. The conventional MPPT control method was unable to track the maximum power point (MPP) under random partial shading conditions, making the output efficiency of the PV system is low. To overcome this difficulty, in this paper, an improved MPPT control method with better performance based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO) algorithm is proposed to solve the random partial shading problem. The proposed genetic algorithm adaptive particle swarm optimization (GAAPSO) method conveniently can be used in the real-time MPPT control strategy for large scale PV system, and the implementation of the collect circuit is easy to gain the global peak of multiple PV arrays, thereby resulting in lower cost, higher overall efficiency. The proposed GAAPSO method has been experimentally validated by using several illustrative examples. Simulations and experimental results demonstrate that the GAAPSO method provides effective, fast, and perfect tracking. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4007940]