Maximum Power Point Tracking Using PSO with Boost Converter

Abstract

Maximum power point tracking methods are used for extraction of maximum power from solar PV panels. The characteristics of non-line panel hinder the power output from the solar panel. Earlier proposed methods like hill climbing, incremental conductance suffer from steady state and lower efficiency. This proposed evolutionary computation technique assures nearly zero steady state oscillation and faster convergence of tracking maximum power. The PSO algorithm is tested on a DC-DC boost converter and simulation results are compared with incremental conductance and hill climbing methods.

Keywords: Particle swarm optimization (PSO), MPPT, solar PV