Investigation of Small-Scale Photovoltaic Systems for Optimum Performance under Partial Shading Conditions

Not only are small photovoltaic (PV) systems widely used in poor countries and rural areas where the electrical loads low but they can also be integrated into national electricity grid to save costs reduce CO2 emissions. Partial shading (PS) is one of phenomena that leads a sharp decrease performance PV systems. This study provides comprehensive investigation (consisting ten modules or fewer) under all possible patterns result from level (300 W/m2 chosen). The most common configurations considered for which comparison presented. Five different sizes studied PS. A new simplifying method proposed identify distinct PS study. Consequently, number cases significantly reduced 1862 100 only. conducted using MATLAB/SimulinkÒ environment. simulation results demonstrate outperformed configuration each case pattern amount improvement configuration. include static series-parallel (SP), total-cross-tied (TCT), dynamic switching between SP TCT, TCT-reconfiguration. systems’ owners with set guidelines opt best their optimum recommended TCT reconfiguration, rather than TCT. less option, enjoys simplicity still viable, It outperforms patterns.