PV array power output maximization under partial shading using new configurations and arrangements

Abstract

Partial shading can dramatically decrease PV array power output as wellas complicate operation by causing multiple peak exhibitions in the power voltage(P-V) characteristic curve. These problems depend not only on the shading area but also and much more significantly on the shading pattern . In this work three new physical PV array arrangements to mitigate partial shading effects, are proposed . These arrangements are based on maximizing the distance between adjacent PV modules within a PV array, while rearranging modules to be in different rows and columns without changing the electrical connections . This allows redistribution of the shading patterns over the entire array . This result in a power dissipation minimization of the protection diodes in addition to maximizing the power output and eliminating multi peaks. Simulations are presented to assess the proposed physical PV array arrangements . This assessment is done through performance comparisons for various PV array configurations and arrangements under different shading patterns and scenarios . The new physical PV array arrangements yields the highest performance in terms of power output and eliminates the problem of local multi peaks in the P-V array characteristic curve .