MPPT implementation in Proteus: The optimization of the PV energy using a Costless and effective Embedded System

Introduction

The?nonlinear behavior?of the PV panel and its high dependency to outdoor?climatic conditions?and?load characteristic?lead to the most challenging task for optimizing the PV energy. One of the solutions proposed in the literature to overcome this challenge is to operate the PV panel at the?maximum power point (MPP). Which is why, various?maximum power point tracking?(MPPT) algorithms have been suggested. The obvious way to assess the performance of MPPT algorithm is to test it under controllable climatic conditions. Such conditions are not easily obtained due to randomly environmental meteorological data. For that, PV emulators are generally used instead of PV panels. Nevertheless, PV emulators are not always available and they are expensive, especially for?developing countries. Alternatively, researchers use PSIM or?Matlab/Simulink?environments to implement and verify the performance of MPPT algorithms. However, these tools do not contain?embedded boards?or?microcontrollers?(like PIC, DSP, Arduino or?FPGA?…) in which the MPPT algorithm can be implemented and tested as made using a real physical prototype. In turn,?Proteus?is the unique tool which offers the ability to simulate?electrical systems?through?hardware components?as microcontrollers, DSP, FPGA, embedded boards like Arduino, sensors, and actuators. With Proteus, the system can be simulated using hardware components and debug it by detecting the maximum of errors without the necessity of having a physical prototype. As it is well known, Proteus does not provide a PV panel model. For the first time in the literature, the one?diode?PV model is implemented in Proteus. To justify the model validity, an experimental setup has been constructed. The resulting benefit is that the MPPT algorithm can be implemented using the hardware components provided by Proteus. Consequently, this solution can be used as a low-cost PV?simulator?when the physical prototype is not available.

?I.???????????Download data from: https://github.com/motahhir/MPPT-in-Proteus

Please, refer to this presentation to get an overview about this system: https://ensafacma-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/saad_motahhir_ensaf_ac_ma/EZzW61PL6y5IiZ-aAZxEyKQBvIDgrJk-Rq_SdIZAIwFmEg?e=TNf8Dg

Note: Please, use google chrome to read this presentation.?III

II.???????????Proteus PV panel model simulation

1.??????Please, open \Proteus\Proteus_PV_Panel_Model.

2.??????Please, go to graph menu and click on simulate graph as follows:

III.???????????Proteus PV panel model subcircuit

Please, open Proteus\Proteus_PV_Panel_Model_Subcircuit to check that.z

IV.???????????MPPT implementation in Proteus

1.??????Add Arduino into Proteus:

·????????Unzip Arduino Library for Proteus.rar file, you will find two files in it.

·????????These two files are named as ArduinoTEP.LIB and ArduinoTEP.IDX.

·????????Copy these two files and place them in the libraries folder of your Proteus software.

·????????Now, restart your Proteus software and in components section search for ArduinoTEP as shown in below figure:

2.??????Get the .hex file of the compiled Arduino code:

·????????To begin, create a new folder that will act as Hex file repository.

·????????Click on desktop icon to open and access the Arduino IDE.

·????????Within the Menu selection Click On File > Preferences.

·????????Scroll down to access the provided link between the “More preferences can be edited directly in the file”; “edit only when Arduino is not running” messages.

·????????This will provide access to the Preferences file document within a text editor.

·????????Enter the line for the build path as the third line of the preferences file using?the edit function. Click save?when complete. The Arduino should be restarted to register any changes.

·????????Now, you will get the .hex of the compiled Arduino code in the suitable folder.

3.????Compile the MPPT Arduino code

·????????Please, open the “Arduino Code” folder and choose either the code of INC or P&O algorithm.

·????????Compile the Arduino code.

·????????Check that the .hex is generated in the folder of Hex file repository created in the previous step.

4.????Simulate the MPPT controller in Proteus under stable irradiance

·????????Please, open Proteus\Proteus_MPPT_stable irradiance

·????????Load the .hex file in the Arduino Uno.

·????????Click on play to simulate the PV system or go to graph menu and click on simulate graph to generate Ppv(t) curve.

5.????Simulate the MPPT controller in Proteus under variable irradiance

·????????Please, open Proteus\Proteus_MPPT_Irradiance Variation

·????????Load the .hex file in the Arduino Uno.

·????????Click on play to simulate the PV system or go to graph menu and click on simulate graph to generate Ppv(t) curve.

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Please cite this work as:

Motahhir, S., Chalh, A., El Ghzizal, A., & Derouich, A. (2018). Development of a low-cost PV system using an improved INC algorithm and a PV panel Proteus model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 204, 355-365.