Maximum Power Point Tracking Inverter For

Photovoltaic Source Pumping Applications

M.S.Taha, KSuresh
Kirloskar Electric Co. Ltd.,
Unit IV,
Belavadi Industrial Area,
Mysore - 571186, INDIA.

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Abstract Inverters powered from photovoltaic arrays
are becoming popular for water pumping in remote areas.
Viability of these pumps will depend on the amount of
power made available from the photovoltaic array. Solar
wectory tracking schemes and maximum Power Point
Tracking (MPPT) schemes have been discussed in
literature. This paper examines MPPT in detail as
applicable to the V/F controlled induction motor driving
a submersible pump. In these the speed of motor is varied
to utilise maximum power available under dityerent
irradiation condition. The micro controller based
controller offers the flexibility in computing which is vital
to the success of the scheme. Tests are conducted on a
1 HP pump operattng from photovoltaic source inverter
to verify the subject,
1. INTKODUCLTON
Solar power as an alternate energy source is becoming
more popular. The main concern in conversion of solar
energy to electrical energy was the cost of solar cells.
Though these cells are still more expensive compared to
other sources, the use of nonconventional source is the neec
of hour due to the fast depleting conventional energy
sources. One of the prime reasons for exploiting solar
energy as an alternate source is its availability at any place.
Hence the photovoltaicsource can be handy in remote/rural
area utility services. One of the major areas of concern for
rural development is water supply. Many of the developing
countries have problem with water supply for
irrigatioddrinkiig. For supply of water an electric motor
driving a pump, sourced from solar energy can be
considered. The conversion of solar energy to electrical
energy using photovoltaic cells produce a DC (Direct
current). So conventionally DC motors are used for driving
the pump for lifting water from well. But in many areas
underground water has to be pumped from deepwell, for
which submersiblepumps are to be used to obtain maximum
efficiency in pumping and to utilise solar energy efficiently.
For the submersible pump DC motor cannot be used,
hence an induction motor has to be driven from
photovoltaic source. For the conversion of the DC source
produced by photovoltaic panels to an AC source to drive
these induction motors an inverter is necessary. So the total
system proposed will have the following elements.
Photovoltaicarray for conversion of solar energy
to electric energy.
An inverter for conversion of DC to AC for
driving the induction motor driven submersible
Pump.
Gi) A submersible motor pump unit.

0-7803-2795-0 883
 11. SCOPE OF PRESEKT WORK
The Electrical encrgy available from solar pancl depends
on the level of sun irradiation and conversion chrrradcristics
of photovoltaic cells. The photocell characteristics are such
that the peak power available depends on the irradiation
and the cell configuration. Fig. 1 shows the characteristics
of 8 cells connected in series and 3 such units connected
parallel (each cell can give peak output power of 3GW at
15V). From the Fig. 1 it a n be observed that the power
availability is maximum if cell output is utilised at fiV/cell
(120V). This point is known as maximum power point. The
inverter should utilise this characteristics of solar panel
array to utilise the maximum power available (Maximum
power point tracking-MPPT). The output of the inverter is
controlled to apply a constant V/F to the motor depending
on the sun irradiation. By varying the output frequency of
the inverter the speed of the induction motor is varied,
hence the power consumed by the pump. The output
voltage is varied to maintain constant V/F (flux) on the
voltage applied to the motor.
m
600
Ax)
E switch for detecting the over flow conditions are included.
f
I
Fig. 1. Power output characteristics of solar cells under different
sun irradiation condition (8 Series, 3 Parallel)
A. At sun irradiation on 120mW/cm.q.
B. At sun irradiation on 100mWlcm.q.
C. At sun irradiation on 80mW/cm.sq.
D. At sun irradiation on bOm'CV/cin.sq.
E. At sun irradiation on 4OinW/cm.q.
F. At sun irradiation 011 2OniW/cni.scl.
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Space Vector modulation (SVM) principle gives optimum
utilisation of DC bus and less number of switching per cycle
if used to gcnerate the output voltage [1] & [2]. This
method ensures less harmonics and more efficiency in the
generation of AC variable voltage variable frequency
output.
The DC voltage is sensed and the slope of the power curve
is determined to track the power point. In case of a negative
slope the inverter frequency is increased to bring the
operating point to the peak of the curve (Fig. 1) and for a
positive slope the inverter frequency is reduced to have the
operating point at the peak of the curve (Fig.1). Thus a
curve fitting is done in the control circuit to track the
characteristic of photovoltaic array and the power
consumed by the load.
The inverter should withstand the maximum voltage,
transients and also should be suitable for outdoor-
installation. The complete specification of the inverter to
be made for this application is frozen considering
following: Maximum output current 14A, nominal
output 6OV, 50Hq.3 phase to drive the submersible pump
unit. Protection against over voltage, under voltage, over
current, earth fault, under load, over load, also protection
against empty running of pump and interlock with remote
111. I M P ~ E M E ~ A T I Q ~
Inverter control c
bit microcontr
microcontroller does all the driv
acquisition and control.
High linear analog opt uplers senses solar cell voltage
precisely and microcontroller converts into digital with in
built A/D converter. Same is used for unde
over voltage protection.
Power Supply for controller is generated with SMPS
which works on DC bus with wide input voltage variation
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(SOV 320V DC) which also gives isolated power supply
to gate drive circuits.
 The power circuit is built around the latest 3rd generation The specification of invcrtcr dcvcloped is
intelligcnt powcr module which has builtin gate driws and
protection for undcr voltage, over currejnt, output short
circuit, ground fault and over heat which reduces external INPUT No load voltage : -
100 175V dc
interconnectionand component count, thereby improves the
reliability. Voltage under
load 60- 14OV dc
The LEDs are used for indication of inverter normal
running and different fault conditions. Current 14A(max.) -

IPM OUTPUT Current 14 A (ma.)

Voltage 6ov, SOH&

3 Phase,
Constant
v/F upto
base speed

Frequency : 7Hz- 70Hz

I
I !
IV. TEST RESULT AND CONCLUSION

The inverter designed was built and connected to the

system consisting of photovoltaic array (8 in series 3
parallel configuration, 864 Watts maximum) and 4" C-419
FAULT AND STATUS
100 mm submersible motor pump unit. The loading of
# READING

'K
photovoltaic panel, without having maximum power point
tracking (MPPT)always gave an output much below the
capability of the system (Table 1). When Inverter with
GENERATOR MPF'T was used along with the motor pump unit, it is
WC1% KB
LATCH observed that the maximum available power from the solar
GATES
OF IPH
panel is utilised (Table 2). The results shows that inverter
I LLJ
always tries to operate near the peak of the power curve.
This ensures ~ptimumuse of array and the running of pump
even at 50% irradiation level. Hence it can be observed that
by using inverter with the MPPT the solar energy can be
utilised more efficiently than the conventional methods. (like
DC motor unit)

Table 1 shows the panel output obtained under DC

Fig. 2. Hardware block diagram loading condition at various irradiation levels for 864 Watts
solar array configuration.

I 005
 .,. . I

TABLE 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A B C D E The authors wish to thank the management of KEC unit

TV for the permission to publish this paper. F
90 66 5.25 346.50 648 authors wish to thank Mr.N.K.BAJAJ, KBL B
90 88 4.60 404.80 648 his team for the help rendered in conducting
92 93 5.45 506.85 662 experiment.
92 98 5.40 529.20 662
95 81 5.60 453.60 684
REPERENCES
95 111 5.05 560.55 684
95 121 4.45 538.45 684
[l] J.Holts, "High speed drive system with ultrasonic MOS FET-
PWM-INVERTER and single chip microprocessor control"
A = Irradiation 100% 120 mW/ cm.sq.- mW/cm.sq.
IEEE trans. Ind. Applicat., vol IA-23, pp. 1010-1015, 1987.
B = Panel output DC voltage - Volts
C = -
Panel output current Amps
[2] Ganesh C and K. Suresh, "A Low Cost Three Phase IGBT
D = Panel output power -Watts
Inverter with Space Vector Modulation" INTRONICS-94.
E = Maximum power available - Watts

Table 2 shows the panel output obtained under various

irradiation level with the MPPT inverter and submersible
unit for 864 Watts solar array configuration.

TABLE 2

A B C D E

95 120 5.70 684.0 684.0

93 117 5.70 666.9 ' 670.0
91 119 5.30 630.7 655.0
72 112 4.50 504.0 518.4

A = Irradiation 100% 120 mW/ cm.sq. - mW/cm.sq.

B = Panel output DC voltage - Volts
D = Panel output power -Watts
E = Maximum power availpble - Watts

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