Design of ultracapacitor based filter for isolated PV source feeding pulsing load

In the field of innovative power sources, photovoltaic are playing an important role as new clean energy generators. The performances being dependent on instantaneous weather condition, photovoltaic sources are usually equipped with an auxiliary energy storage device. There are applications where the opportunity to couple the photovoltaic source with ultracapacitor can be taken into account. The aim of the paper is to study the performances of a hybrid system constituted by photovoltaic and ultracapacitor sources. In particular, the paper deals with the study of the ultracapacitor rate design for photovoltaic systems feeding pulsing loads. The results of the study, which can also be referred to temporary unfavourable weather conditions, have been validated by experimental data. In the final part of the paper, some considerations on economical implications about the dimensioning of a photovoltaic–ultracapacitor systems are drawn.