Adaptive photovoltaic array reconfiguration based on real cloud patterns to mitigate effects of non-uniform spatial irradiance profiles

This paper proposes a simple and dynamic reconfiguration algorithm for photovoltaic (PV) arrays in order to mitigate negative effects of non-uniform spatial irradiance profiles on PV power production. Spatially dispersed irradiance profiles incident on inclined PV module surfaces at each application site are generated based on real sky images. Models of PV modules are constructed in MATLAB/Simulink based on one-diode mathematical model of a PV cell. The proposed dynamic reconfiguration algorithm operates based on irradiance equalization principle aiming for creation of balanced-irradiance series-connected rows of PV modules. The proposed algorithm utilizes an irradiance threshold to obtain near-optimal configurations in terms of irradiance equalization and number of switching actions under any type of non-uniform spatial irradiance profile. The algorithm provides no limits on the number of PV modules within the array. The reconfiguration algorithm is examined with different irradiance profiles and significant improvements, almost equivalent to the ideal case corresponding to equal irradiance for all panels, are achieved for each shading pattern. The advantages of the algorithm are simplicity and providing significant improvements in array's power generation alongside with reduced number of switching actions.