Enhanced performance of PV power control using model predictive control

This paper focuses on the use of model predictive control (MPC) to control a DC/DC boost converter in order to regulate the PV power. When integrated with the grid, the PV system must deliver maximum power most of the time; however, if a voltage sag occurs, new grid codes demand that the control system should limit the PV power generated to avoid over current conditions and, consequently, a grid disconnection. Maximum and reduced power modes are implemented following the MPC strategy to achieve high-performance and stable operation in the system. First, the system is modeled in Matlab/Simulink and PLECS to understand its operation and to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Secondly, experimental results are verified using the control hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) approach on the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS).