ABSTRACT
Solar energy is increasingly being integrated into power grids, particularly through the use of photovoltaic (PV) generation systems. This study presents a novel approach to adjusting the step size in the PV system's incremental conductance (INC) method for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) using fuzzy logic. By dynamically adapting the voltage step size based on the rate of change in the power-voltage curve, this new strategy defines five distinct zones around the PV system's power peak. A logic system is then developed to modify the duty cycle's step size based on the input's position relative to these zones. The main advantage of this method is the improved coordination between the INC technique and the proposed fuzzy logic-based algorithm, resulting in enhanced MPPT efficiency through adaptive step size modification. Performance improvements are demonstrated through faster tracking speeds and increased DC power output from the PV array. A simulated model of a grid-connected PV system is used to validate and evaluate the proposed method, showing notable enhancements in both static and dynamic responses under changing environmental conditions compared to the conventional INC approach.
