Step Configuration to Reduce Partial Shading Losses in Photovoltaic Arrays

Photovoltaic systems consist of multiple modules connected in series and parallel to produce a specific current and voltage. These modules may experience partial shading, leading to increased power losses, the formation of hot spots, reduced system performance, and physical damage to the modules. Various configurations are presented for connecting modules to each other, each offering advantages in mitigating partial shading effects. This paper proposed a novel configuration called the Step configuration, inspired by the architecture of adjacent buildings sharing a common staircase. This configuration improves the output power of the system under all partial shading patterns. The method is simple, easy to implement, and cost-effective, ensuring lower power losses and higher reliability under partial shading conditions. The approach is tested on a ۶×۶ sample array and a ۱۴×۶ real power plant under various partial shading conditions in MATLAB/Simulink and compared with conventional configurations. According to the test results, the Step configuration generates higher output power compared to other configurations, and uses less wiring compared to total-cross-tied (TCT) configuration, although there is a slight difference in their output power.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mismatch losses ، partial shading ، Photovoltaic array configuration ، Step configuration