Series-Parallel PV array re-configuration: Maximization of the extraction of energy and much more

In this paper a simple and fast re-configuration algorithm which is suitable for a PV array with Series-Parallel architecture is presented and discussed. The main advantage of such an algorithm is represented by its capability to find a nearly optimal configuration by testing only a very small subset of all the possible configurations. In particular it is shown that, in an actual PV array composed by 24 PV modules which operate under mismatching conditions (which are quite common in urban environments due to chimneys, streets lighting poles, antennas, neighboring buildings, etc.), the proposed algorithm is able to lead to energetic performances which are more or less comparable with those ones which can be obtained by adopting a Monte Carlo based algorithm employing a much higher number of trials. Moreover, by means of a specific example, it is shown that maximization of extracted energy and absence of dangerous operating conditions, possibly leading to the premature aging of the PV field and/or to hot spot phenomena, are contrasting requirements. It is nonetheless possible to find proper configurations able to lead to a suitable compromise between such two contrasting requirements. Further work is needed and is in progress in order to design suitable re-configuration algorithms able to identify such compromise configurations. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.