Reconfigurable electrical interconnection strategies for photovoltaic arrays: A review

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 33; pp. 412 - 426
• Main Authors: La Manna, Damiano, Li Vigni, Vincenzo, Riva Sanseverino, Eleonora, Di Dio, Vincenzo, Romano, Pietro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Arrays; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical mismatch; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Hardware; Joints; MPPT; Natural energy; Partial shading; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Reconfigurable photovoltaic array; Reconfiguration; Reconfiguration algorithm; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar power generation; Strategy; Switching matrix; TCT; Reconfigurable photovoltaic array; Switching matrix; MPPT; TCT; Electrical mismatch; Partial shading; Reconfiguration algorithm; Photovoltaic system; Review; Algorithm; Mismatching; Interconnection; Maximum power point tracking; Photovoltaic array; Reconfigurable architectures; Shadowing
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.01.070

Non-uniform irradiance significantly decreases the power delivered by solar photovoltaic arrays. A promising technique for compensating these power losses relies on dynamically reconfiguring the electrical connections between photovoltaic modules. This paper presents the current state-of-the-art strategies for photovoltaic array reconfiguration in order to increase the power output under partial shading and mismatch conditions. The different approaches have been compared in terms of effectiveness of the control algorithms, monitored electrical and environmental variables, overall hardware complexity and specific features of each solution. Finally, the most challenging aspects of the reconfiguration strategy are identified and further discussed.