Implementation of a MPPT fuzzy controller for photovoltaic systems on FPGA circuit

AbstractMaximum power point tracking (MPPT) must usually be integrated with photovoltaic (PV) power systems so that the photovoltaic arrays are able to deliver the maximum power available. The present paper proposes a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) method, based on fuzzy logic controller (FLC), applied to a stand-alone photovoltaic system under variable temperature and irradiance conditions. The objective of this controller is to extract the maximum power of photovoltaic modules. The main objective o f this work is the development of this control and its implementation on a “FPGA Xilinx Virtex-II” circuit using “Memec Design Virtex-II V2MB1000” Development Board. Thus, we can show the advantages of using the FPGA circuits, which are their short development time, their low cost and their flexibility of operation

Optimization of energy management of a photovoltaic system by the fuzzy logic technique

AbstractThe efficiency of a photovoltaic system depends mainly on its energy management which takes in charge the storage and the distribution of the energy produced by the photovoltaic system in order to feed the load and to avoid any shortage of energy. Our project concerns the energy management of a Stand Alone Photovoltaic System. This is done by elaborating an algorithmbased on the fuzzy logic technique which allows us to optimize the management of the storage system, ensuring a longer battery life, and the energy distribution available from the photovoltaic array and the batteries. It appears from the first results obtained that the fuzzy logic control maintains the battery voltage almost stable at the end phase of charge

Intelligent maximum power point trackers for photovoltaic applications using FPGA chip: A comparative study

In this paper, various intelligent methods (IMs) used in tracking the maximum power point and their possible implementation into a reconfigurable field programmable gate array (FPGA) platform are presented and compared. The investigated IMs are neural networks (NN), fuzzy logic (FL), genetic algorithm (GA) and hybrid systems (e.g. neuro-fuzzy or ANFIS and fuzzy logic optimized by genetic algorithm). Initially, a complete simulation of the photovoltaic system with intelligent MPP tracking controllers using MATLAB/Simulink environment is given. Secondly, the different steps to design and implement the controllers into the FPGA are presented, and the best controller is tested in real-time co-simulation using FPGA Virtex 5. Finally, a comparative study has been carried out to show the effectiveness of the developed IMs in terms of accuracy, quick response (rapidity), flexibility, power consumption and simplicity of implementation. Results confirm the good tracking efficiency and rapid response of the different IMs under variable air temperature and solar irradiance conditions; however, the FL-GA controller outperforms the other ones. Furthermore, the possibility of implementation of the designed controllers into FPGA is demonstrated

Intelligent maximum power point trackers for photovoltaic applications using FPGA chip: A comparative study

In this paper, various intelligent methods (IMs) used in tracking the maximum power point and their possible implementation into a reconfigurable field programmable gate array (FPGA) platform are presented and compared. The investigated IMs are neural networks (NN), fuzzy logic (FL), genetic algorithm (GA) and hybrid systems (e.g. neuro-fuzzy or ANFIS and fuzzy logic optimized by genetic algorithm). Initially, a complete simulation of the photovoltaic system with intelligent MPP tracking controllers using MATLAB/Simulink environment is given. Secondly, the different steps to design and implement the controllers into the FPGA are presented, and the best controller is tested in real-time co-simulation using FPGA Virtex 5. Finally, a comparative study has been carried out to show the effectiveness of the developed IMs in terms of accuracy, quick response (rapidity), flexibility, power consumption and simplicity of implementation. Results confirm the good tracking efficiency and rapid response of the different IMs under variable air temperature and solar irradiance conditions; however, the FL-GA controller outperforms the other ones. Furthermore, the possibility of implementation of the designed controllers into FPGA is demonstrated

New solar still with energy storage: application to the desalination of groundwater in the Bou-Ismail region

Abstract This study aims to develop efficient desalination equipment that increases the distilled water production rate and enhances heat transfer in the evaporator. It focuses on the impact of equipment geometry and energy storage during the daytime and nocturnal period. In addition, the effects of the energy storage system, which is placed in two specific areas on the yield of the distillation process with and without energy storage, have been studied. The heat exchanger system provides the energy to the water to be treated in the daytime, while the concrete part provides the energy storage in the desalination evaporator at night time. The experimental test results showed that the increase of distilled water through the heating system is very important in comparison to the productivity of the conventional solar still. The obtained results indicate that the use of energy storage increases productivity by 50% in the nocturnal period. Indeed, the daily productivity of the concrete solar still, strongly affected by the heat transfer produced via concrete to the water evaporator, is presented in this study. It was found that the average daily distillate output of concrete solar still with energy storage is more significant than that of a solar still without energy storage.</jats:p

Use of fibre reinforced polymer reinforcement integrated with fibre optic sensors for concrete bridge deck slab construction

The use of corrosion free fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as reinforcement to concrete is currently being seen as a promising option to generate durable concrete structures. However, there exists very little credible information about its field application and performance. This paper describes the Joffre Bridge project, in Sherbrooke (Qu\ue9bec, Canada), over the St-Fran\ue7ois River, where Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) was used as reinforcement for a portion of the concrete deck slab. The bridge consists of five longitudinal spans with lengthsvarying from 26 to 37 m. Each span has a concrete deck supported by five steel girders at 3.7 m. A part of the concrete deck slab (7.3 7 11.5 m) and a portion of the traffic barrier and the sidewalk were reinforced with Carbon (CFRP) and Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcement. The bridge was extensively instrumented with many different types of gauges, including integrated fibre optic sensors (FOS) into FRP reinforcement. The performance of the bridge had been assessed under static and dynamic loading using calibrated heavy trucks. Moreover, structural design and construction details of the bridge and instrumentation were performed. The results from calibrated field tests on the bridge are presented in this paper.L'utilisation de composites, non sujet \ue0 la corrosion, en polym\ue8re renforc\ue9 de fibres (PRF) en tant que renfort du b\ue9ton sont vus comme une option prometteuse pour g\ue9n\ue9rer des structures de b\ue9ton durables. Cependant, il existe tr\ue8s peu d'informations cr\ue9dibles \ue0 propos de leur application et performance sur le terrain. Cet article d\ue9crit leprojet du pont Joffre, \ue0 Sherbrooke (Qu\ue9bec, Canada), au-dessus de la rivi\ue8re Saint-Fran\ue7ois, o\uf9 un polym\ue8re renforc\ue9 de fibres de carbone (PRFC) a \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9 en tant que renfort pour une portion de la dalle en b\ue9ton du tablier. Le pont consiste en cinq trav\ue9es longitudinales dont la longueur varie de 26 \ue0 37 m. Chaque trav\ue9e a un tablier de b\ue9ton support\ue9 par cinq poutres d'acier \ue0 3,7 m. Une partie du tablier de pont (7,3 7 11,5 m), et une portion de la barri\ue8re de circulation et du trottoir ont \ue9t\ue9 renforc\ue9es avec du polym\ue8re renforc\ue9 de fibre de carbone (PRFC) et de verre (PRFV). Le pont a \ue9t\ue9 largement instrument\ue9 avec diff\ue9rents types de jauges, incluant des senseurs \ue0 fibres optiques (SFO) \ue0 l'int\ue9rieur du renforcement en PRF. La performance du pont a \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9e sous des chargements statiques et dynamiques par l'utilisation de camions lourds calibr\ue9s. De plus, la conception structurale et les d\ue9tails de construction du pont et de l'instrumentation ont \ue9t\ue9 accomplis. Les r\ue9sultats provenant de tests calibr\ue9s sur le terrain pour le pont sont pr\ue9sent\ue9s dans cet article.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye