A Comparison of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms on Perovskite Solar Cells using Custom AMU Firmware |
Scott J Ireton1, Casey P Hare1, Andrew J Schwab1, Zhaoning Song2, Adam B Phillips2, Randy J Ellingson2, Colin J Mann3 1Angstrom Designs, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, United States /2Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States /3The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, United States |
This paper presents an in-depth investigation of Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithms for perovskite solar cells under Angstrom Designs AM0 solar simulation. It begins by establishing the potential of PSCs in both space and terrestrial photovoltaic applications and underscores the necessity to adapt characterization routines due to their distinct behavior from traditional silicon and III-V solar cells, notably the hysteresis observed in their IV curves. This hysteresis impacts the methodology for determining the maximum power point. The study emphasizes the use of LED solar simulation for its rapid, consistent, and repeatable illumination conditions, vital for accurately assessing PSC performance and effectively testing various MPPT algorithms. It also details the use of the Aerospace Measurement Unit, an industry-trusted instrument for IV characterization, enhanced for this study to include capabilities for MPPT algorithm testing. A range of MPPT algorithms, including the Double Sweep Method, Perturb and Observe Method, and Incremental Conductance Method, were tested, each addressing the hysteresis challenge in PSCs. The study also examines the effects of measurement direction and settling time on the accuracy of these algorithms. The talk discusses the validation of the AMU measurement accuracy, ensuring the reliability of measurements. It extends the evaluation of MPPT algorithms across various solar cell types, including perovskite, III-V, and silicon, under controlled AM0 irradiance conditions. The findings highlight the differences in MPP determination due to the unique properties of PSCs, and the study offers recommendations for standardizing MPP measurements to achieve consistency and accuracy in future research. |