Gene Evaluation Algorithm for Reconfiguration of Medium and Large Size Photovoltaic Arrays Exhibiting Non-Uniform Aging

Mohammed Alkahtani, Yihua Hu, Zuyu Wu, Colin Sokol Kuka, Muflih S. Alhammad and Chen Zhang
Additional contact information
Mohammed Alkahtani: Electrical Engineeri and Electronics Department, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, UK
Yihua Hu: Electronic Engineering Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Zuyu Wu: Electronic Engineering Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Colin Sokol Kuka: Electronic Engineering Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Muflih S. Alhammad: Aerospace, Canfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Chen Zhang: School of Computer Science and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhuo 221116, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: Aging is known to exert various non-uniform effects on photovoltaic (PV) modules within a PV array that consequently can result in non-uniform operational parameters affecting the individual PV modules, leading to a variable power output of the overall PV array. This study presents an algorithm for optimising the configuration of a PV array within which different PV modules are subject to non-uniform aging processes. The PV array reconfiguration approach suggests maximising power generation across non-uniformly aged PV arrays by merely repositioning, rather than replacing, the PV modules, thereby keeping maintenance costs to a minimum. Such a reconfiguration strategy demands data input on the PV module electrical parameters so that optimal reconfiguration arrangements can be selected. The algorithm repetitively sorts the PV modules according to a hierarchical pattern to minimise the impact of module mismatch arising due to non-uniform aging of panels across the array. Computer modelling and analysis have been performed to assess the efficacy of the suggested approach for a variety of dimensions of randomly non-uniformly aged PV arrays (e.g., 5 × 5 and 7 × 20 PV arrays) using MATLAB. The results demonstrate that enhanced power output is possible from a non-uniformly aged PV array and that this can be applied to a PV array of any size.

Keywords: solar photovoltaic; rearrangement; non-uniform aging; reconfiguration; gene evaluation algorithm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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