Optimal PV Panel Reconfiguration Using Wireless Irradiance Distributed Sensing

The aim of this paper is to provide a dynamic reconfiguration method for partially shaded photovoltaic arrays. The implemented strategy is able to increase power production of the array with respect to the initial topology in real time and with any shading pattern. The array is supposed to be made of strings of modules interconnected in parallel and each module is constituted by series-connected photovoltaic cells. Irradiance values are calculated through a closed-form relation given the operating point of the modules, their temperatures, and their equivalent circuit model. This procedure frees the system from the necessity of costly pyranometers. The implemented method has been validated in Matlab environment simulating random shading conditions and implemented on a low-cost 32-bit microcontroller with wireless connectivity capabilities. The results prove the efficiency of the proposed solution.