Low cost microcontroller implementation of Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy MPPT controller for photovoltaic systems

Maximum power point trackers have a significant role in optimizing the energy conversion efficiency in a photovoltaic system. The numeric achievements of MPPT algorithm can be implemented and tested by using several embedded boards as Digital Signal Processor, Field-Programmable Gate Array, Arduino, and dspace. Alternatively, for the low cost, availability and simplicity, the PIC microcontrollers can be used compared with the other hardware devices. Therefore, this paper presents the implementation of a Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy controller on a low cost PIC microcontroller, for tracking the maximum power point of a PV module. The PV system consists of a PV emulator, DC-DC converter, and resistive load. The different steps in design, simulation and realization of the T-S Fuzzy logic controller are discussed. The proposed controller system was evaluated by comparing its performance metrics, in terms of efficiency and the Integral Square Error, with existing technique in the literature. The results corresponding to the experimental validation show that the proposed MPPT controller is able to ensure a perfect tracking of the maximum power point with variation of irradiance and is performing better than reported in a previous work.