Performance Analysis of Interconnection and Differential Power Processing Techniques under Partial Shading Conditions

Partial shading conditions can cause low output power, hotspots, and a reduced lifespan in photovoltaic arrays. Interconnection (IC) and differential power processing (DPP) can be used to mitigate these effects. When individually applied to an array, these techniques can significantly increase the generated power. A few authors studied the combined use of these schemes under specific conditions such as large-scale arrays or a complex combination of several techniques, making it difficult to identify the individual contribution of each technique. Here, we aimed to determine whether the combined use of a switching-inductor DPP circuit and a total-cross-tied interconnection scheme presents better performance than each standalone technique, using a small-scale photovoltaic array. An array was tested using IC, DPP, and a combination of both techniques, and the array was subjected to 13 shading patterns and two irradiance levels. The performance in each case was assessed using maximum output power, performance ratio, mismatch power loss, and power enhancement indicators. The results showed that a standalone differential power processing circuit presents better performance than when it is combined with an interconnection. The DPP showed performance ratio values of up to 97%, mismatch power losses lower than 36.9%, and a power enhancement of up to 95.9%. The standalone interconnection shows the worst performance among the three techniques.