Controller arrangement for boost converter systems sourced from solar photovoltaic arrays or other maximum power sources

Conventional power converter systems, such as boost converters, derive their input from sources that may be considered to have negligible output impedances, and as such the use of quite simple conventional control algorithms suffice to give acceptable performance. When the output impedance of the source to such a converter is no longer negligible, and moreover if the source has a markedly nonlinear output impedance, the simple conventional algorithms will no longer be adequate to satisfy the control requirements of the converter. The effect of driving such a converter from a type of source, for example a photovoltaic array which has a point of maximum power delivery within the operating range is discussed, as is the impact that the use of such a source has upon the control requirements of the converter. A novel control arrangement, which includes a complete embedded maximum power tracker, is then presented together with results validating the proposed controller.