Design and processor in the loop implementation of an improved control for IM driven solar PV fed water pumping...

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Electrical Engineering
• Control Systems

Background:

• Photovoltaic water pumping systems (PVWPS) are gaining interest for clean energy applications.
• Improving the efficiency of PVWPS is crucial for their wider adoption.
• Induction machines (IM) are commonly used in PVWPS, but their efficiency can be improved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fuzzy logic controller for PVWPS.
• To incorporate a loss minimization technique for the induction machine (IM).
• To enhance the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic water pumping system.

Main Methods:

• A fuzzy logic controller was designed to optimize IM flux magnitude, minimizing losses.
• A variable step size perturb and observe method was integrated.
• The proposed control strategy was compared against a baseline method without loss minimization.

Main Results:

• The proposed controller effectively reduced absorbed current, leading to minimized motor losses and improved efficiency.
• Significant improvements were observed in electrical speed, absorbed current, water flow, and developed flux compared to the conventional method.
• Processor-in-the-loop (PIL) testing validated the control strategy, showing close agreement between simulation and experimental results.

Conclusions:

• The developed fuzzy logic controller with loss minimization is effective for PVWPS.
• This approach offers a practical solution for enhancing the efficiency and performance of solar-powered water pumping.
• The use of a fuzzy logic controller and loss minimization techniques presents a promising direction for future PVWPS research.