A dragonfly optimization algorithm for extracting maximum power of grid-interfaced PV systems

Currently, grid-connected Photovoltaic (PV) systems are widely encouraged to meet increasing energy demands. However, there are many urgent issues to tackle that are associated with PV systems. Among them, partial shading is the most severe issue as it reduces efficiency. To achieve maximum power, PV system utilizes the maximum power point-tracking (MPPT) algorithms. This paper proposed a two-level converter system for optimizing the PV power and injecting that power into the grid network. The boost converter is used to regulate the MPPT algorithm. To make the grid-tied PV system operate under non-uniform weather conditions, dragonfly optimization algorithm (DOA)-based MPPT was put forward and applied due to its ability to trace the global peak and its higher efficiency and shorter response time. Furthermore, in order to validate the overall performance of the proposed technique, comparative analysis of DOA with adaptive cuckoo search optimization (ACSO) algorithm, fruit fly optimization algorithm combined with general regression neural network (FFO-GRNN), improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO), and PSO and Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm were presented by using Matlab/Simulink. Subsequently, a voltage source inverter (VSI) was utilized to regulate the active and reactive power injected into the grid with high efficiency and minimum total harmonic distortion (THD). The instantaneous reactive power was adjusted to zero for maintaining the unity power factor. The results obtained through Matlab/Simulink demonstrated that power injected into the grid is approximately constant when using the DOA MPPT algorithm. Hence, the grid-tied PV system’s overall performance under partial shading was found to be highly satisfactory and acceptable.