Comparative Analysis of Optimal PV Array Reconfiguration Under Partial Shaded Condition

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems for various applications has significantly increased due to their potential as renewable energy sources. However, PV array performance is substantially impacted by partial shading caused by obstacles such as trees, buildings, or dust accumulation, which leads to uneven current distribution. This results in mismatch losses, increased temperatures, potential hotspots, compromised efficiency and lifespan of PV modules. Assessing PV efficiency under partial shading is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies and optimizing system performance. The main objective of this paper is to compare and validate the performances of various shade dispersion techniques for maximizing Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP) of PV array under partial shaded conditions. In this paper, a 9x9 Total Cross Tied (TCT) configuration of PV array and four different shading patterns are considered for comparative analysis. TCT configuration is considered because it combines series and parallel connections which is proved to be performed better in mitigating shading effects than conventional series or parallel configurations. Furthermore, in addition to the analysis of optimal dispersion of shaded PV panel by altering electrical connections, this paper also addressed the other goal of minimizing losses associated with cable resistance. Performance metrics, such as mismatch percentage, shading power loss, and wiring losses, were meticulously analyzed to assess the efficacy of different dispersion methods in mitigating shading effects. Techniques like optimal Su Do Ku, conventional SuDoKu, and meta-heuristics algorithms such as Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) were taken into consideration for the comparative analysis in this paper.