2017 Nineteenth International Middle East Power Systems Conference (MEPCON), Menoufia University, Egypt, 19-21 December 2017
New Maximum Power Point Tracking Technique of a
Grid-Connected PV System with Subtractive Clustering
Diaa M. Gawad
National Energy Control Center,
Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy,
Cairo, Egypt
Abstract— With great increasing concerns about fossil fuel
shortage, global warming, and damage to the environmental
system, the encouraging to increase in the alternative energy
resources which have low operation cost and low pollutant
emissions have a great concern. The photovoltaic (PV) system is
one of the renewable energy resources widely spread in the
energy market in the globe as well as Egypt. Several natural
conditions affect the output power of the PV system such as
solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Maximum Power
Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques for controlling DC-DC boost
converter tend to reach for the maximum output power. Various
MPPT based techniques have been designated in the literature.
In this paper, the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System
technique based on Subtractive Clustering method is proposed
and compared with other previously used techniques. A grid-
connected PV system of 100kW is considered and investigated.
From results, the system response with the proposed technique
for MPPT is faster, robust, and more stable than other
techniques. In addition, there are no any overshoots in the DC
link voltage and the value of AC output power is increased the
obtained results are promising.
Index Terms-- Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System; Grid-
Connected PV System; Maximum Power Point Tracking;
Subtractive Clustering Method.
I. INTRODUCTION
The continuous increase in energy demand, with nation’s
economic development, pushes looking for alternative sources
of energy (renewable energy) that is not harmful and does not
damage the environment system. Among the used renewable
energy alternatives, the energy through the Photovoltaics
(PVs) is one of the widely spread energy sources. It can be
considered the most necessary and qualified sustainable
resource. In spite of the non- continuous sunlight, solar energy
is commonly available and totally free of cost. Lately, PV
panels are familiar and can be widely utilized to the forefront
in electric power applications. These panels have the ability to
provide DC electricity without environmental influence and
contamination free when is exposed to solar radiation [1].
The solar panel is the vital part of a complete PV system.
It is considered a power system that supplies solar power by
means of PV. An arrangement of several components
978-1-5386-0990-3/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
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Mostafa A. Elshahed, M. A. Moustafa Hassan
Electrical Power and Machines Dept.,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University,
Cairo, Egypt
composes PV system. It contains solar panels, Maximum
Power Point Tracking (MPPT), solar inverter besides storage
batteries [2]. The solar cell model is fabricated from
semiconductor materials commonly silicon. An electrical one-
diode model representation defines the solar cell model [3].
The MPPT is a simple DC-DC converter which is inserted
between the PV array and the load. Its control is accomplished
over different tracking algorithms.
A solar tracking system may be used to improve the
overall performance of the system [4]. A large number of
MPPT techniques are introduced over the last decades such as
Perturbation and Observation (P&O), Fuzzy Logic Controller
(FLC), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)
based on Grid Partition generating Fuzzy Inference System
(FIS) [5] in addition to ANFIS based on Subtractive
Clustering (Sub-Clust) generating FIS. P&O algorithm is the
most commonly used technique in practice because of its ease
of implementation but it has unavoidable oscillation problem
[6]. FLC is a very successful method in the application for
finding maximum power point but it is a non-linear control
method as presented in [7]. To design a compatible fuzzy-
based controller it is necessary to make use of the expert
knowledge of an experienced user. Under variations of the
environmental parameters, the controller provides robust
performance [7].
Neural networks may be combined with fuzzy logic
resulting in a new robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) method
so-called ANFIS. The information extracted from the fuzzy
control experiences is used to initialize the parameters of
ANFIS controller. The parameters of ANFIS are updating
adaptively by using an online learning algorithm based on the
Back-Propagation (BP) method. ANFIS is able of coming
with the input-output mapping of training data sets when
trained with a sufficient number of epochs [8].
In this paper, a new MPPT technique with using ANFIS
based on Sub-Clust method is proposed and compared with
previous techniques in the literature. The MPPT techniques
for the DC-DC boost converter based on Perturbation and
Observation, Fuzzy Logic Controller, and ANFIS technique
based on Grid Partition method are to be compared with the
proposed ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust method. In
addition to the introduction in this section, the paper is
organized as follows: a brief description of the implemented
grid-connected PV system is discussed in section 2,
clarification of various MPPT techniques is illustrated in
section 3, then simulation results achieved are presented in
section 4, and finally the conclusion is given in section 5.
II. GRID-CONNECTED PV SYSTEM
The grid-connected PV system, as shown in Fig. 1,
consists of the PV modules connected to the grid through a
DC-DC converter controlled by various ways of MPPT
techniques and an inverter.
Figure 1. Grid-connected PV system components.
The PV modules model, mentioned above, includes a
current source I ph , single diode as well as a series resistance
RS as displayed in [3]. This series resistance combines both
the resistance inside every cell and the resistance in the
connection between the cells. The total output current is the
difference between the photocurrent I ph and the diode
current I D :
I = I ph − I D = I ph − I o ª¬exp ( qV mkT ) − 1º¼ (1)
Where;
m is idealizing factor,
k stands for Boltzmann’s gas constant,
T is the absolute temperature of the cell in °k,
q represents an electronic charge,
V is the voltage imposed on the cell,
I0 is the dark saturation current, which is also identified as
the leakage or diffusion current which is mainly
depending on temperature [9].
The solar module parameters are presented in Table 1, as
adopted from [10]. The MATLAB simulation based on the
datasheet of SunPower (SPR-305) PV modules [6].
III. MPPT CONTROL TECHNIQUES
Several MPPT techniques have been carefully considered
and well developed to produce sufficient duty cycle signal for
proposed MPPT technique. Three different techniques are
chosen to be discussed and compared with the proposed
ANFIS technique based on subtractive clustering (Sub-Clust)
method. The principle of Perturbation and Observation (P&O)
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MPPT approach is to periodically differ the next step direction
by a constant factor ± ΔPpv ΔV pv [4].
Anyway, the tracking point firstly begins; the final
objective is to reach the steady state operation area that will be
nearby maximum power point [8]. The advantages of this
algorithm, as listed previously [7], are simplicity and easiness
of execution. In any case, P&O has constraints that decrease
its MPPT effectiveness as discussed in [9]. One such
constraint is that when the amount of sunlight declines, the P–
V curve levels out [11].
This leads to difficulty for the MPPT to discover the
location of the maximum power point, causing a small change
in power concerning the perturbation of the voltage. Another
major disadvantage of P&O is that it oscillates nearby the
maximum power point, varying the sign of the perturbation
after any estimation of ¨P. Similarly, it has been demonstrated
that P&O can exhibit unreliable performance under rapidly
changing irradiance levels [12].
Fuzzy Logic Controllers (FLC) Based MPPT give the
benefits of treating with imprecise inputs, not requiring an
exact mathematical model, besides it can handle nonlinearity
[13]. The structure of fuzzy logic controller system composed
of four essential components which are fuzzifier, rule base,
inference engine and defuzzifier. A simple configuration of
the fuzzy logic controller system is introduced Fig. 2 and
displayed in [14] recently. In Fig. 2 E(k) and CE(k) are Error
and Change of Error respectively at an instant (k).
TABLE I. PARAMETERS OF PV MODEL 100-KW330 SUNPOWER
(SPR-305).
Parameter Value
Voc 64.2 V
Isc 5.96 A
Vmp 54.7 V
Imp 5.58 A
Nser 5 Panels
Npar 66 Panels
K 1.38 x 10^-23 J/K
Q 1.6 x 10^-19 C
T 25 oC
Ir 1000 W/m2
Figure 2. The basic structure of FLC system.
 From the simulated PV model, there is a group of data set
used for training ANFIS. It can be collected by recording
Initially, fuzzification step, a crisp set of input data (E(k) each pair of the input data (DC Link Voltage and current of
and CE(k)) are assembled and then transformed into a fuzzy PV) and duty cycle as the output of the controller. This input-
set by using fuzzy linguistic variables, fuzzy linguistic output table is in form of crisp data. ANFIS has the skillful of
relationships, and membership functions. Finally, an developing the input-output mapping of these data sets once it
inference is prepared based on a group of rules (stored in the is trained with an adequate number of epochs [18].
Knowledge Base). Defuzzification step, the succeeding
output of fuzzy is transformed again to a crisp output using ANFIS produces the set of fuzzy rules to develop
the membership functions [15]. appropriate output for different values of inputs. Parameters
of membership functions are adjusted or improved so that the
The rule base, in a fuzzy system, is designed to adjust the error is minimized to the least value. When totally the
output variable (Duty cycle). A fuzzy rule can be expressed parameters of the membership function are adjusted, then
by a simple IF-THEN rule using a condition and conclusion. ANFIS model becomes organized to control the MPPT
It can be described by the matrix table as illustrated in Table scheme. Though, before using the ANFIS learning model for
1. The basic input parameters Error (E) and Change in Error the MPPT control, the results are checked by using the
(¨E) are placed along the axes, and the conclusions are laid checking data that is different from the training data. If the
on the table. A 49 rule base is implemented for the grid- error is more than the acceptable value, parameters of
connected PV system to achieve maximum power with high membership functions are adjusted to eliminate the error [19].
accuracy.
Fig. 3 represents the flow chart of ANFIS technique
The system contains two inputs (I_PV, V_PV) and one based MPPT. The data can be collected and trained by
output (D). The inputs are described generally by an error ANFIS editor [20]. To train the ANFIS a group of 10000
E (k ) and a change in error ΔE (k ) , as described in equations training data sets with 333 epochs used and training error can
(2), (3): be reduced to about 1%. ANFIS, therefore, creates the Fuzzy
Inference System (FIS) file by the group input-output data
ΔI I sets and the membership function parameters. MFs are altered
E (k ) = + (2)
ΔV V by means of the hybrid optimization process that is an
arrangement of the least-squares type and back propagation
ΔE (k ) = E (k ) − E (k − 1) (3) algorithm [21].
Where; I is the DC output current from PV module, ΔI
equals I (k ) − I (k − 1) , V is the DC output voltage from PV
module and ¨V equals V (k ) − V (k − 1) .
Recently, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System
(ANFIS) technique has been recommended for MPPT in the
PV systems. An adaptive neural network has the benefits of
learning capability, optimization, and balancing. Though, a
fuzzy logic is a technique based on rules created by the expert
knowledge of the designers [16]. The great performance and
efficiency of FLC have been appropriate in nonlinear and
complex systems.
ANFIS associates the benefits of using a mix of adaptive
neural network and fuzzy logic together. ANFIS creates an
input-output mapping that based both on knowledge of the
experts (in the form of fuzzy if-then rules) and the generated
input-output data resulting from using a hybrid algorithm that
is the grouping of the least-squares and backpropagation
gradient descent method [17].

TABLE II. RULE BASE OF FUZZY LOGIC CONTROLLER.

Figure 3. Flowchart of ANFIS based MPPT

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 The ANFIS structure implemented by the MATLAB is
shown in Fig. 4. It includes five layers. The two inputs
represent DC link voltage and current output of PV model.
Both the two inputs have 7 membership functions. The
structure displays the two inputs which are expressed into
proper membership functions. This network is trained for 333
epochs. The training process is ended as soon as the outputs
of the trained system reach very close to the proposed outputs
[22]. There are two methods used by ANFIS to generate FIS:
i) Grid Partition
In this method the number also the type of input and
output of membership functions (MFs) are selected manually
[5], [15].
ii) Subtractive Clustering
This method is used when the number of clusters there
should be for a given set of data are not obviously
recognized. Sub-Clust contributes the benefit that it has fast
response and has one-pass algorithm to estimate the number Figure 4. Implemented ANFIS model structure.
of clusters and the cluster centers in a group of data. The
estimated cluster, achieved from the subclust function, is used Sub-Clust method benefits from the MATLAB subclust
to initialize iterative optimization-based Sub-Clust function to develop the clusters. This method is proposed in
approaches and model identification methods (like ANFIS). the current research and compared with other controllers to
prove its effectiveness.

Figure 5. PV system connected to grid MATLAB model.

IV. SIMULATION AND RESULTS:
The comparison results of P&O, FLC, ANFIS technique
based on Grid Partition and ANFIS technique based on Sub-
Clust based MPPT is investigated in this section. The
considered four MPPT Techniques are listed as follows:
• Perturbation and Observation P&O [6].
• Fuzzy logic Controller [7].
• ANFIS technique based on Grid Partition generating FIS
[5], [15].
• The proposed ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust
generating FIS.
These all controllers are implemented using MATLAB
/Simulink applying to a 100kW grid-connected PV system as
displayed in Fig. 5. This model is put up originally by a team
of math works then adapted to make use of each part to get the
best performance grid-connected PV system [6]. The
simulation will be performed for the above methods using the
same input and the same load and grid.
The performance of PV array is affected by many
influences. Irradiance and ambient temperature are essential
factors that disturb the output of PV model. They can be
displayed in Fig.s 6 and 7 as inputs of the PV system. In the
Fig.s 6 and 7, the collected data for the sun is drawn as curves
that present irradiance and temperature, respectively.

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 Figure 6. Irradiance (Ir) as the input of PV arrays.
Figure 7. Temperature (T) as the input of PV arrays.
It is very important to consider a wide range of irradiance
and temperature to show the performance of the PV model.
The temperature effect on Voc is negative that means the
voltage will reduce when the temperature increases as clearly
shown in Equation (4).
STC KV , %
VOC (T ) = VOC + (T − 273.15)
100
Then Fig.s 8~13 show the DC Terminal Voltage of PV
Arrays, duty cycle, DC Link Voltage and PV Output AC
Power in response to the variations in irradiance and
temperature by implementing the different MPPT techniques.
For the different previously discussed controllers, it is noted
that the output power is affected by irradiance and
temperature. The increasing or decreasing of the value of this
input leads to power minimization. The proposed output
power is achieved at 25c° and 1000w/m2 as stated at
Standard Test Condition (STC) [3].
Fig. 8 illustrates the DC terminal voltage of PV arrays
according to input parameter variations. It generally depends
on temperature. The current rises with temperature but very
little and it does not regulate the reduction in the voltage
produced by temperature growth and consequently power
moreover decreases. The DC terminal voltage and current are
used as inputs for MPPT controller to detect power as well as
generating a reference voltage (Vref) to track the maximum
power point. Fig. 9 illustrates duty cycle of the different four
techniques considered. This signal is fed to boost converter to
raise the voltage. At the beginning of simulation (0:0.05sec),
the controller is disabled and there is no pulse to boost
converter also the system appears to be unstable [5].
Figure 8. DC terminal voltage of PV arrays in response to the variations in
Ir and T with using the different MPPT techniques.
Figure 9. The duty cycle of the different MPPT techniques.
(4)
The value of duty cycle is in the range from 0.38 to 0.58,
and it is very good to track maximum output power by
adjusting PV output voltage. By using P&O algorithm the
value of duty cycle looks like a nonlinear performance
whereas the others look good. The duty cycle generated by
ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust method achieve a
preferable performance and consequently the value of output
voltage and power as shown.
Fig. 10 introduces DC Link Voltage of PV model after
regulation using the four different values of duty cycle
produced. To distinguish between the DC links voltages of
each controller, Fig. 10 is magnified in Fig. 11. The duty
cycle variation boosts the DC terminal voltage from 273.5V
to around 500V. It can be seen from this figure that the
voltages using the four considered techniques have major
differences. In the P&O technique, there are high overshoots
in the voltage response.
The ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust method appears
as more stable and faster than the others, which can be useful
when connected to load through an inverter.
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 Figure 10. DC link voltage in response to the variations in Ir and T with
using the different MPPT techniques.
Figure 11. Magnified DC link voltage in response to the variations in Ir and
T with using the different MPPT techniques.
Fig.s 12 and 13 introduce AC output power that fed to the
load and the grid after the voltage source inverter and its
magnification, respectively. Figures show how the different
values of irradiance and ambient temperature affect the
amount of generated power from the PV array when using
different MPPT techniques. It is noticed that during the time
from 4 sec to 5 sec, the AC output power is increased due to
temperature variation with constant irradiance. During the
time from 5 sec to 6 sec, it can be seen that P&O technique
introduces the highest output AC power at only low
temperatures.
As realized from the results, the AC output power of PV is
directly proportional to the irradiance. The power output of the
PV model depends on the number of series and parallel cells
in PV array, also the type of semiconductor used in cell
fabrication [18]. The performance of the P&O algorithm is not
accurate and the response to variations in irradiance is very
slow, in addition to, the high overshoots in the AC power
response. The ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust method
appears overall as more stable and faster than other
techniques.
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Figure 12. PV output AC power in response to the variations in Ir and T with
using the different MPPT techniques.
Figure 13. Magnified PV output AC power in response to the variations in Ir
and T with using the different MPPT techniques.
V. CONCLUSION
The grid-connected PV system comprises of PV modules,
DC-DC boost converter as well as voltage source inverter tied
to the grid. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
techniques for the DC-DC boost converter based on
Perturbation and Observation (P&O), Fuzzy logic controllers
(FLC), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)
with Grid Partition method and proposed ANFIS technique
based on the Sub-Clust method are investigated. In this paper,
a 100kW grid-connect PV system is simulated under the effect
of varying irradiance and temperature with using the proposed
ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust and the results are
compared with the cases using different MPPT techniques in
the literature to obtain the most efficient controller. In the case
of using the proposed technique, ANFIS technique based on
Sub-Clust, the system response is faster, robust, and more
stable than that with the other techniques. In addition, there
are no any overshoots in the DC link voltage and the value of
AC output power is increased. These results proved that the
proposed ANFIS technique based on Sub-Clust method is
outperformed among the other three techniques discussed.
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