Application perturb and observe maximum power point tracking technique for CubeSat power systems

Abstract

The Cube Satellite (CubeSat) power availability depends firstly on solar panel power generation and secondly on battery storage capacity. In a CubeSat mission, the solar panels must fit on the outside walls of a 10cm3 volume. Hence, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is recommended for maximum usage of the available solar panel area to attain maximum solar power generation. A summary of (MPPT) techniques comparisons is discussed in this paper. An application of the perturb and observe (PO) MPPT technique is demonstrated using a DC-DC boost converter. When maximum point tracking is not applied to control the switching duty cycle of the pulse width modulator, the output current and voltage ripple erratically between minimum and maximum levels. However, when the MPPT technique is applied both the output current, and voltage settle at fixed levels.