Beta-Particle-Filter Method for Sensorless Solar Tracking Systems under Partial Shading Conditions

Conventional sensor-based solar tracking systems face limitations in accurately tracking the maximum output power position under partial shading conditions (PSCs). The primary challenge of current solar tracking methods is to minimize global search efforts while efficiently tracking the optimal position with lower energy consumption. This paper introduces a beta-particle-filter (β-PF) sensorless solar tracking method relying solely on photovoltaic (PV) voltage and current information. Diverging from conventional sensorless solar tracking methods, the proposed method utilizes β parameter to establish a reasonable interval for each tracking step while implementing a limited global search. This approach avoids unnecessary global tracking, leading to reduced energy consumption and enhanced power generation efficiency. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves more than 7% increase in power generation compared to the latest method under PSC.