LAUSR

Abstract Partial shading of photovoltaic (PV) arrays results in hot spot creation and multiple peaks in the power-voltage (P-V) characteristics which ultimately leads to mismatch power loss in the PV system. This loss is a function of the shading pattern and configuration of the PV array. In this paper, the aims are to disperse the mismatch power loss and enhance the power of a partially shaded PV array through the reconfiguration of a hybrid topology bridge-link-total-cross-tied (BL-TCT) based on Su Do Ku puzzle which is named as Su Do Ku reconfigured BL-TCT (SRBL-TCT) configuration. The dancing links algorithm has been used to solve the Su Do Ku puzzle. Performance of the proposed SRBL-TCT configuration is also compared with the performance of conventional series–parallel (SP), total-cross-tied (TCT), bridge-link (BL), honey-comb (HC) and hybrid BL-TCT configurations in terms of power loss, performance ratio and fill-factor. A moving cloud model having five instants has also been modeled for performance comparison in partial shading conditions so that partial shading conditions can be realized in the real environment. To make the analysis more realistic, movement and acceleration of the cloud due to the wind speed and direction are also taken into account.