Experiential Integral Backstepping Sliding Mode Controller to achieve the Maximum Power Point of a PV system

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy is necessary to extract the maximum power production of a Photovoltaic (PV) system. Since the PV has nonlinear dynamics, it is more suitable to use a nonlinear MPPT controller to improve the tracking efficiency. The modelling and control of most systems in real-time are not fully precise and introduce some variations such as : the steady state error and ripples in the system outputs. In this paper, a classical sliding mode controller has been designed and applied experimentally to the PV system to achieve the Maximum Power Point (MPP). The results show that the system responses present chattering phenomena with no negligible state error. In order to reduce these drawbacks (chattering and steady-state error), an Integral Backstepping combined with a discontinuous Sliding Mode Controller (IBSMC) is proposed and applied experimentally to the PV system. The obtained experimental results for the two controllers are compared under the same weather conditions, in terms of chattering phenomena and state error. As a result, the proposed hybrid controller (IBSMC) has achieved high dynamic system performances. Moreover, the stability of this system has been proved using Lyapunov stability criteria. •Experimental validation of a new Integral Backstepping Sliding Mode Controller for PV MPP tracking.•Ripples reduction and steady state error minimization successfully achieved by the Integral Backstepping sliding mode controller.•Experimental comparison with a classical Sliding Mode Controller, under the same conditions of weather, in terms of ripples and state error minimization.