Experiment 1

Aim of Experiment:
Study of an equivalent model of a PV cell and its I-V and P-V characteristic under uniform
solar insolation.
Objective:
 To design an equivalent model of a PV cell
 To obtain I-V and P-V characteristic of a PV array under uniform solar insolation

Circuit Diagram:

Equivalent model of a PV cell

Theory:
Current generated from the PV array is directly proportional to the solar insolation. In the
above figure PV generated current is governed by the following equations:

I pv  I m  I sh

Where I sh is the current through shunt resistor given by

 V  I pv Rs 
I sh   
 Rp
 

Im  I g  Id

Where I g is the generated PV current proportional to solar insolation given by

G
I g   I g , n  K1  T 
Gn
Where I d is the diode current given by

  (V  I pv Rs  
I d  I 0  exp    1 
  vt n  

Where I0 is the reverse saturation current of the diode given by

I sc ,n  K I T
I0 
  V  K v T 
exp   oc ,n    1
 aVt 

Where vt is temperature equivalent voltage given by

N s kT
vt 
q

Final expression for PV cell output current is given by:

  (V  I pv Rs   V  I pv Rs 
I pv  Ig  I0 exp  1  
 
  vt n    Rp 

Description and values of different parameters mentioned above are given in the following
table.

Parameter Description Value Parameter Description Value

Open circuit Ambient
Voc 32.9V T 301oK
voltage Temperature
Isc,n Short circuit Nominal
8.21A Tn 3000K
current temperature
Boltzman’s 1.38* q
k Constant 10-23
Electron Charge 1.6*10-19
Number of cells n Diode Ideality
Ns 54 2
in series factor
Number of cells Diode saturation
NP 1 I0
in parallel current
Diode nominal
G Solar Insolation 800 I 0,n saturation 9.85*10-8
current
Eg Bandgap
Nominal Solar 1.12eV
Gn 1000 Energy
insolation
I g ,n Nominal current
Voltage 8.214
KV -0.1230 at STC
coefficient
Series and
Current parallel 0.221Ω,
KI 0.0032 Rs & Rp
coefficient resistance, 414.5Ω
respectively

By varying the load from zero to open circuit voltage of the PV array, I-V characteristic
curve can be obtained.
Simulation Diagram:

Simulink model for I0 :

Simulink model for I g :

Simulink model for
Im:

Final Simulink model:

Results & Discussion

In the above equations the PV output current is in nonlinear relation with the PV array
terminal voltage. Due to the nonlinear terms, the I-V characteristic curve has a single peak
power point. At a particular voltage of the PV array the I-V characteristic has maximum
power point. To operate the PV array at its MPP, an MPPT algorithm is required.
 4
G1=1000 W/m2

3
PV array current(A)
G2=800W/m2

2 G3=600W/m2

G4=400W/m2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
PV array voltage(V)

I-V characteristic curve of a PV array

180

160 Maximum
G1=1000W/m2 power points
140
G2=800W/m2
PV array power(W)

120

100 G3=600W/m2

80 G4=1000W/m2

60

40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
PV array voltage(V)

P-V characteristic of a PV array

Conclusion:
 From the above studies, the P-V characteristic curve has a single peak point.
 Current generated from the PV array varies with solar insolation.