Photovoltaics

YASHWANTH M.N M.Tech in Energy Systems and Management

Outline
Basic Principle Equivalent Circuit and I-V Characterization Configuration Manufacturing Sequence

Basic Principle

Source: NPTEL

 Diffusion length Surface passivation Collection Probability

The impact of surface passivation and diffusion length on collection probability

SOURCE:www.pveducation.org

The light-generated current depends on the generation of

carriers and the collection probability of these carriers

SOURCE:www.pveducation.org

I-V Characterization and Equivalent Circuit and I-V Characterization

Fig : Simplified Equivalent Circuit Model for a Photovoltaic Cell

SOURCE: National Instruments handbook

 Short Circuit Current (ISC) Open Circuit Voltage (VOC) Maximum Power (PMAX), Current at PMAX (IMP), Voltage at PMAX (VMP)

 Fill Factor (FF) Efficiency ()

Fig : Getting the Fill Factor From the I-V Sweep

SOURCE:Solar Photovoltaics by Chetan Singh Solanki

Solar cell structure

SOURCE:www.pveducation.org

Basic Cell Design Compromises

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Substrate Material 2Cell Thickness (100-500 m) Reflection Control (front surface typically textured) Emitter Dopant (n-type) Emitter Thickness(<1 m) Grid Pattern.(fingers 20 to 200 m width, placed 1 - 5 mm apart) 7. Rear Contact.

Types of Silicon
A. Single Crystalline Silicon B. Monocrystalline Silicon C. Polycrystalline Silicon

Series and Parallel combination of cells

SOURCE : Text Book Of Solar PV by Chetan Singh Solanki

Stand-Alone PV System Configuration

DC to DC Converter
Buck Type DC to DC Converters Boost Type DC to DC Converters Buck Boost Type DC to DC Converters

Buck Converter
output voltage is smaller than the input voltage and output current is larger than the input current. The conversion ratio is given by

D(Duty Cycle) is always less then or equal to 1

SOURCE : Text Book Of Solar PV by Chetan Singh Solanki

Boost Converter
output voltage is larger than the input voltage and output current is smaller than the input current. conversion ratio is given by the following expression

SOURCE : Text Book Of Solar PV by Chetan Singh Solanki

Buck Boost Converter

conversion ratio is given by the following expression

This is a combination of buck converter and a boost converter.

SOURCE : Text Book Of Solar PV by Chetan Singh Solanki

SOURCE : Text Book Of Solar PV by Chetan Singh Solanki

Maximum Power Point

Charge CONTROLLERS
SHUNT type Charge Controllers SERIES type Charge Controllers DC to DC charge Controllers MPPT charge Controllers

Commonly Used Set Points

Voltage regulation(VR) Set point

Voltage regulation hysterisis

Low Voltage Disconnect(LVD) Low Voltage disconnect hysterisis(LVDH)

Shunt Type Charge Controller

SeriesType Charge Controller

DC to DC type Charge Controller

Conclusion
The Working principle of Photovoltaic cell, Equivalent Circuit of PV cell, Manufacturing Process, Photovoltaic Systems Configuration , Characteristics of solar cell are discussed Total energy payback time for a PV system of 8 to 11 years. Future PV panels that use thin films of crystalline silicon or other materials will have greatly reduced energy payback times