American University of Beirut

MECH-410 Thermal Fluids Lab

Lab IV
Photovoltaic Cell

Objectives

In this lab session you will explore how a PV cell generates electricity and
measure its efficiency.
MECH 410 - Thermal Fluids Lab Lab2 - Photovoltaic Cell

1 Introduction
Solar cells or Photovoltaic cells (PV) are electrical devices that convert energy in sunlight into
electrical energy.

Solar cells have been developed for more than a century, yet it is only recently that interest in
them has increased among the general public. This can be attributed mainly to improved
manufacturing techniques for solar cells which has led to a decrease in their price, improved
efficiency in harnessing the solar energy which has increased its power to price ratio as well as
an increase in the price of electricity and a heightened awareness among people regarding the
adverse impact of coal and fossil fuel power plants on the environment.

2 Theoretical Background
Solar Cells
Different types of solar cells are made of different materials. The most popular choice being
(due to their cost) the polycrystalline based solar cells. But regardless of the material and
manufacturing technique used, the process by which energy is converted from sunlight
(photons) to electricity (electrons) is similar.

Theory
A photovoltaic cell is simply a thin plate of doped semiconductor material (often silicon), with a
p-n-transition between the front and the back surfaces. When exposed to light, the photons is
absorbed by the silicon, thus exciting the electrons which now become free to move. In this
way, an electric current can be generated.

Usually, a single solar cell is too small and would not generate sufficient electricity to be of use,
so multiple cells are usually connected together in parallel. The output of these solar cells is DC
and is either connected to an inverter to get an AC output or otherwise connected to batteries to
charge them for use at a later time.

Efficiency
There are many factors affecting the efficiency and performance of the solar cell. Cloud cover
reduces the amount of sunlight available and thus the output from the solar cell. Dust and dirt on
the panel reduces the affective surface area of the solar cell exposed. Moreover, the solar cell is
also affected by the temperature as well and performs better at lower temperatures, as shown in
the following chart:

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MECH 410 - Thermal Fluids Lab Lab2 - Photovoltaic Cell

In its simplest form, the efficiency of the solar cell can be calculated from its power output
relative to the available solar irradiance (W/m2).
P VxI
  out 
Pin ExA
where E is the irradiance and A is the total area of the solar cell and V and I are the voltage and
current measured in the circuit.

PV Cell Calibrator
A pyranometer is a device used to measure solar irradiance. The device (PV Cell Calibrator) that
is used in the lab is provided by Soldata and has the following specifications:
Mass 400 gram
Size 100x100x25
Cable 300cm , 2 lead unshielded
Detector PV silicon cell
Spectral response 300-1150 nm
Supply voltage None required
Output voltage 160mV / kW/m2

Figure 1: SolData Pyranometer

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MECH 410 - Thermal Fluids Lab Lab2 - Photovoltaic Cell

3 Experimental Setup
The experimental setup consists of the following:
 Solar cell connected to a variable resistor. The resistor plays the role of a load, which can be
varied, so that the power output from the PV cell can be measured at these varying loads.
 Connected to the solar cell and the resistor are 2 multimeters; 1 connected in series to
measure the current and 1 connected in parallel to measure the voltage.
 A separate pyranometer, connected to a voltmeter is used to measure the irradiance at the
surface of the solar cell.
 A high intensity light source (instead of the sun) that can provide a constant source of
photons.

Figure 2: Schematic of the solar cell + load + multimeters

Procedure:
1. Take the dimensions of the PV cell.
2. Connect the 2 multi-meters to the PV cell as shown in the schematic above
3. Turn on the light source
4. Make sure the PV cell is properly aligned (all 4 corners of the PV cell should have the same
irradiance measured by the pyranometer)
5. Record the irradiance on the PV cell
6. Set the variable resistor to its maximum value and record the voltage and current
7. Decrease the resistor value in small steps, recording the voltage and current at every step,
until reaching the minimum value (a total of 10-15 steps is sufficient).
8. Measure the temperature of the PV cells surface.
9. To find the effect of temperature use the heat gun to increase the temperature of the surface
until it reaches about 60°C. Turn the heat gun on and off to stay around 60°C during part 10.
10. Repeat the experiment done in part 7 on the new surface temperature.

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MECH 410 - Thermal Fluids Lab Lab2 - Photovoltaic Cell
Questions:
1. Enter your values into an Excel-sheet. Plot the output current of the PV cells I as a function
of the output voltage of the PV cells U.

2. Follow the curve, starting at the point corresponding to the greatest resistance. According to
Ohms law, when the resistance decreases, the current increases. But why doesn’t the current
increase all the way? Why does it reach a plateau?

3. Think about which point of the curve could give the greatest power.

4. Use Excel to calculate the power P in each measured point. Plot P as a function of U. Does it
confirm your assumption about the position of the point of maximum power?

5. What do you need to know to be able to calculate the efficiency η of the solar panel?
Calculate the efficiency in each measured point. Plot η as a function of U. Find the
maximum efficiency of the panel.

The solar panel at increased surface temperature

6. Re-draw the new current-voltage curve of the PV cells after increasing the surface
temperature of the cells. Place the current voltage plots at the two temperatures on the same
figure in this question.

7. Describe the change in the current/voltage of the PV cells as the temperature of the cells
increased. State your expectation on the efficiency of the PV Cells.

8. Calculate the efficiency of the PV cells at each measured point for the new temperature.

9. Estimate the change in efficiency of the PV cells.

10. Assuming that the change in efficiency of the PV cells with respect to the temperature is
linear, find the temperature at which the PV cells “break”.

References
 www.bpsolar.us
 http://solardat.uoregon.edu/

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