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Abstract—This paper presents an easy and accurate power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms and mainly to sim-
method of modeling photovoltaic arrays. The method ulate the photovoltaic system and its components using circuit
is used to obtain the parameters of the array model simulators.
using information from the datasheet. The photovoltaic This text presents in details the equations that form the the
array model can be simulated with any circuit simulator. I-V model and the method used to obtain the parameters of
The equations of the model are presented in details and the equation. The aim of this paper is to provide the reader
the model is validated with experimental data. Finally, with all necessary information to develop photovoltaic array
simulation examples are presented. This paper is useful models and circuits that can be used in the simulation of
for power electronics designers and researchers who power converters for photovoltaic applications.
need an effective and straightforward way to model and
simulate photovoltaic arrays. II. MODELING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAYS
A. Ideal photovoltaic cell
Keywords—Array, circuit, equivalent, model, modeling, pho- Fig. 1 shows the equivalent circuit of the ideal photovoltaic
tovoltaic, PV, simulation. cell. The basic equation from the theory of semiconductors
[1] that mathematically describes the I-V characteristic of
I. INTRODUCTION the ideal photovoltaic cell is:
A photovoltaic system converts sunlight into electricity. qV
The basic device of a photovoltaic system is the photovoltaic I=Ipv,cell − I0,cell exp −1 (1)
akT
cell. Cells may be grouped to form panels or modules. Panels | {z }
Id
can be grouped to form large photovoltaic arrays. The term
array is usually employed to describe a photovoltaic panel where Ipv,cell is the current generated by the incident light
(with several cells connected in series and/or parallel) or a (it is directly proportional to the Sun irradiation), Id is the
group of panels. Most of time one are interested in modeling Shockley diode equation, I0,cell [A] is the reverse satura-
photovoltaic panels, which are the commercial photovoltaic tion or leakage current of the diode [A], q is the electron
devices. This paper focuses on modeling photovoltaic mod- charge [1.60217646 · 10−19 C], k is the Boltzmann constant
ules or panels composed of several basic cells. The term array [1.3806503 · 10−23 J/K], T [K] is the temperature of the p-n
used henceforth means any photovoltaic device composed junction, and a is the diode ideality constant. Fig. 2 shows
of several basic cells. In the Appendix at the end of this the I-V curve originated from (1).
paper there are some explanations about how to model and
simulate large photovoltaic arrays composed of several panels B. Modeling the photovoltaic array
The basic equation (1) of the elementary photovoltaic
connected in series or in parallel.
cell does not represent the I-V characteristic of a practical
The electricity available at the terminals of a photovoltaic
photovoltaic array. Practical arrays are composed of several
array may directly feed small loads such as lighting sys-
connected photovoltaic cells and the observation of the char-
tems and DC motors. Some applications require electronic
acteristics at the terminals of the photovoltaic array requires
converters to process the electricity from the photovoltaic
the inclusion of additional parameters to the basic equation
device. These converters may be used to regulate the voltage
[1]:
and current at the load, to control the power flow in grid-
connected systems and mainly to track the maximum power
point (MPP) of the device. practical PV device
Photovoltaic arrays present a nonlinear I-V characteristic ideal PV cell I
with several parameters that need to be adjusted from exper-
imental data of practical devices. The mathematical model Ipv Id Rs
Rp V
of the photovoltaic array may be useful in the study of the
dynamic analysis of converters, in the study of maximum
Fig. 1. Single-diode model of the theoretical photovoltaic cell
Manuscript received on 24/09/2008. Revised on 22/12/2008. Accepted by and equivalent circuit of a practical photovoltaic device
recommendation of the Editor Fernando L. M. Antunes. including the series and parallel resistances.
200
V: 26.3
P: 200.1
180
200
160 MPP V: 26.3
P: 200.1
140
Pmax [W]
P [W]
150
120
100
Rs increasing 100
80
60
40 50
20
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
V [V] V [V]
Fig. 4. P -V curves plotted for different values of Rs and Rp . Fig. 5. Pmax,m vs. V for several values of Rs > 0.
V: 26.3
8 I: 7.61
Pmax,m
= MPP
q Vmp + Rs Imp 6
I [A]
Vmp + Rs Imp
− = Pmax,e 4
Rp
3
2
Rp = Vmp (Vmp + Imp Rs )/
(Vmp + Imp Rs ) q 1
{ Vmp Ipv − Vmp I0 exp + (9)
Ns a kT 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
+Vmp I0 − Pmax,e }
V [V]
Eq. (9) means that for any value of Rs there will be a
Fig. 6. I-V curves plotted for different values of Rs and Rp .
value of Rp that makes the mathematical I-V curve cross
the experimental (Vmp , Imp ) point.
E. Iterative solution of Rs and Rp The iterative method gives the solution Rs = 0.221 Ω for
The goal is to find the value of Rs (and hence Rp ) that the KC200GT array. Fig. 5 shows a plot of Pmax,m as a
makes the peak of the mathematical P -V curve coincide with function of V for several values of Rs . There is an only
the experimental peak power at the (Vmp , Imp ) point. This point, corresponding to a single value of Rs , that satisfies
requires several iterations until Pmax,m = Pmax,e . the imposed condition Pmax,m = Vmp Imp at the (Vmp , Imp )
In the iterative process Rs must be slowly incremented point. Fig. 7 shows a plot of Pmax,m as a function of Rs for
starting from Rs = 0. Adjusting the P -V curve to match I = Imp and V = Vmp . This plot shows that Rs = 0.221 Ω
the experimental data requires finding the curve for several is the desired solution, in accordance with the result of the
values of Rs and Rp . Actually plotting the curve is not iterative method. This plot may be an alternative way for
necessary, as only the peak power value is required. Figs. graphically finding the solution for Rs .
4 and 6 illustrate how this iterative process works. In Fig. 4
as Rs increases the P -V curve moves to the left and the peak
power (Pmax,m ) goes towards the experimental MPP. Fig. 5 220
shows the contour drawn by the peaks of the power curves 218
6. As expected from (9), all I-V curves cross the desired 210
experimental MPP point at (Vmp , Imp ). 208
Plotting the P -V and I-V curves requires solving (2) for 206
I ∈ [0, Isc,n ] and V ∈ [0, Voc,n ]. Eq. (2) does not have a direct
204
solution because I = f (V, I) and V = f (I, V ). This tran-
202 R: 0.221
scendental equation must be solved by a numerical method P: 200.1
200
and this imposes no difficulty. The I-V points are easily 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
5 Imp 7.61 A
I [A]
Vmp 26.3 V
4
Pmax,m 200.143 W
3
Isc 8.21 A
Voc 32.9 V
2 I0,n 9.825 · 10−8 A
Ipv 8.214 A
1
V: 32.9 a 1.3
I: 0
0 Rp 415.405 Ω
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Rs 0.221 Ω
V [V]
160
140
no
100
yes
80
60
Ipv,n , eq. (10)
40 Ipv and Isc , eq. (3)
20
Rp , eq. (9)
V: 0 V: 32.9
P: 0 P: 0 Solve eq. (2) for 0 ≤ V ≤ Voc,n
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Calculate P for 0 ≤ V ≤ Voc,n
Find Pmax
V [V]
εP max = kPmax − Pmax,e k
Fig. 9. P -V curve adjusted to three remarkable points. Increment Rs
Fig. 10. Algorithm of the method used to adjust the I-V model.
Figs. 8 and 9 show the I-V and P -V curves of the
KC200GT photovoltaic array adjusted with the proposed
method. The model curves exactly match with the experi-
Rp + Rs
mental data at the three remarkable points provided by the Ipv,n = Isc,n (10)
datasheet: short circuit, maximum power, and open circuit. Rp
Table I shows the experimental parameters of the array Eq. (10) uses the resistances Rs and Rp to determine Ipv 6=
obtained from the datasheeet and Table II shows the adjusted Isc . The values of Rs and Rp are initially unknown but as the
parameters and model constants. solution of the algorithm is refined along successive iterations
the values of Rs and Rp tend to the best solution and (10)
F. Further improving the model becomes valid and effectively determines the light-generated
The model developed in the preceding sections may be current Ipv taking in account the influence of the series and
further improved by taking advantage of the iterative solution parallel resistances of the array. Initial guesses for Rs and Rp
of Rs and Rp . Each iteration updates Rs and Rp towards the are necessary before the iterative process starts. The initial
best model solution, so equation (10) may be introduced in value of Rs may be zero. The initial value of Rp may be
the model. given by:
7 1000 W/m2
8
75 °C 50 °C 25 °C
6
7 2
800 W/m
I [A]
5
6
I [A]
5 600 W/m2
3
4
2 400 W/m2
3
1
2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 1
V [V] 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Fig. 11. I-V model curves and experimental data of the
V [V]
KC200GT solar array at different temperatures,
1000 W/m2 . Fig. 12. I-V model curves and experimental data of the
KC200GT solar array at different irradiations, 25 ◦ C.
points extracted from the datasheet. Some points are not V [V]
exactly matched because the model is not perfect, although it
Fig. 13. I-V model curves and experimental data of the MSX60
is exact at the remarkable points and sufficiently accurate for solar array at different temperatures, 1000 W/m2 .
other points. The model accuracy may be slightly improved
by running more iterations with other values of the constant
a, without modifications in the algorithm.
Fig. 13 shows the mathematical I-V curves of the Solarex
SOLAREX MSX60 - 1000 W/m2
MSX60 solar panel [41] plotted with the experimental data at 60
two different temperature conditions. Fig. 14 shows the P -V 25 °C
curves obtained at the two temperatures. The circular markers 50
in the graphs represent experimental (V, I) and (V, P ) points
extracted from the datasheet. Fig. 14 proves that the model 40 75 °C
(Im ) and two resistors (Rs and Rp ). This circuit can be V [V]
implemented with any circuit simulator. The value of the
Fig. 14. P -V model curves and experimental data of the MSX60
model current Im is calculated by the computational block solar array at different temperatures, 1000 W/m2 .
that has V , I, I0 and Ipv as inputs. I0 is obtained from
(4) or (6) and Ivp is obtained from (3). This computational
I + V
Im Rp + -
V -
V
V I
Ipv Numerical solution of eq. (2)
V + Rs I
Ipv − I0 exp −1
Vt a I0 Fig. 16. Photovoltaic array model circuit with a controlled
current source and a computational block that solves the
Fig. 15. Photovoltaic array model circuit with a controlled I-V equation.
current source, equivalent resistors and the equation of
the model current (Im ).
...
Ipv ... Id Rp Nser V V I
Nser
V + Rs I
Npar Ipv
Ipv Npar − I0 Npar
exp
− 1
Vt aNser I0
I
(b) Fig. 22. Model circuit of array composed of Nser x Npar
Rs /Npar
Id Npar modules.
... ... Rp /Npar V
Ipv Npar
The photovoltaic array can be simulated with the modified
I-V equation (12). The simulation circuit presented previ-
ously must be modified according to the number of associated
I modules. The Nser and Npar indexes must be inserted in the
(c) model, respecting equation (12), as shown in Fig. 22.
Rs Nser /Npar
REFERENCES
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