Solar photovoltaic module performance characterisation using single diode modeling

Single or double diode electrical modeling of SPV module gives valuable results which will help to identify the exact behavior of SPV module under the normal operating condition. Accurate modelling of SPV module will also help to calculate internal resistances (Rs, Rsh) and parasitic of the SPV module. The main contribution of this work is the stepwise simplification of the current equation of single and double diode electrical model of SPV module. Then the single diode model of SPV module having 36 SPV cells in series is simulated in LTspice simulator. Simulated results are compared with labelled electrical parameters which shows close proximity to the labelled parameter at particular values of series and shunt resistance. This paper also presents the effect of variation in series resistance (Rs) and shunt resistance (Rsh) on the performance of the SPV module under normal operating condition. The dependency of SPV electrical parameters (Imax, Vmax, Pmax, FF, η) with the variation of series resistance (Rs) and shunt resistance (Rsh) is simulated, and the effects are discussed in details

Internet of Things (IoT) based outdoor performance characterisation of solar photovoltaic module

Outdoor performance characterisation of the Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) module is essential to while designing and commissioning a new SPV power plant. The health of SPV plant is monitored using a conventional method which underutilises the workforce and resources used for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the SPV power plant. Outdoor performance characterisation of SPV module using reliable, compact, portable, and economical Current-Voltage (I-V) curve tracer having IoT capability and auto sweep capability is presented in this paper. The capacitive load method is used for I-V curve sweep, and the result is compared with the resistive load method. In this paper, the advantages of using a capacitive load method over resistive load method are observed and experimentally validated. The ease of using IoT feature makes this proposed I-V Curve Tracer (IVCT) device more reliable to trace Current-Voltage (I-V) curve and Power-Voltage (P-V) curve for outdoor performance characterisation of SPV module