Simulation and validation of the performance of a polycrystalline photovoltaic module

Abstract

The performance of a solar module is described by its Current-Voltage (I-V) and Power-Voltage (P-V) curves, it is therefore necessary to generate these curves in order to validate the parameters of the module namely Short Circuit Current, Open Circuit Voltage, Maximum Power, Current and Voltage at Maximum Power Points, Fill Factor, and Efficiency. This study highlights two methods of generating I-V and P-V curves from a 30W sunshine (AP-PM-30) module. The methods include a computer simulation using MATLAB/Simulink software and an experimental procedure at different values of Irradiance and cell temperature. Findings from this study show that an increase in irradiance at constant cell temperature of the solar module results to significant increase in the current produced but slight increase in voltage. Consequently, the power output of the solar module also increases, while increase in cell temperature at constant irradiance decreases the voltage but slightly increases the current produced by the module but power output decreases. Therefore, these explain the influence of irradiance and cell temperature on the performance of a photovoltaic module.