SimElectronics™

Solar Cell - Model single solar cell

Library

Sources

Description

The Solar Cell block represents a single solar cell as a parallel current source and exponential diode that are connected in series with a resistance Rs. The output current I is:

where:

• I_ph is the solar-induced current:

  

  where:

  • I_r is the irradiance (light intensity) in W/m² falling on the cell.

  • I_ph0 is the measured solar-generated current for the irradiance I_r0.

• Is is the diode saturation current.

• V_t is the thermal voltage, kT/q, where:

  • k is the Boltzmann constant (1.3806503e–23 J/K).

  • T is the Measurement temperature parameter value.

  • q is the elementary charge on an electron (1.602176e–19 Coulombs).

• N is the quality factor (diode emission coefficient).

• V is the voltage across the solar cell electrical ports.

The quality factor varies for amorphous cells, and is typically 2 for polycrystalline cells.

You can parameterize this block in terms of the preceding equivalent circuit model parameters or in terms of the short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage the block uses to derive these parameters.

Basic Assumptions and Limitations

The Solar Cell model has the following limitations:

• This block does not model temperature-dependent effects. SimElectronics simulates the block at the temperature at which the component behavior was measured, as specified by the Measurement temperature parameter value.

Dialog Box and Parameters

Parameterize by

Select one of the following methods for block parameterization:

• By s/c current and o/c voltage — Provide short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage that the block converts to an equivalent circuit model of the solar cell. This is the default method.

• By equivalent circuit parameters — Provide electrical parameters for an equivalent circuit model of the motor.

Short-circuit current, Isc

The current that flows when you short-circuit the solar cell. This parameter is only visible when you select By s/c current and o/c voltage for the Parameterize by parameter. The default value is 7.34 A.

Open-circuit voltage, Voc

The voltage across the solar cell when it is not connected. This parameter is only visible when you select By s/c current and o/c voltage for the Parameterize by parameter. The default value is 0.6 V.

Diode saturation current, Is

The asymptotic reverse current for increasing reverse bias in the absence of any incident light. This parameter is only visible when you select By equivalent circuit parameters for the Parameterize by parameter. The default value is 1e-06 A.

Measurement temperature

The temperature at which Is is measured and at which the solar cell is simulated. The default value is 25 C.

Solar-generated current, Iph0

The solar-induced current when the irradiance is I_r0. This parameter is only visible when you select By equivalent circuit parameters for the Parameterize by parameter. The default value is 7.34 A.

Irradiance used for measurements, Ir0

The irradiance that produces a current of I_ph0 in the solar cell. The default value is 1000 W/m².

Quality factor, N

The diode emission coefficient. The default value is 1.5.

Series resistance, Rs

The series terminal resistance. The default value is 0 Ω.

Ports

The block has the following ports:

Ir

Incident irradiance.

+

Positive electrical voltage.

-

Negative electrical voltage.

Sinusoidal Voltage Source

Solenoid