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 International Journal of Electronics, Electrical and Computational System
IJEECS
ISSN 2348-117X
Volume 4, Special Issue
February 2015

Modelling and Simulation of 5 Parameter Model of Solar Cell

Mohammed Asim M.A.Mallick Ayaz Malik Mohd Saaqib
Electrical dept., Integral University EEE dept., Integral University Electrical dept. Integral University M.Tech (Power System
Lucknow,India Lucknow, India Lucknow, India UTU , Dehradun

Abstract— This paper defines a 5-parameter circuit of an ideal solar cell can be treated as a
based simulation model for a PV cell/array in current source parallel with a diode. The solar
order to allow estimate the characteristics of the cells are connected in series and parallel to
cell with respect changes on environmental create a solar array. An estimation method used
parameter of temperature and irradiance. in [1] proposes that the power output of a PV
Accurate PV module models are presented system is proportional to the insolation levels
based on the Shockley diode equation. The measured for the surface of a solar cell at any
general model was implemented on MATLAB angular position. Mathematical models [2], [3]
have been used to accurately characterize the
and accepts irradiance and temperature as
electrical solar PV arrays.
variable parameters and outputs the I-V
characteristic and P-V characteristic as well. In II. 5 PARAMETER BASED MODEL OF A
many applications, such as solar power plants, SOLAR PV
building integrated photovoltaic or solar tents, CELL
the solar photovoltaic arrays might be A solar cell model is represented by a constant
illuminated non-uniformly. The cause of non- current source and a diode as shown in Figure 1.
uniform illumination may be the shadow of The light generated current, IL, is the amount of
clouds, the trees, booms, neighbour’s houses, or current produced by the electron-hole pairs
the shadow of one solar array on the other, etc. generated by the impinging sunlight. This
This further leads to nonlinearities in phenomenon is called photovoltaic effect. IL
characteristics. The shadow of solar PV array depends on the intensity of the incident solar
can cause many undesired effects. So study light [4], characteristics of the solar panel, and
regarding the issue becomes very important to the ambient temperature. The most important
find and suggest methods and steps to be taken electrical characteristics of a PV cell
to overcome this. Two solar PV modules of two module/array are:
cells are developed for evaluation and
simulation under partial shading conditions and
show excellent correspondence.

Keywords—PV,5
parameter,insolation,temprature
I. INTRODUCTION
A solar panel cell basically is a p-n
semiconductor junction. When exposed to the Fi
light, a DC current is generated. The smallest gure 1: Equivalent circuit representing the 5-
unit is a cell which when combined in a string
Parameter model.
i.e. either in series or parallel, form a module
which, further, in a bigger number forms an
array. The generated current varies linearly with (a) Short Circuit current (ISC): Usually this is
the solar irradiance. The equivalent electrical associated with the light generated current IL
and is considered the same for normal levels of

38 Mohammed Asim, M.A.Mallick, Ayaz Malik, Mohd Saaqib

 International Journal of Electronics, Electrical and Computational System
IJEECS
ISSN 2348-117X
Volume 4, Special Issue
February 2015

solar irradiance. It increases slightly with To calculate the five reference parameters (aref,
increasing temperature. It is directly Io,ref, IL,ref, Rs,ref, and Rsh,ref), five pieces of
proportional to the incident optical power. (b) information are needed at reference conditions
Open circuit voltage (VOC): It is logarithmically (usually Standard Rated Conditions, SRC,
dependent on the solar irradiance. With the where Tc=25 ºC and Geff=1000 W/m2). The
increase in temperature there is an increase in pieces of information are the short circuit
saturation current and results in reduction of the current (Isc0), open circuit voltage (Voc0),
open circuit voltage. current and voltage at the maximum power point
The behaviour of photovoltaic (PV) cells can be (Imp0 and Vmp0, respectively), and the slope of
modelled with an equivalent circuit shown in the I-V curve at the short circuit point. The
Figure 2. This circuit includes a series subscript “0” indicates at reference conditions.
resistance, RS and a diode in parallel with a This information is usually provided by the
shunt resistance, Rsh. The letter “V” represents manufacturer.
the voltage at the load. This circuit can be used To find the reference parameters :
for an individual cell[6][7], for a module
consisting of several cells, or for an array At short circuit current: I=Isc0, V=0
consisting of several modules. At open circuit voltage: I=0, V=Voc0
The output equation of the current of solar cell At the maximum power point: I=Imp0,
V=Vmp0
At the maximum power point: dP/dVmp=0
At short circuit: dIsc/dV= -1/Rsh,ref
……(1)
The five reference parameters (aref, Io,ref, IL,ref,
The five parameters (from which the 5- Rs,ref, and Rsh,ref) can be obtained by
Parameter model obtains its name) are a, IL, I0, simultaneously solving Equations which are
RS and RSh , where obtained by substituting the above conditions in
a: ideality factor euation 1.Using Gauss Siedel method these
IL: light current equations are solved and following values are
I0: diode reverse-saturation current obtained:
RS:series resistance
a ref = 0.0392 eV
Io,ref= 0.3223∗10−6 A
IL,ref = 0.7630 A
Rs,ref = 0.03684 Ω
Rsh,ref =10 Ω

With use of above values study of PV cell is

possible only at particular reference conditions
as these parameters vary with other
environmental parameters such as irradiance and
temperature. According to theory [5] the
dependency of the 5 parameters can be
concluded as :
Figure 2: I-V and P-V characteristics of a PV
cell Ideality factor, a
III. CALCULATION OF REFERENCE The ideality factor is a linear function of cell
PARAMETERS AT SRC temperature (in Kelvin).

39 Mohammed Asim, M.A.Mallick, Ayaz Malik, Mohd Saaqib

 International Journal of Electronics, Electrical and Computational System
IJEECS
ISSN 2348-117X
Volume 4, Special Issue
February 2015

Based on above equations stated a user

……….(2) interactive PV cell model based on
Light current, IL MATLAB/SIMULINK has been developed as
shown below in figure 3.
The light current (IL) parameter depends on the
effective solar irradiance (Geff), the cell
temperature (TC), the short circuit current
temperature coefficient (αIsc), and the air mass
modifier (Mam), among other parameters.

.
.(3)

Series resistance, Rs

The series resistance (Rs) parameter was

observed to depend on the effective solar
irradiance (Geff) and the cell temperature (Tc).
It controls the location of the maximum power
point, therefore controls the current and voltage
at the maximum power point. Note that the Figure 3: 5-parameter based model of PV cell
series resistance parameter does not affect the in MATLAB/SIMULINK
values of the short circuit current or the open
circuit voltage. It has four subsystems.

1. Subsystem a: contains model of equation for

… calculation of ideality factor (a) i.e eq.(2.).
(4) 2. Subsystem Io: contains model of equation for
calculation for reverse saturation current Io i.e.
Shunt resistance, Rsh eq.(3).
3. Subsystem IL: contains model of equation for
The shunt resistance (Rsh) parameter controls calculation for photocurrent, IL , i.e. eq.(4).
the slope of the I-V curve at short circuit
conditions.. The value of Rsh has essentially no 4. Subsystem Rs : contains model of equation
effect on the predicted I-V curve for most of the for calculation for series resistance, Rs i.e.
cell types therefore an equation to vary the shunt eq.(5)
resistance with operating conditions is not
necessary, hence V. RESULT

Simulink is a graphical extension to MATLAB

for the modelling and simulation of systems. In
……(5) Simulink, systems are drawn on screen as block
IV. SIMULATION diagrams. Many elements of block diagrams are

40 Mohammed Asim, M.A.Mallick, Ayaz Malik, Mohd Saaqib

 International Journal of Electronics, Electrical and Computational System
IJEECS
ISSN 2348-117X
Volume 4, Special Issue
February 2015

available (such as transfer functions, summing proportional to the temperature Tc, however the
junctions, etc.), as well as virtual input devices maximum power point at the PV curve
(such as function generators) and output devices decreases minutely.
(such as oscilloscopes). Simulink is integrated
with MATLAB and data can be easily
transferred between the programs.

3.1 SIMULATION OF A SOLAR CELL

MODEL:
By varying environmental parameters i.e.
insolation (Geff) and temperature (TC), which
are in W/m2 and K respectively in our
developed model for PV cell, we get different
behaviours of I-V and P-V curves. Following
are the observations obtained: Figure 5: Variation of P-V curve with respect
to Tc
a.) Varying temperature (Tc)
(b) Varying insolation (Geff):
By varying values of Tc different curves are
obtained for developed PV cell model. By varying Geff different I-V and P-V curves
I-V characteristics: I-V characteristics are are obtained for the model developed shown in
shown in the figure below: fig.3. with increase in temperature Isc increases,
but Voc does not show any significant change.
The different observed I-V and P-V
characteristics are as follows:

I-V characteristics

Geff is varied from 500 to 1000 in steps of

250,Tc being constant at 298 K, to obtain three
different V-I curves of the model developed in
fig. 3. as shown below in fig 6. as Geff is
increased Isc increases whereas Voc does not
change significantly.
Figure 4: Variation of I-V curve with respect
to Tc25

With variation in Tc the Isc does not change

however different values of Voc are observed,
as shown in figure 4. As we can see with
increasing Tc, Voc increases Geff being
constant.

P-V characteristics:
Different PV curves are obtained by varying Tc,
-
as shown in figure 5. It is observed that for a
Figure 6: Variation of I-V curve with respect
single cell, output voltage Voc is directly
to Geff

41 Mohammed Asim, M.A.Mallick, Ayaz Malik, Mohd Saaqib

 International Journal of Electronics, Electrical and Computational System
IJEECS
ISSN 2348-117X
Volume 4, Special Issue
February 2015

P-V characteristics: cells,” Solar Energy, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 513–
Different P-V curves are obtained as shown in 520, 1996.
fig 7, by varying Geff from 500 to 1000 in steps [3] Dzung D Nguyen, Brad Lehman “Modelling
of 250. It iis clearly observed that for as Geff and Simulation Solar PV Array under
increases maximum power point increases on Shadow Conditions”, IEEE Compel, July
the P-V curve, whereas there is minute change 17-19, 2006.
in Voc. [4] Patel H. and Agarwal V. , “MATLAB-Based
Modelling to Study the Effects of Partial
Shading on PV Array Characteristics” IEEE
Transaction on Energy Conversion, PP.- 302
Vol. 23, No. 1 , March, 2008.
[5] Soto W.D., “Improvement and Validation of
a Model for Photovoltaic Array
Performance” , MS Thesis, Chapter 3,
Energy Laboratory University of Wisconsin-
Madison,January, 2004.
[6] Akihiro Oi September , “design and
simulation of photovoltaic water pumping
Figure 7: Variation of P-V curve with respect system,2005
to Geff [7] I. Altas, A.M.Sharaf, 2007 “A photovoltaic
array (PVA) simulation model to use in
VI. Conclusion Matlab Simulink GUI environment.” IEEE
I-4244- 0632 -03/07.
The 5-Parameter model presented in this paper
is a user interactive model which accepts data
and shows corresponding behaviour with the
help of equations to predict the output for
specified cell parameters and operating
conditions. The model requires an easy one time
calculation of the five parameters. This paper
has shown that the 5-Parameter model
constitutes a great tool for the prediction of
energy production.

Reference

[1] Tamura J., Nakamura H., Inoue Y., Otani

K., Kurokawa K., ”A new method of
calculating in-plane irradiation by one-
minute local solar irradiance” IEEE
Conference on Photovoltaic Energy
Conversion, vol.3, 2003.
[2] V. Quaschning and R. Hanitsch, “Numerical
simulation of current-voltage characteristics
of photovoltaic systems with shaded solar

42 Mohammed Asim, M.A.Mallick, Ayaz Malik, Mohd Saaqib

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