Single-Variable Optimization Method for Evaluating Solar Cell and Solar Module Parameters

Abstract

This paper presents a simple and accurate method to assess the single-diode model parameters of an illuminated and dark solar cell (SC) and its extension to a photovoltaic solar module (PVSM). The proposed method is based on the acquisition of experimental data related to the <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">v</i> - <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">i</i> characteristics of illuminated or dark SC/PVSM at fixed climatic conditions. The method presented in a previous work is generalized, the effects of measurement uncertainty of the results are discussed, and its application to different technologies are shown. A micropower monocrystalline SC, a monocrystalline SC, a polycrystalline PVSM, and an amorphous PVSM have been characterized using direct insulation in an outside environment with a correlation coefficient up to the noise limit.