Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on TuAC.

1
Systems and Control, Algiers, Algeria,
October 29-31, 2013

Suitable Matlab-Simulink simulator for PV system Based on a Two­

Diode Model under shading conditions
12 2 2
First A. N. Belhaouas . , M. S. Ait Cheikh , C.Larbes

Abstract- This paper proposes a photovoltaic system shading variation. The simulation is developed using the
modeling and characterization software based on Matlab­ MatIab-Simulink environment.
Simulink in order to estimate the parameters and the
characteristic and electrical behavior of a cell/module with II. PHOTOVOLTAlC MODEL
respect to changes in environmental parameter regarding
irradiance, temperature, and surface conditions (partial
shading). The first objective is to find the parameters of the To find the photovoltaic generator model, we must
nonlinear I-V equation by adjusting the curve regarding first find the electrical equivalent to that source. Many
three particular points: open circuit, maximum power, and mathematical models have been developed to represent
short circuit. Given these three points, which are provided their highly nonlinear behavior resulting from
by all commercial module datasheets, the method finds the semiconductor junctions. It describes PV modules
best I-V equation for the two-diode photovoltaic (PV) accurately with temperature and solar irradiance
model, with the best series and parallel resistances
dependency [3].
estimates. The accurateness of the simulator is verified by
applying the model to different manufacturer's modules.
Thanks to an interactive graphic interface, this software A. A. P V Cell Modeling
offers a great flexibility to PV professional and to
researchers.
Many equivalent circuits have been proposed in the
literature in order to assess the behavior of the PV cell. In
our case, we consider the two-diode model which
I. INTRODUCTION provides an even better description of the solar cell [4]­
Due to its inexhaustible and environmentally friendly [5].
energy, the research in solar energy has become an The two-diode model is depicted in Fig.l. Using
increasingly important topic in recent years. It is Kirchhoffs first law, the output current of the cell is
envisaged to become one of the most important given by [6]-[7]:
renewable energy sources. It is one of the most promising
alternatives for conventional energy sources. Due to this, v + IRs
I =
Ipv - Idl - IdZ - --­ (1)
photovoltaic solar energy has been increasingly used to R
p
generate electric power [1]-[2].
The aim, of this paper, is to provide the reader with all where
necessary information to develop photovoltaic models
that can be used in simulation of photovoltaic systems. (2)
To improve accuracy, the two-diode model has been
used. On the other hand, the iterative numerical Newton­ With :
Raphson method has been applied for the (Rp, Rs) VT =(K T)/q the thermal voltage,
computation model parameters. q is the electron charge (1.602E-19 C),
To solve the problem of a PV source containing a number k is the Boltzmann constant (1.38E-23 11K)
of cells connected in series and parallel under partially T is the temperature of the p-n junction in K.
shaded conditions becomes a big challenge to fmd the R.

best maximum power point (MPP) since its

I
characteristics have more non-linearity with mUltiple
local maxima [2]. This paper proposes a practical model
and simulation method, which can predict the I-V and P­ \"

V module characteristics curves. It can be used to study

the effect of temperature and irradiation variations, under
Figure. I Equivalent two diode circuit model ojP V cell

Division Energie solaire Photovoltarque, Centre de Developpement des

Energies Renouvelables, B.P. 62, Route de I'Observatoire, Bouzareah, B. P V Module Modeling
Alger, Algerie
2 Ecole Nationale Polytechnique, Laboratoire des dispositifs de
communication et de conversion photovoltarque, 10, avenue Pasteur, A photovoltaic module is the basic element of each
Hassan Badi, BP 182, EI Harrach, Alger, Algerie
photovoltaic system. It consists of many jointly connected
).

978-1-4799-0275-0/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on TuAC.1

PV cells. The equivalent module circuit equation for an absorb a large amount of electrical power, generated by
(Ncell) PV cells in series, leads to (3) [6]-[7]. the other cells/modules under high irradiation, and
convert it into heat. This heat may damage the low
illuminated cells/modules under certain conditions. To
(3) relieve the stress on shaded cells/modules, bypass diodes
and blocking diodes are added across and between the
modules respectively. In such a case multiple peaks in
power-voltage characteristics are observed under non
( (V+IRsNcell) - )
Id,i={1,2) IOi exp 1 (4) uniform illumination [8]-[10].
a. YoTNcell
=
.

C .improving, Adjusting the Model

III. SIMULATION AND SOFTWARE AND RESULTS OF
PROPOSED SOFTWARE

All PV module datasheets bring basic information with This section describes the procedure and results using
reference to the standard test conditions (STCs). Some of the present interactive graphic interface menu with four
the parameters, required for adjusting PV system models, main parts, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, all inputs
such as Rs and Rp, are not specified. So, to use a more simulator parameters are available from the
accurate model, these parameters are calculated manufacturer's datasheet.
simultaneously, using the datasheet information which is: The simulator computes the Rs and Rp PV
open circuit, maximum power, and short circuit. This is done parameters and shows , through the curve plotting, the
through Newton-Raphson algorithm in order to compute, effects of temperature, irradiation, shading, and diodes
from (3), the module output current [8]. (bypass and blocking).
Newton-Raphson algorithm has the advantage of a very In order to avoid damaging the cells, because of the
quick convergence for initial values near the root, as hot spots, manufacturers have connected bypass diodes in
given in (5). So, after few iteration steps, a good solution, of parallel with PV cells. Typically, one bypass diode is
Rp in function of Rs as in (6), is computed until the connected with a string (1 string corresponds to18 cells
maximum experimental power value coincides with the in series) [12].
(Vm p, Im p) maximum power point, Pmax,m =Pmax,e, found in
the corresponding module datasheet [7].

Welcome to Solar Panel

(5) Simulator

Where
Vmp Voltage at maximum power Panel -------,

Imp Current at maximum power

Find Rs& Rp
Isc Short circuit current
Vac Open circuit voltage
�v and
These four parameter values are found in the commercial P-V with different (T & 5)

I I
datasheet
Shad;ng analyses 10' 2 d;O<!e by pass

Rp-
-

[exp (Vmp+ ImpRs ) (Vmp+ ImpRs ) 21 - Pmax,e (6)

ipv-io
VT + e xp (P-l)VT - Vmp 8ELHAOUAS Nasreddine

D. P V Cell/Module Under Partial Shading

The power generated by PV panels depends on Fig. 2. PV simulator block window menu.
irradiance, temperature and shading conditions. It is
difficult to maintain uniform irradiance on all the cells at
all times so the performance of the module is affected.
Such a problem may arise due to the clouds, neighboring A. Find Rs and Rp
buildings, dirt, etc [10]-[11]. Under one of those partial The experiment is done on one Siemens module, the
shading conditions, the power from the PV module can SM55 [19]. The two diodes model and its parameters
be dramatically reduced. Cells/modules under shade extractions such as (Rs ,Rp) and I-V and P-V curves at

978-1-4799-0275-0/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on TuAC.1

standard test conditions are described in this interactive diodes. The number of peaks cannot be greater than the
graphic interface show in Fig. 3. number of strings connected in parallel with bypass diodes.

IIgui.rnoclo!I

Improving and Adjusting (�v & P·V) Curves

D. Shading Analyses with Three Diode Bypass
M.mronpower� � 60 the approach stays the same for three bypass diodes. This
vcll9!IgPrMx(\'ll1l)
time, a different manufacturer module, the MSX-60 [20], is
o.red.FlIIe;o�) 50
used in the experimental simulation whose input data
Sh:tI.aa.lanert(lsl:)

B
4 40 window is depicted in Fig. 7. Figure 8 displays the
�'Itt.(VDC)
C"':J simulation curves with three distant peak power values
Vaf.a9!�! � 30
under partial shading conditions.
<>:IO:'/fderC(Vj()
CUrerUe!!pef8ll-fe �
0
.0032
""""'" 20
�
�

�
10 � Source Block P ara meters: Welcome to Solar Panel. .. �
.. � Subsystem ( mask)
20
Welcome to Solar Panel Simlator

G c:J Part of Shading Module Analyses with

Pass
2. Diode by

Parameters
Fig. 3. Computed (Rs ,Rp) and (l -V & P-V) characteristics curves at
STC for SM55 PV module Short Circuit Current: Isc

Open Circuit Voltage: Voc

B. 1- V and P- V Characteristics for Various 2.1.1

Temperature and Irradiation values
Peak Points: Impp
Figure 4 shows how the simulator takes into account the
3.5
variation of temperature and irradiation by drawing the
different curves. The curves below corresponds to 50°C Peak Points: Vmpp

and 750 W/m2. 17.1

Temprature Coefficient: Ki

I-V and P-V CUlVes 0.0032.

Temprature Coefficient: Kv
wa.tilunperoor«(Flnu)
�
50 -80e--3
V<lag!QI'InIx(\'IIJI) r---rrt'

'»'
B�
em..tOPrnox�) 4 �""" """" """""'.;""""""'.::""""'"·;·······j40 Number of series solar cells: Ns
SIn1""cuI�(hc)
�
36
�cuI..wge(Vot)
30 �
a.

\(cI�.1H ''''
Temerature of PV Module
cnetbd(VK) 20

-
"""'-"M
� 2.5
� 10
� Shading Pattern For Each Part: [A;B]

[1;2./3]

c:J Select By Pass diode Number

LI 2.
______ T-..J1
OK I[ Cancel I[ Help

Fig. 4. (I -V & P-V) simulator block window characteristics curves for

various temperature and irradiation for SM55 PV module (Temp Fig. 5. PY block input parameters window for SM55 PY
=50°C, lrrad= 750 W/m2). module with two bypass diodes.

C. Shading Analyses with Two Diode Bypass

Figure 5 shows the different input parameters window of

the simulator. The effect of partial shading, for a two
diodes, is shown in Fig. 6 through the two peak power
points. Their values are clearly far from each other in this
case. It indicates that a number of peaks may appear when
the same number of strings are connected in parallel with

978-1-4799-0275-0/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on TuAC.1

II p·V Curv. II I·veurv.

XYPlot XYPlot
II I·V Curv. of PV Simulator II p·v Curv. of PV Simulator I"' I@), � I
XY Plot XYPlot
300
80
250

.
60 .
200
'x 'x • .

<t
>- 40
<t
>- 2
x
<t � 150
>- 4 >-

100

50

OL--�-�-w-� 0
25 °OL-��01 ----'� 15 �20:'--:':'
25 o 10 20 30 0 10 20 30
X Axis X Axis X Axis X Axis

Fig. 6. (I -V & P-V) characteristics curves at various temperature and

irradiation for each string (Temp =25°C, Irrad= I kW/m2, 2/3 kW/ m2) Fig. 8 (J -V & P-V) characteristics curves at various temperature and
from simulator for SM55 PV module with two bypass diode. irradiation for each string (Temp =25°C, Irrad= I kW/m2, 2/3 kW/ m2,
3/3 kW/ m2) from simulator for MSX-60 PV module with three bypass
diodes.

� Sou rt:e B'lock Parameters: Welcome to Solar Panel ... �r

Subsystem ( mask) IV. CONCLUSION
Welcome to Solar Panel Simlator
Part of Shading Module Analyses with 3 D iode by
Pass The paper presents a Matlab/Simulink simulator model
Parameters
of PV cells/modules under partial shaded conditions. The
simulator finds the equivalent circuit parameters of different
Short Circuit Current: Isc
type of two diodes PV modules. The (Rp, Rs) parameters
were estimated by the Newton-Raphson numerical
Open Circuit Voltage: Voc technique which allows us to observe the (P-V and I-V)
32.9
characteristic curves of any PV manufacturer modules. It can
be used to predetermine the behavior of different PV
Peak Points: Impp
modules having different number of strings-bypass diode
7.6 1 connections under shadow conditions. We can conclude that
Peak Points: Vmpp the energy production increases when the strings-bypass
diodes connections is higher. This is shown in the last tests.
26.3
However, mUltiple MPP mUltiple peaks MPP requires more
Temprature Coefficient: Ki complicated MPPTs .
3.18e--3

Temprature Coefficient:Kv
V. REFERENCES
-123e-3

Number of series solar cells: Ns

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- Logic Control for the tracking of maximum power point of a PV
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LI3 _______ �-'1 [4] N.K. Gautam and N.D. Kaushika, "An efficient algorithm to

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