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Design and implementation of a solar PV emulator

Conference Paper · March 2016

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 Design and implementation of a solar PV
emulator
H. Messaoudi (1), A. Ben Abdelghani Bennani (1,2), N. Mrabet Bellaaj (1,3), M. Orabi (4)
(1). Université de Tunis El Manar, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tunis LR11ES15 Laboratoire des Systèmes
Electriques 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
(2). Université de Carthage, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisie.
(3). Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Supérieur d'Informatique, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
(4). Aswan Power Electronics Application Research Center (APEARC), Aswan, Egypt
hanen.messaoudi6@gmail.com , afef.benabdelghani@insat.rnu.tn , najiba.bellaaj@isi.rnu.tn ,
orabi@ieee.org

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces a new design of a solar photovoltaic (PV) module emulator. The proposed
emulator is a power converter that aims to deliver a current and a voltage with the same behaviour
than those produced by a real PV panel. It mainly consists of a power circuit made of a four quadrant
chopper and a digital control algorithm implemented on an STM32 microcontroller. The control
algorithm involves two control loops: the first one is an internal current loop which generates the Pulse
Width Modulation (PWM) signals for the chopper switches; and the second one is an external voltage
loop using a linearization technique for modelling the I-V curve. This last allows the control of the
copper output voltage and the estimation of the corresponding current reference. The proposed
algorithm and emulator have been tested experimentally with the PV module IS-200/32 of ISOFOTON.
It has been first simulated and then experimentally verified.
The reported experiment results confirm that the emulator output characteristics are consistent with
the emulated PV module ones.
Keywords: Photovoltaic module, PV emulator, DC-DC converter, I-V characteristic.

1. INTRODUCTION

The PV technology has attracted much interest as a new generation energy source. Numerous research and
development works are coming off continuously for an efficient utilization of PV energy [1]. However, while
an installed Photovoltaic system is installed and operating properly, there are still many ongoing issues that
need to be investigated and solved such as the reliability of the PV system, the analysis of its power generation
and the electricity network performances due to partial shading [1], [2]. To overcome these issues, repeatable,
variable and stable PV source are required for testing. Hence the necessity of the implementation of a PV
emulator which yields to the reproduction of the current-voltage (I-V) output characteristics of a functional
PV module under various climatic conditions. Several methods [1]-[11] have been suggested to realize the PV
emulation. Several methods are based on using various power converter topologies such as the DC-DC buck
converter [2]-[4] and the DC-DC boost converter [5], [6] . Ohers are based on modifying a programmable DC
power supply [7], so that the internal resistance of the DC source varies exponetially with the output current.
Additionally, several other studies are based on the amplification of a p-n photosensor output voltage by a DC
power amplifier [8], [9].
Despite the antecedent research and development works on the solar PV emulation, there is a high
potential to further improve the PV emulator functionality and performances. In this paper, a novel design
method of a PV emulator is presented. The proposed emulator is made of a four quadrant chopper controlled
through a digital algorithm implimented on an STM32 microcontroller. The control algorithm requires two
control loops: a current loop which generates the PWM orders to the chopper switches and a voltage loop that
calculates the current reference necessary for the current control. A linearization technique included in the
voltage loop is used to decompose the I-V curve of the emulated PV module into four linear intervals. In each
interval, the current reference is governed by an equation. In addition to the linearization algorithm, a climatic

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

condition impact algorithm is implemented in order to update the I-V curve according to the temperature and
irradiance changes.
A brief description of the I-V curve of a PV module and the composition of the proposed PV emulator is
depicted in section 2. Section 3 analyses the simulatio and the experiment results of the proposed PV emulator
tested with a real PV module which is the IS-200/32 of ISOFOTON [12].
2. PROPOSED PV EMULATOR DESIGN
The main task of a PV emulator is to reproduce the same I-V characteristics of a real PV module as
described in Figure 1.
Ipv
PV panel Vpv Ipv , Ipv_emul

Ipv_emul
Grid
Proposed Vpv_emul
PV Eulator
Vpv , Vpv_emul

Figure 1: The principle of the proposed PV emulator

2.1 I-V characteristics of a PV module

A PV module is characterized by a non linear current-voltage curve as depicted in Figure 2. This curve is
strongly depending on the temperature T and the solar irradiance G. Indeed it is changing continuously
according to these two parameters changes. The most important parameters describing the I-V curve are the
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc), the Short-circuit Current (Isc), the Maximum Power Point Voltage (VMPP) and the
Maximum Power Point Current (IMPP). The values of these parameters obtained in standard climatic conditions
∗ ∗
(Tsd=25°C and Gst = 1000 W/m²) which are 𝑉𝑜𝑐∗ , 𝐼𝑠𝑐
∗
, 𝑉𝑀𝑃𝑃 and 𝐼𝑀𝑃𝑃 are provided by the manufacturer.

Zone A Zone B Zone C

Ipv (A)
Isc MPP
IMPP

VMPP Voc Vpv (V)

Figure 2: I-V characteristics of a PV module
As shown in Figure 2, that the I-V curve can be decomposed on three zones: zone A where the PV module
is considered as a current generator, zone C is considered as a voltage generator and zone B is an intermidiate
zone including the maximum power point. The proposed PV emulator control algorithm detailed below is
based on this decomposition of the I-V characteristics.
2.2 Proposed emulator topology
Figure 3 presents the structure of the proposed PV emulator. It consists of a power circuit and a control
circuit.

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

 The power circuit is made of a DC source, four quadrant chopper in current control mode, an inductive
filter L and an adjustable resistive load R (Figure 3). The chopper output current Ipv_emul and voltage Vpv_emul
must reproduce the same behaviour of a real PV module.
The four quadrant chopper output voltage Vpv_emul, function of the DC source input voltage Vin, is given by
(1):
Vpv_emul = (1 − α)Vin (1)
According to (1) the chopper is capable of reproducing perfectly the I-V characteristics of any emulated
PV module since it can generate low power rates.
Four quadrant
chopper L

+
- R
DC
source
Ipv_emul Vpv_emul

ADC Control
Algorithm

Linearization T
algorithm of the I-V
curve G
Ipv_emul + Ipv_ref
- Scope
PI Controller
DAC
PWM
STM32
Gate signals

Figure 3: The PV emulator design

The digital control algorithm is implemented on an STM32 microcontroller. Its inputs are the solar
irradiance G, the temperature T, the chopper output voltage Vpv_emul and current Ipv_emul. Two main loops are
required in order to perform the emulator main task: an internal current loop and an external voltage loop.
The current loop includes a PI controller which regulates Ipv_emul according to its reference calculated into the
voltage loop. The voltage loop requires two algorithms which are the T and G impact algorithm and the I-V
curve linearization algorithm, in order to control Vpv_emul and to estimate the current reference Ipv_ref. The bloc
diagram of this loop is described in Figure 4.
External voltage loop

Isc
T T and G IMPP I-V curve
Ipv_ref
impact linearization
algorithm
Voc algorithm
G VMPP

Vpv_emul
Figure 4: The external voltage loop
The T and G impact algorithm calculates the parameters Voc, Isc, VMPP and IMPP in function of T,G, Tsd, Gsd
∗ ∗
and the parameters 𝑉𝑜𝑐∗ , 𝐼𝑠𝑐
∗
, 𝑉𝑀𝑃𝑃 and 𝐼𝑀𝑃𝑃 . These parameters are calculated by the equations (2) to (5):

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

 ∗
𝐺
Isc = 𝐼𝑠𝑐 (1 + 𝑎(𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠𝑑 )) (2)
𝐺𝑠𝑑
∗
𝐺
IMPP = 𝐼𝑀𝑃𝑃 (1 + 𝑎(𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠𝑑 )) (3)
𝐺𝑠𝑑
∗
Vout = Voc (1 + b(G − Gsd ))(1 − c(T − Tsd )) (4)
∗
VMPP = VMPP (1 + b(G − Gsd ))(1 − c(T − Tsd )) (5)

Where a is the temperature coefficient of Isc , b is the temperature coefficient of Voc and c is the coefficient
indicating the power variation in function of the panel temperature.
The I-V curve linearization algorithm is based on the segmentation principle of the I-V curve illustrated in
Figure 2. This algorithm considers the I-V curve as four linear intervals: the two linear ones of the zones A ([0
0.95VMPP]) and C ([1.05VMPP Voc]). The zone B is characterized by a non linear curve, so it has been
decomposed into two linear segments ([0.95VMPP VMPP] and [VMPP 1.05VMPP]) as shown in Figure 5.

Zone A Zone B Zone C

Ipv(A)

Isc
IMP

0.95 VMpp VMpp 1.05 VMpp Voc Vpv(v)

Figure 5: Linearized I-V curve
Indeed, in each interval the curve is approximated to a segment governed by the mathematical equation (from
(6) to (9)) calculating the current reference Ipv_ref:
 If Vpv_emul ∈ [0 0.95VMPP]:
1.05 × IMPP − Isc (6)
Ipv_ref = . Vpv_emul + Isc
0.95 × VMPP

 If Vpv_emul ∈ [0.95VMPP VMPP]:

− IMpp (7)
Ipv_ref = .V + 2. Isc
VMPP pv_emul
 If Vpv_emul ∈ [VMPP 1.05VMPP]:
−IMPP (8)
Ipv_ref = .V + 2. Isc
VMPP pv_emul
 If Vpv_emul ∈ [1.05VMPP Voc]:

− 0.95. IMPP 0.9975 . IMPP . VMPP (9)

Ipv_ref = . Vpv_emul + 0.95. IMPP +
Voc − 1.05. VMPP Voc − 1.05. VMPP

3. SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENT RESULTS

The proposed algorithm and emulator have been tested experimentally with the PV module IS-200/32 of
ISOFOTON. Figure 6 presents the I-V characteristics of the emulated PV module given by the manufacturer

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

and Table 1 illustrates its parameters. The emulated PV module has been first simulated and then
experimentally verified. In order to accomplish the emulator testing, an adjustable resistive load R has been
used. An operating point (Vpv_emul, Ipv_emul) is obtained for each R value. The resistive load must be capable to
sweep the totality of the I-V curve of the emulated PV module.

Figure 6: I-V curve variation according to temperature [12]

Table 1: Electrical characteristics of the PV module IS-200/32 of ISOFOTON [12]

Parameter Value
Maximum power: 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 (W) 200
Maximum power current: 𝐼𝑀𝑃𝑃 (A) 4.35
Maximum power voltage: 𝑉𝑀𝑃𝑃 (V) 46.08
Short circuit current: 𝐼𝑠𝑐 (A) 4.7
Open circuit voltage: 𝑉𝑜𝑐 (V) 57.6

3.1 Simulation results

The proposed PV emulator is implemented on PSIM environment. Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) based
on C codes have been used to implement the control algorithm. Figure 7 shows the simulation results.
Ipv (A)

15 °C

25 °C

35 °C

45 °C

55 °C

Vpv (V)
Figure 7: The I-V curve variation according to the temperature of the emulated PV module IS-200/32

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

 The curves shown in Figure 7 describe the variation of the I-V characteristics of the emulated IS-200/32
for a single operating point obtained for a fixed R value. Compared to the curves of Figure 6, the simulated
curves are nearly the same as the real curves, which prove the proper operation of the proposed emulation
method.
3.2 Experiment results
Figure 8 shows the experimental test bench implemented in our laboratory.

Four quadrant Adjustable R load

chopper

Inductive filter L

STM32 board

Current and voltage

sensors
Figure 8: The experimental test bench
For each variation of the temperature and the solar irradiance values the operating point characterized by the
couple (Ipv_emul, Vpv_emul) is measured using the current and the voltage sensors (Figure 8) and placed on the I-
V curve of the emulated PV module. The experiment results are illustrated in Figure 9.
Ipv Ipv

Operating Operating
point point

Vpv
Vpv
(a) (b)
Ipv Ipv

Operating
Operating
point
point

Vpv Vpv
(c) (d)
Figure 9: Placement of the operating point on the I-V curve under different meteorological conditions: (a):
T=25 °C and G=1000 W/m², (b): T = 35 °C and G = 1000 W/m², (c): T = 25 °C and G = 600 W/m² and
(d): T = 25 °C and G = 800 W/m².
In addition to the simulation results presented above, and according to the curves illustrated in Figure 9, the
experiment results validate the proposed PV emulator proper operation.

IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

 4. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a new PV emulator design is proposed in order to reproduce the I-V characteristics of real PV
modules. The design of the proposed emulator was firstly detailed. It is made of a four quadrant chopper and a
digital control algorithm based on the linearization technique of the I-V curve. The digital implementation and
the linearized I-V curve make it possible to emulate any type of PV module using this proposed emulation
method. The proper operation of the emulator was performed for a single operating point by a series of
simulations and experiments under various temperature and irradiance changes. It can be also verified for
other operating point by modifying the R load value. Additionally it can be performed for other PV modules.
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IREEC1: Refrigeration Energy and Environment, Hammamet, 2016

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