STUDENT KIT LAB MODULE

Program: EE242/CEEE242/CEEE223 Semester: 7

Ownership: Discipline of Power

Version: 1.0 Date Issued: March 2022

Course Name: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY V

Course Code: EPO662

Mode of Delivery: ✔ Face to Face Virtual

PV MODULE CHARACTERIZATIONS

Authors

Prepared by: Prof. Dr. Ahmad Maliki Bin Omar Date : Dec 2010

Ts. Dr. Siti Zaliha Binti Mohammad Noor

1st Revision : Ir. Dr. Hj. Zulkifli Bin Othman Date : March 2022
Dr. Habibah Binti Zulkefle

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 ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Field/Module: Photovoltaics / 2 (PV2)

Experiment Title: PV MODULES CHARACTERISTICS

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

Work in a team effectively to perform laboratory works
CO1:
(A3)
Demonstrate laboratory techniques in conducting
Course Outcomes: CO2: experiments appropriately (P3)
Distinguish a suitable technique in order to analyze and
CO3:
solve the engineering problem (C4)
Present points clearly and effectively through lab report
CO4:
(A2)

Upon completion of this experiment, the student should be able to:

Obtain the current, voltage and power of photovoltaic (PV)

MO1:
module.
Module Outcomes:
Estimate the percentage difference between the estimated
MO2:
value and actual measurement

MO3: Learn the characteristic of PV modules in series and parallel.

The students MUST have the PSIM software by Powersim or

Instructions: download a free demo version at https://powersimtech.com/try-psim/
or https://psim.software.informer.com/download/#downloading

Safety 1. Make sure good sitting posture throughout the session.

Instructions: 2. Good lighting and good ventilation.

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1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.1. Introduction

The working principle of the voltage and current curve controller is based on
modeling and simulation of the PV Modules in PSIM. It is a very simple method to capture
voltage, current and power output from the PV module. From the captured values, further
analysis can be performed.

1.2. PSIM Model

Solar Module Physical Model (Source: PSIM)

The physical model of the solar module can take into account variations of the light
intensity and ambient temperature. However, it requires many parameter inputs. Some of the
parameters can be obtained from manufacturer datasheets, while other parameters need to be
obtained by trial‐ and‐error.
In order to make it easier for users to define parameters for a particular solar module,
a utility tool called Solar Module (physical model) is provided in the PSIM’s Utility menu
(full version only). In PSIM (demo version), tool called Solar Module (physical model) is at
Elements > Power > Renewable Energy Module > Solar Module (Physical Model). The solar
module physical model has the following parameters:

Number of Cells Ns: Number of solar cells in series in a solar module

Standard Light Intensity S0: Light intensity under standard test conditions, in W/m 2.
This value is normally 1000 W/m2.

Ref. Temperature Tref: Temperature under standard test conditions, in °C

Series Resistance Rs:
Shunt Resistance Rsh:
Short Circuit Current Isc0:
Saturation Current Is0:
Band Energy Eg:
Ideality Factor A:
Temperature Coefficient Ct:
Series resistance of each solar cell, in Ohm.
Shunt resistance of each solar cell, in Ohm
Short circuit current of the solar module at the reference
temperature, in A.
Saturation current of the diode in the model, in A
Band energy of each solar cell, in eV.
Ideality factor, also called emission coefficient, of the
diode in the model.
Temperature coefficient, in A/K.

Coefficient Ks: Coefficient that defines how light intensity affects the
solar cell temperature

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1.3. The solar module MSX‐60 from BP Solar is used to illustrate how to use the
utility tool to obtain the model parameters. The process involves the following
steps:

1.3.1. Enter the information from the datasheet.

1.3.2. Make an initial guess of certain parameters.

1.3.3. Obtain the I‐V and P‐V curves, and the maximum power point. Compare with the
datasheet and experimental data for different operating conditions, and fine tune the
parameters.

1.4. Understanding the Datasheet Information

1.4.1. Figure 1.1 shows the PV modules manufacturer datasheet image, and the region of
the utility tool dialog window related to manufacturer datasheet.

1.4.2. All the information required by this region, except the dv/di value at Voc, can be
read directly from the datasheet, as highlighted by the red rectangles.

1.4.3. In the datasheet, the temperature coefficient of the open‐circuit voltage is expressed
in V/oC. It needs to be converted to %/oC for the utility tool as: ‐80mV/oC = ‐
0.08/21.1 %/oC = ‐0.38 %/oC.

Figure 1.1: PV Modules manufacturer datasheet image, and the region of the PSIM
utility tool dialog window related to manufacturer datasheet. (This utility only
available on PSIM full version only)

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 Figure 1.2: PV I-V characteristics

The value “dv/di (slope) at Voc” refers to the dv/di slope at the open‐circuit voltage Voc of
21.1V as shown in graph Figure 1.2. From the datasheet I‐V characteristics, by reading the
values from the graph (marked in red lines), we can calculate approximately the slope as:

(1.1)

If the I‐V curve is not available on the datasheet, leave the dv/di value at 0.

1.5. Estimating Parameter Values Eg, A, Rsh, and Ks

1.5.1. These four parameters are normally not provided on the datasheet, and one needs to
come up with a good initial guess, or obtain them from manufacturers: band energy
Eg, ideality factor A, shunt resistance Rsh, and coefficient Ks.

1.5.2. A good initial guess of the band energy Eg is around 1.12 eV for crystalline silicon,
and around 2 eV for amorphous silicon.

1.5.3. A good initial guess of the ideality factor A is around 2 for crystalline silicon, and is
less than 2 for amorphous silicon.

1.5.4. A good initial guess of the shunt resistance Rsh is several thousand Ohm.

1.5.5. If unknown, the initial value of the coefficient Ks can be set to 0.

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1.5.6. In this example, we set:

Eg = 1.12 eV
A=1.2
Rsh = 1000 Ohms
Ks = 0.

1.6. Calculating Parameter Values Rs, Isc0, Is0, and Ct

1.6.1. Based on the datasheet information and the initial guess of Eg, A, Rsh, and Ks, the
rest of the parameters (series resistance Rs, short circuit current Isc0, saturation
current Is0, and temperature coefficient Ct) can be calculated by clicking on the
Calculate Parameters button. The following values will be obtained:

Rs = 0.0108 Ohms
Isc0 = 3.8 A
Is0 = 2.16e‐8 A
Ct = 0.00247 A/K

1.6.2. Note that the calculation is approximate and provides only the base values. Users
should feel free to adjust these parameters to fit the calculated I‐V curve to the
datasheet curve or the experimental results.

1.7. Fine Tuning the Parameters

1.7.1. Under give operating conditions of the light intensity S (solar irradiance) and the
temperature, Ta (module temperature), one can obtain the I‐V and P‐V curves by
clicking on the Calculate I‐V Curve button. The calculated maximum power point
will also be calculated.

1.7.2. If we define S = 1000 W/m2 and Ta = 25 oC, we can obtain the maximum power
point as: Pmax = 59.27 W, Vmax = 16.73 V, and Imax = 3.54 A. Both the maximum
power and the voltage at the maximum power are lower than the datasheet values of
60 W and 17.1 V. One should adjust the parameters Eg, A, Rsh, Ks, Rs, Is0, and
Ct to obtain a better fit.

1.7.3. In this example, if we change the series resistance Rs to 0.008 Ohm, the calculated
maximum power point is: Pmax = 60.54 W, Vmax = 17.04V, and Imax = 3.55 A,
which is closer to the datasheet values.

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1.7.4. The final parameter values and the I‐V and P‐V curves are shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3: I‐V and P‐V curves (This utility only available on PSIM full version only)

1.7.5. Many iterations and trial‐and‐error may be needed to obtain a good fit to the
datasheet or experimental data. After the parameters are finalized, click on the Copy
PSIM Parameters button to copy the model parameters to the PSIM schematic.

1.7.6. To save the datasheet and parameter values to a text file to later use, click on the
Save button, and save it to a file (for example “Solarex MSX‐60.txt”). To load the
data of a specific solar module back, click on the Load button.

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2. PRE-LAB WORK

From PV module datasheet model MSX-60 shown in Figure 1.1 and Datasheet:
https://www.solarelectricsupply.com/media/custom/upload/Solarex-MSX64.pdf, fill up
Table 2.1.

Table 2.1: Datasheet and information

Module manufacturer / Type MSX-60
Pmp_stc
Voc_stc
Vmp_stc
Isc_stc
Imp_stc
Temperature coefficient for Pmp
Temperature coefficient for Voc
Temperature coefficient for Isc
Length (mm)
Width (mm)

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3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK

3.1. This section analyses the characteristics of a PV module model Solarex MSX‐
60.

3.1.1. Open the simulation model from tab File > Open Example > Renewable Energy
(Folder) > Solar Power (Folder) > test - solar module - Solarex MSX-60 (physical
model).psimsch.

3.1.2. The simulation model is shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1: Simulation model of a PV module model Solarex MSX-60

3.1.3. From the simulation model (red rectangle), change the solar irradiance, 1000 W/m 2
and module temperature 25°C to 800W/m2 and 45°C, respectively.

3.1.4. Simulate the PV modules and fill up Table 3.1.

Table 3.1: Characteristics of a PV module at solar irradiance 800W/m 2 and cell

temperature 45oC.
Solar Module
Simulation Value Estimated
Irradiance Temperature % different
(from the graphs) value
(W/m2) (°C)
Vcell
15.46 V
(Vmp)
Icell
2.85 A
(Imp)
800 W/m2 45°C
Power
(Pmp)
Isc 3.08797
Voc - -

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Example of the graph:

Figure 3.2: Characteristic of a PV module at solar irradiance 800W/m 2 and cell

temperature 45oC.

For estimation, use the following formulas:-

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3.2. This section analyses the characteristics of two PV modules in series model
Solarex MSX‐60.

3.2.1. Open the simulation model from tab File > Open Example > Renewable Energy
(Folder) > Solar Power (Folder) > solar modules in series (MSX-60).psimsch.

3.2.2. The simulation model is shown in Figure 3.7. Delete the “2 individual solar modules
in series” simulation model (red rectangle-on the top). Change the solar irradiance,
1000 W/m2 and module temperature 25oC to 800W/m2 and 45oC (red rectangle-on
the bottom), respectively.

Figure 3.7: A simulation model of two PV module in series model Solarex MSX-60

3.2.3. Press F8 to run the simulation model and fill up Table 3.2 using the values from the
simulation graphs.

Table 3.2: Characteristics of two PV modules at solar irradiance 800W/m 2 and cell
temperature 45oC.
Solar Module
Simulation Value Estimated
Irradiance Temperature % different
(from the graphs) value
(W/m2) (°C)
Vcell
(Vmp)
Icell
(Imp)
800 W/m2 45°C
Power
(Pmp)
Isc
Voc - -
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3.3. This section analyses the characteristics of two PV modules in parallel model
Solarex MSX‐60.

3.3.1. Open the simulation model from tab File > Open Example > Renewable Energy
(Folder) > Solar Power (Folder) > solar modules in parallel (MSX-60).psimsch.

3.3.2. The simulation model is shown in Figure 12. Delete the “2 individual solar modules
in parallel” simulation model (red rectangle-on the top). Change the solar irradiance,
1000 W/m2 and module temperature 25oC to 800W/m2 and 45oC (red rectangle-on
the bottom), respectively. Press F8 to run the simulation model and fill up Table 3.3
using the values from the simulation graphs.

Figure 3.10: A simulation model of two PV module in series model Solarex MSX-60

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Table 3.3: Characteristics of two PV modules in parallel at solar irradiance 800W/m 2
and module temperature 45°C.
Solar Module
Simulation Value Estimated %
Irradiance Temperature
(from the graphs) value different
(W/m2) (°C)
Vcell
(Vmp)
Icell
(Imp)
800 W/m2 45°C
Power
(Pmp)
Isc
Voc - -

Plot the graph for simulation, estimated values and % different (bar graph) for Tables 3.1,
3.2 and 3.3. Give comments on the result obtained.

4. DISCUSSION

Plot the graph for simulation, estimated values and % different (bar graph) for Tables 3.1,
3.2 and 3.3. Discuss on the result obtained; values of simulation, estimation, % different and
PV module electrical characteristics for single, series and parallel connection of PV module.

5. CONCLUSION

From the result, answer the following questions:-

5.1. Does your simulation results in Table 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 are acceptable? Give
reason(s) for your answer.

5.2. From Table 3.1, determine module efficiency and fill factor.

5.3. What is the effect of series and parallel modules on voltage and current?

5.4. Please follow the content in lab rubric

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6. QUIZ

6.1 What is Standard Test Condition (STC) of the PV?

6.2 Sketch a typical Current-Voltage and Power-Voltage curves characteristic of a typical
PV module. Locate clearly on the graph Voc, Vmp, Isc, Imp and Pmp. Explain how
module efficiency and fill factor are derived from the curves.

7. REFERENCES

[1] Sulaiman Shaari, Ahmad Maliki Omar, Ahmad Hadri Haris, Sharil Irwan Sulaiman,
“Solar Photovoltaic Power: Fundamentals” , Ministry of Energy, Green Technology
& Water Malaysia, 2010, ISBN: 9789834389383
[2] Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia, “SEDA Malaysia
Grid-connected Photovoltaic System Design Course”, 2nd, Sustainable Energy
Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia, 2016, ISBN: 9789671094273

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