School of Engineering and Technology

PV Solar Cell Simulation

Assignment 1

By

Matoug Abuzmila (08021258)

Submitted To

Dr. Rob Miles

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 AIM

“The aim of this assignment is to simulate the behaviour of a photovoltaic

solar cell and hence to determine how the short circuit current
(photocurrent ) and open circuit voltage vary with light intensity, how
device efficiency is affected by series resistance and how short circuit
current, open circuit voltage, fill-factor and solar conversion efficiency are
affected by the choice of semiconductor used to make the solar cell “

Introduction

A solar cell is an electrical component that converts to sunlight to electrical

energy.
Solar cells are made of variable semiconductor materials. Semiconductors
are conduct electricity when the heat or light is more, and they perform as
electrical insulation at low temperature.
Many semiconductor switches are available with high working frequency
and power rate which can complete energy convert with high efficiency.
The P V system can be used for homes, offices and public building. Also
the estimated life for a PV model is 30 years.
When the system of PV decrease of the cost of solar cells, there is increase
significance in photovoltaic system application.
Electric motors powered by solar cell generators are one of the most
important applications, as water pumping systems.
The people can be control the sun energy in many other different ways,
such as transportation and electricity generation and convert the sun’s
energy to a fuel, which can be used for heat, transportation and electricity.

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The system (PV) is an easy method of controlling the sun energy. PV as a
device (Solar Cells) is only in that they directly convert the case solar
radiation into electricity.
“Today it is a rapidly growing and increasily important renewable
alternative to conventional fossil fuel electricity generation”
The first practical photovoltaic devices are started in the 1950s, research
and development of photovoltaic.
“In the 1980s” research into silicon solar cell paid off and solar cells are
begun to increase their efficiency. In 1985 silicon solar cells achieved the
target of 20% efficiency.
The photovoltaic industry skilled steady increase rates of between 15% and
20%, and the year 1997 maxim a growth rate of 38% and today solar cells
have recognized not only as a mean for providing power, finally many
countries used solar cells, because the solar cell is very useful for
invaerment and shaper than any source for energy ,that’s why all the
countries looking for this source .

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 The figure show solar circuit
From. (www.chuck-wright.com) Teacher notes 3.

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The curve voltage and current of the solar cell diode has affected
relationship between phase shift and power extracted from the
diode. So many cases. First.
“With illumination, solar has the same electrical characteristics as a
large diode.”When the sun light is shifted on fourth quadrant as the
create to generator power, the light intensity is increased the mount
of shift also is increased .so the relationship between intensity and
the mount of shift is directly.

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Open circuit voltage ,Voc . When the current through the device is
zero, it be occurred maximum voltage at this point in the curve, also
the power output is zero because the current is zero.
Short circuit
The short circuit (Isc ) is occurred when the voltage across the solar
cell is equal zero .The short circuit in the solar cells depends off:
1) The area of solar cell.
2) Density.
3) The number of photon.
4) The visual properties.
IL is generated current inside of solar and ISC short circuit is
Exceedingly measured current
. Not exactly but is approximately.
FILL Factor
FF is a defined a ratio between maximum power (Pmx) and input
Power (Pin).
FF
Where:
Vmx = maximum voltage.
Imx = current maximum.
Isc = short circuit current.
Voc = open circuit voltage.
If the current and power in the solar cell are reduced there is a small
for lower FF. As FF is possible measure of the square area under the
curve of voltage and current, also the fill factor as percentage.
Efficiency.
Efficiency is defined as the ratio between output power and input
power. The efficiency is related with Voc and ISC using FF.
“The efficiency depends on the spectrum and intensity of the
incident sunlight and the temperature of the solar cell”.

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 .
So the efficiency is:

Where: ISC = Short circuit current.

Voc = open circuit voltage.
FF = Fill factor
η = Efficiency.
Notes: Efficiency is as a percentage, so it doesn’t need unit.

Series resistance.
The main purpose of series resistance is to decrease the fill factor
and short circuit current, when the open voltage circuit the series
resistance doesn’t effect in the current flow through the solar cell.

10) Effect of temperature.

Any solar cells are responsive to temperature, when the temperature
is increased the band gab of the semiconductor is decreased, so the
temperature is inversely proportional with band gab of the
semiconductor. In open circuit the voltage (Voc ) is decreased and the
current (ISC ) is a little increased, because the temperature high also
the temperature depends of IO .

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FF