EXPERIMENT NO 1:

TO STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTVOLTAIC CELL

APPARATUS:
Photovoltaic Cell
Power Amplifier
Potentiometer
12-V DC supply
Lamp Filament
Voltmeter
THEORY:
"Photovoltaic (or PV) systems convert light directly into electricity. The term photo comes from the
Greek phos, which means 'light'."
The photovoltaic effect is the basic physical process through which a PV cell converts sunlight
directly into electricity. PV technology works any time the sun is shining, but more electricity is produced
when the light is more intense and when it is striking the PV modules directly when the rays of sunlight
are perpendicular to the PV modules.
Unlike solar systems for heating water, PV technology does not produce heat to make electricity. Instead,
PV cells generate electricity directly from the electrons freed by the interaction of radiant energy with the
semiconductor materials in the PV cells.
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL CHARACTERISTICS:
The main electrical characteristics of a PV cell or module are summarized in the relationship
between the current and voltage produced on a typical solar cell I-V characteristics curve. The intensity of
the solar radiation (insulation) that hits the cell controls the current ( I ), while the increases in the
temperature of the solar cell reduces its voltage ( V ).
Solar cells produce direct current ( DC ) electricity and current times voltage equals power, so we
can create solar cell I-V curves representing the current versus the voltage for a photovoltaic device.
Solar Cell I-V Characteristics Curves are basically a graphical representation of the operation of a
solar cell or module summarizing the relationship between the current and voltage at the existing
conditions of irradiance and temperature. I-V curves provide the information required to configure a solar
system so that it can operate as close to its optimal peak power point (MPP) as possible.
 The above graph shows the current-voltage ( I-V ) characteristics of a typical silicon PV cell
operating under normal conditions. The power delivered by a solar cell is the product of current and
voltage ( I x V ). If the multiplication is done, point for point, for all voltages from short-circuit to open-
circuit conditions, the power curve above is obtained for a given radiation level.
PV CELL PARAMETERS:
1. Open Circuit Voltage:
"VOC = open-circuit voltage: This is the maximum voltage that the array provides when the
terminals are not connected to any load (an open circuit condition)."
This value is much higher than Vmp which relates to the operation of the PV array which is fixed by
the load. This value depends upon the number of PV panels connected together in series.

Where, Isc is short circuit current, Jsc maximum current density and A is the area of solar cell.
2. Maximum Power Point:
MPP = maximum power point This relates to the point where the power supplied by the array that
is connected to the load (batteries, inverters) is at its maximum value;
The maximum power point of a photovoltaic array is measured in Watts (W) or peak Watts (Wp).
If we draw the v-i characteristics of a PV cell maximum power will occur at the bend point of the
characteristic curve.
Depending on the type of cells (mono-crystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous or thin film) being used.
TYPES OF PV CELLS:
Two types of PV systems are grid-connected systems and standalone systems. The main difference
between these systems is that one is connected to the utility grid and the other is not.
1. Grid-Connected Systems:
"Grid-connected systems are designed to operate in parallel with, and interconnected with, the
national electric utility grid. A grid-connected system is linked to this network of power lines."
The primary component of a grid-connected system is the inverter, or power conditioning unit
(PCU). The inverter converts the DC power produced by the PV system into AC power, consistent with
the voltage and power quality requirements of the utility grid. This means that it can deliver the electricity
it produces into the electricity network and draw it down when needed; therefore, no battery or other
storage is needed.
2. Stand-Alone Systems:
This type of PV system is a separate electricity supply system. A stand-alone system is designed to
operate independent of the national electric utility grid, and to supply electricity to a single system.
Usually a stand-alone system includes one or more batteries to store the electricity. Today, stand-
alone systems are used for water pumping, highway lighting, weather stations, remote homes, and other
uses away from power lines.

PROCEDURE:
Connect the circuit as shown in figure and adjust the sliding carbon potentiometer of 10K in
position 2 so that the resistance with the load of the phototransistor will be approximately 2K.
Connect the power supply (ON), adjust the wire wound potentiometer of 10K for that the
voltage will be null at the output of the power amplifier.
Note the output voltage of the collector with the help of digital multi-meter, when photovoltaic
cell is exposed to light.
Now increase the output voltage of the power amplifier throughintervalsof1Vand observe the
voltage in the collector of the phototransistor.

OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS:

Sr. No Input of Lamp (V) Output (V)

1 1 0.04
2 2 0.05
3 3 0.11
4 4 0.35
5 5 0.69
6 6 1.35
7 7 1.92
8 8 2.24
9 9 2.50
10 10 2.60

COMMENTS: