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Article history: Partial shading is a commonly encountered issue in a PV (photovoltaic) system. In this paper, five
Received 18 November 2010 different connection configurations of PV cells are studied to compare their performance under the
Received in revised form condition of partial shading. They are SS (simple series), SP (series-parallel), TCT (total-cross-tied), BL
24 February 2011
(bridge-linked) and HC (honey comb) configurations. The electric network of each connection configu-
Accepted 24 February 2011
ration is analyzed, taking into account the nonlinear nature of PV cells, by writing the Kirchhoff’s voltage
Available online 29 March 2011
and current equations. The analysis is followed by solving the simultaneous nonlinear equations using
the NewtoneRaphson algorithm, which allows the IeV (currentevoltage) characteristic of the module
Keywords:
Connection configurations
with a specific configuration in response to different types and levels of partial shading to be evaluated.
Partial shading Comparison of the maximum power and fill factors of the five connection configurations is then carried
Photovoltaic cells out. Also studied is the reverse voltage across each PV cell. It is found that in most cases, the TCT
Solar energy configuration has a superior performance over the other four configurations in most comparison indices.
Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
0360-5442/$ e see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.02.052
3070 Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078
tool for electronic circuits, and PSIM and EMTP are simulation
programs for power system networks.
Relatively fewer studies adopt an experimental approach to the
mismatch problem. However, we can mention the work of Alonso-
Garcia et al. [15] in which mismatch of 33 PV cells in a module
caused by both parameter diversity and partial shading has been
studied experimentally. Also presented in [15] are statistical
properties (i.e., mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum
values) of the short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, maximum
power and fill factor of the cells. In addition to the aforementioned
studies on the mismatch problem, the works of Gautam et al.
[16e19] merit particular mention. Gautam et al. compared three
interconnection schemes of PV cells: SP (series-parallel), TCT (total-
cross-tied) and BL (bridge-linked), for their losses, maximum
power, fill factors, reliabilities and energy yields considering
mismatch caused by the manufacturer’s tolerances in cell charac-
teristics and by partial shadowing, and concluded that both TCT and Fig. 2. Diode IeV characteristic (solid curve) approximated by two (dotted lines) and
BL connection schemes had superior performance over the SP four (dashed lines) line segments.
scheme. The tolerances in the cell characteristics were evaluated by
the Monte Carlo technique in which the cell open-circuit voltage
The basic principle of the PLPB model is to approximate the
and photo-current were randomized with uniform distribution or
nonlinear IeV curve of the diode by 2h linear segments as shown
Gaussian distribution. The PV array networks were analyzed by the
in Fig. 2. The diode IeV curve for Vd between zero and the cell
NewtoneRaphson method in [16], and by a linear programming
open-circuit voltage Voc is depicted in Fig. 2. The curve is first
technique in [17] to accelerate the solving speed. The fractional
approximated by two line segments (dotted lines) with their
power losses caused by mismatch for different circuit topologies
corner voltage E2. The curve to the left of E2 is again approximated
and different ensembles (aging cells and fresh cells) have been
by two segments with a corner voltage E1; and the portion to the
investigated in [20], which reveals that appropriate series paral-
right of E2 approximated by another two segments with a corner
leling arrangement can reduce power loss resulting from mismatch.
voltage E3. Hence, the diode IeV curve is now approximated by
This finding agrees with the works of Gautam et al.
four line segments (dashed lines) with three corner voltages E1, E2
In this paper, the electrical performance of a PV module with not
and E3. This procedure continues until a required accuracy is
only SP, TCT and BL connection configurations, but also with SS
obtained. It is noted that 2h line segments are used in the hth
(simple series) and HC (honey comb) connection configurations is
approximation step, and the larger the number h, the better the
analyzed. The NewtoneRaphson method is to be used to solve the
approximation.
module circuit. A new model of PV cells, called the PLPB (piecewise
linear parallel branches model) [21], is also proposed to analyze
a mismatched PV module. The results obtained by both the PLPB
2.2. Realization of equivalent circuit
and NewtoneRaphson methods will be compared to validate each
other. This paper starts with a brief introduction to the PLPB model.
In Fig. 2, when the diode IeV curve is approximated by four line
This is followed by the application of the proposed model to the
segments with corner voltages E1, E2 and E3, and their respective
analysis of partial shading of a PV module. The IeV curve, maximum
slopes m1, m2, m3 and m4, the piecewise linearized IeV relation can
power, fill factor and a loss index of a module with SS, SP TCT, BL
be represented by four linear circuit branches connected in parallel
and HC connection configurations will be compared and analyzed.
as shown by Fig. 3. Each branch consists of an ideal diode, a resis-
tance and a voltage source in series. In Fig. 3 the voltage source E0 is
2. Introduction to the PLPB model actually zero. The voltage source E0 is drawn to make all the
branches have the same circuit structure. The resistances in Fig. 3
2.1. Basic principle are related to the segment slopes by the following equations:
Fig. 1. Single-diode model of PV cell. Fig. 3. Diode equivalent circuit using four parallel branches.
Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078 3071
Fig. 5. Determination of the corner point using the equal-area method. The value of xG
is so determined that the areas A1 and A2 are equal. Fig. 6. Implementation of the PLPB model in EMTP.
3072 Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078
The simplest configuration of PV cells in a PV module is SS in The voltages of the four parallel strings are equal to the module
which 36 cells are connected in series as shown in Fig. 8. The IeV voltage. Hence, the following KVL equations can be given
relation of each cell is given by X
9 X
18 X
27 X
36
Vk ¼ Vk ¼ Vk ¼ Vk ¼ Vm (12)
f ðIm ; Vk ; lk Þ ¼ 0; k ¼ 1; 2; 3; .; 36 (7) k¼1 k ¼ 10 k ¼ 19 k ¼ 28
where f refers to the implicit function of (6), lk and Vk to the solar An SP module has 40 unknowns: 36 cell voltages and four string
irradiance and the voltage of the kth cell, Im and Vm to the current currents. Eq. (9) expresses 36 equations, and (12) expresses four
and voltage of the module. For the SS configuration, all the cells equations, which make a total of 40 equations.
have the same current equal to the module current, so no KCL
equation is required. 3.3. Total-cross-tied connection configuration
There is only one closed loop in the SS configuration. The cor-
responding KVL equation is Fig. 9(b) depicts the TCT scheme. The IeV relations of the 36 cells
can be written as
X
36
Vk ¼ Vm (8) f ðIk ; Vn ; lk Þ ¼ 0; k ¼ 1; 2; 3; .; 36 (13)
k¼1
where k refers to the cell number and the voltage subscript n is
It is noted that an SS module has 37 unknowns: 36 cell voltages related to k by
and the module current. Eq. (7) actually represents 36 independent 8
equations, which with (8) make up a set of 37 equations that allow >
> k for 1 k 9
<
k 9 for 10 k 18
the 37 variables to be solved. n ¼ (14)
> k 18 for 19 k 27
>
:
k 27 for 28 k 36
3.2. Series-parallel connection configuration
The voltage Vn refers to the voltage of four parallel cells at the nth
row. The module voltage Vm is then the sum of the voltages of nine
The circuit of SP configuration is shown in Fig. 9(a). The module
rows:
has four parallel strings, each contains nine cells connected in
series. The IeV relations of the 36 cells can be written as X
9
Vm ¼ Vn (15)
n¼1
f ðIn ; Vk ; lk Þ ¼ 0; k ¼ 1; 2; 3; .; 36: (9)
Fig. 9(b) also shows the node numbers from one to eight. At each
The subscript n for the nth string current In is given by
node, the KCL equation can be written as:
8
>
> 1 for 1 k 9 3
X
< I9nþc I9nþðcþ1Þ ¼ 0; c ¼ 1; 2; 3; .; 8:
2 for 10 k 18 (16)
n ¼ (10)
>
> 3 for 19 k 27 n¼0
:
4 for 28 k 36 The TCT configuration has 36 cell currents and nine row voltages
The module current Im equals the sum of the four string currents. as independent variables, making a total of 45 variables. It is
checked that (13) provides 36, (15) provides one and (16) provides
eight equations, making up a set of 45 equations that can be solved
to find the 45 unknowns.
8
f In ; Vj ; lk ¼ 0; k ¼ 1; 2; 3; .; 36 (17) >
> 7 for n ¼ 1
<
9 for n ¼ 2
where, according to the circuit of Fig. 10, the current subscript n and c ¼ (21)
> 11 for n ¼ 3
>
the voltage subscript j are related to the cell number k by :
13 for n ¼ 4
8 8
>
> 1 for k ¼ 1; 2 >
> 24 for k ¼ 28; 29 Similarly, for the nodes at the middle column (i.e., node numbers 1,
>
> >
>
< 2 for k ¼ 3; 4 < 25 for k ¼ 30; 31 4, 7 and 10), the KCL equations can be written as
n ¼ 3 for k ¼ 5; 6 n ¼ 26 for k ¼ 32; 33 (18)
>
> >
> In þ Inþ9 Inþ1 Inþ10 ¼ 0; n ¼ 6; 8; 10; 12
> 4 for k ¼ 7; 8
> >
> 27 for k ¼ 34; 35 (22)
: :
k 4 for 9 k 27 28 for k ¼ 36
For the nodes at the right column (i.e., nodes 3, 6, 9 and 12), the KCL
8 equations are written as
>
> k for 1 k 17
<
k 9 for k ¼ 18; 19
j ¼ (19) In þ Ic Inþ1 Icþ1 ¼ 0; n ¼ 16; 18; 20; 22 (23)
>
> k 2 for 20 k 35
:
27 for k ¼ 36:
in which the subscripts c and n relate to each other by
It is noted that there are 28 currents and 33 voltages as vari-
ables, hence 61 equations are needed. In the BL configuration, 8
>
> 24 for n ¼ 16
12 nodes are indicated in Fig. 10. For the nodes at the left <
25 for n ¼ 18
column (i.e., node numbers 2, 5, 8 and 11), the KCL equations c ¼ (24)
>
> 26 for n ¼ 20
are written as :
27 for n ¼ 22
In þ Ic Inþ1 Icþ1 ¼ 0; n ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4 (20)
For each loop containing four cells, the KVL equations are given as
where the subscript c is related to n by follows:
3074 Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078
where the current and voltage subscripts n and j are related to the
cell number k by
8 8
>
> 1; k ¼ 1 >
> k 4; 10 k 28
>
> >
>
< 2; k ¼ 2; 3; 4 < 25; k ¼ 29; 30; 31
n ¼ 3; k ¼ 5 n ¼ 26; k ¼ 32 (32)
>
> >
>
>
> 4; k ¼ 6; 7; 8 >
> 27; k ¼ 33; 34; 35
: :
5; k ¼ 9 28; k ¼ 36
8 8
>
> k; 1 k 9 >
> k 4; k ¼ 22; 23; 24
> 1; k ¼ 10
> >
> 14; k ¼ 25
>
> >
>
>
> >
>
>
> k 1; k ¼ 11; 12; 13 >
> k 5; k ¼ 26; 27
< <
5; k ¼ 14 16; k ¼ 28
j ¼ j ¼
>
> k 2; k ¼ 15; 16; 17 >
> k 6; k ¼ 29; 30; 31
>
> >
>
>
> 9; k ¼ 18 >
> 19; k ¼ 32
>
> >
>
>
> k 3; k ¼ 19; 20 >
> k 7; k ¼ 33; 34; 35
: :
11; k ¼ 21 22; k ¼ 36
(33)
There are 12 nodes for which the KCL equations are given by
Vj þ Vjþ1 Vjþ9 Vjþ10 ¼ 0; j ¼ 19; 21; 23 (29) with (j, c) ¼ (10, 1) and (15, 9).
Finally, the KVL equation for the loop containing the nine cells in Vj þ Vj7 þ Vjþ1 Vjþ6 Vjþ7 Vjþ8 ¼ 0; j ¼ 12 (39)
the first column is given by
Vj þ Vj6 þ Vjþ1 Vc Vcþ1 Vcþ2 ¼ 0 (40)
X
9
Vj ¼ Vm (30)
with (j, c) ¼ (17, 23) and (20, 26) Finally, the KVL equation for the
j¼1
close loop containing the nine cells in the left column is
Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078 3075
Fig. 11. (a) HC connection inspired by the hexagonal honey comb in which the unhatched blocks denote a single cell while the obliquely hatched blocks denote two cells connected
in parallel (b) HC connection configurations of 36 PV cells in a module.
Fig. 14. IeV curves of PV modules with (a) SS, (b) SP, (c) TCT, (d) BL and (e) HC connection, calculated by the analytical (scattered circles) and PLPB (curves) models.
Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078 3077
Table 1
Comparison of peak power and fill factor.
5. Conclusion
Fig. 15. Voltage profiles calculated by the analytical model (black bars) and the PLPB
model (red bars) for (a) SS, (b) SP, (c) TCT, (d) BL and (e) HC configurations when the Table 2
module terminals are short-circuited. For interpretation of the references to colour in Voltages and currents of cells at specific locations.
this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.
Location (cell no.) SS SP TCT BL HC
(a) Cell voltages (V)
1e1 (1) 0.4863 0.4868 0.3101 0.2545 0.3907
configurations when the module terminals are short-circuited, they 3e2 (12) 0.4564 0.4390 0.4650 0.4829 0.4789
5e3 (23) 0.3201 0.1223 0.0345 0.4241 0.0626
also compare the results obtained by the analytical (black bars) and
8e4 (35) 0.3740 0.4060 0.4168 0.4429 0.4604
the PLPB (red bars) models. Again, the results calculated by the two
models are very close, validating our analytical modeling in Section (b) Cell currents (A)
3. The voltages shown in Fig. 15 are voltage variables shown in the 1e1 (1) 2.9454 2.9420 3.1970 3.2030 3.1700
circuits of Figs. 8e11. Hence the SS and SP configurations have 36 3e2 (12) 2.9454 2.9850 2.9200 2.8490 3.0100
voltages, TCT has only nine voltages, and BL and HC configurations 5e3 (23) 2.9454 2.9320 2.9260 2.8510 2.9200
8e4 (35) 2.9454 2.9270 2.9170 2.8800 2.8390
have 33 and 28 voltages, respectively. It is also noted that the HC
3078 Y.-J. Wang, P.-C. Hsu / Energy 36 (2011) 3069e3078
For the solar irradiance pattern considered in this paper, the TCT
scheme has the highest value of the peak power. Then the HC and Table A.3 Voltages and current of a short-circuited PV module
BL schemes follow. However, it is noted that in this paper only one with the SS configuration.
Voltage Solution (V) Voltage Solution (V) Voltage Solution (V)
pattern of the solar irradiance has been considered. It is still too
early to draw a conclusion on which cell connection configuration is V1 0.4873 V14 0.4907 V27 1.4086
V2 0.4935 V15 0.6598 V28 0.4801
better than others. Future studies will be to extend our determin-
V3 0.4955 V16 0.4961 V29 0.4539
istic modeling to the Monte Carlo simulation technique to consider V4 0.4921 V17 0.4595 V30 0.4847
a large number of solar irradiance patterns so that a more reliable V5 1.2118 V18 0.4776 V31 0.7798
conclusion on the performance of different cell connection V6 1.3606 V19 1.4326 V32 0.4542
V7 0.4953 V20 0.4756 V33 0.4641
configurations can be obtained.
V8 0.4582 V21 0.4949 V34 1.3366
V9 0.463 V22 0.0694 V35 0.3685
V10 0.2458 V23 0.3382 V36 1.4614
Appendix. Sample calculation for the SS configuration V11 0.4648 V24 0.4791
V12 0.4569 V25 0.4998 Current Solution (A)
V13 0.6358 V26 0.4891 Im 2.8579
Eq. (6) in a more detailed form is given by
G qðV þ IRs Þ
f ðI; V; GÞ ¼ $Ig0 I0 $ exp 1
G0 nkT References
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