BEKP4843

PV Module Operation Fundamentals

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Item Description
Cell The basic unit in a PV system.
Module A series connection of PV cells to give
a higher power output .
String A series connection of PV modules to
get a higher voltage output.
Array A combination of string of PV modules
to meet the desire production.

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Cell Module String Array

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+

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 It = I 1 = I 2
I1 I2
Vt = V 1+ V 2
Vt
It Pt = Vt x I t
Load

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** increase cells / modules on series connection will
increase voltage

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I1
It = I 1 + I 2
Vt = V 1= V 2
Pt = V t x I t
I2

Vt
It

Load

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Increase cells / modules in parallel
connection will increase current
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I1 I2

It = (I1 = I2) + (I3 = I4 )

Vt = V 1 + V2 = V 3+ V4
I3 I4
Pt = Vt x It

Vt

It
Load

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Increase cells /
modules in series-
parallel connection
will increase voltage
& current

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• The configuration of a PV array is typically written as

No of parallel strings x No of modules in a string

Np x Ns

• Example: A 2 x 12 system means it has 2 parallel strings

where each string has 12 modules in series.
• Why is it important to understand how to read datasheet values
and know what it means?
• Design a system correctly.
• Estimate the power output and losses with satisfactory accuracy.
• Know the limitation and safety aspects of the module.
• Performance guarantees.

• A module datasheet contains 3 primary information categories:

1. Electrical values
2. Temperature coefficients
3. Mechanical properties

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 Electrical
values

Temperature
coefficients

Mechanical
properties

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Source: Sharp
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• All the information given about the electrical
properties is done under Standard Test Condition
(STC).
• STC means quality tests done on the module under
these three conditions:

• Irradiance 1000 W/m2

• Cell temperature 25C
• Air mass 1.5

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• Optionally, some module manufacturers also provide
additional information called the Nominal Operating
Cell Temperature (NOCT)
• Quality tests on the module are done under three
slightly different conditions:

• Irradiance 800 W/m2

• Ambient temperature 20C
• Wind speed 1 m/s

• STC is compulsory, NOCT is optional.

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• Describes the relationship among the electrical
parameters.
• For a typical single crystal silicon PV cell, one find that
approximately:
Open circuit voltage ~ 0.588 V.
Fill Factor ~ 0.6 to 0.8

• 100 mm-2 cell is capable of producing approximately 1.6

Wp at STC.
• Several cells are connected in series to a PV module.
• Increase voltage by adding several module in a series
string and have many strings to increase the current
output.

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• FF = (Imp x Vmp) / (Isc x Voc)

Where
Imp (A) is the current at maximum power
Vmp(V) is the voltage at maximum power
Isc (A) is the short circuit current
Voc (V) is the open circuit voltage

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 η=(Pout/Pin) =

Where
η is efficiency
Pout is power output from cell
Pin is power input into cell
G is irradiance (Wm-2)
A is active area of cell (m-2)

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60 series of cells to form NU-E235E1
Cell Area = 156mm x 156mm ,Module Area = 1652mm x 994mm
Irradiance = 1000W/m2
Calculate the module fill factor and efficiency of cell & module.

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Calculate the module fill factor and efficiency of cell &
module.

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The NSF130-G5 is used for a PV system . If the modules
are arranged in a 4 x 6 configuration, calculate:

a. The no load voltage at the end of the strings

termination.
b. The short-circuit current, ISC for the PV array.
c. Maximum power that can be generated by the PV
array, Pmax.

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1. Irradiance
• When irradiance increases, current in a PV array increases
proportionally.
• Voltage also increases but only marginally

G , I, V

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2. Module temperature
• When module temperature increases, voltage decreases.
• Current increases but only marginally.
• This temperature effect is given as the temperature
coefficient in the datasheet.

T , V, I

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3. Shading
• When modules are shaded from the sun, there will be
substantial power output drop.
• Solar pathfinder is used to evaluate this effect.

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4. Module mismatch
• Every PV module manufacturer gives a tolerance range for
the output of their modules.
• If a string consist of modules with different power tolerances,
the power output will be lower than expected.
• A good practice is to not mix modules from different
manufacturers or different models.

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5. Dirt
• Dirt on module surfaces can block sunshine from fully
reaching the PV cell.
• This will result in power output drop.
• Modules are usually tilted slightly during installation to allow
rain to naturally clean the modules.

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6. Cable sizing
• Cables have its own resistance which will result in a voltage
drop.
• It is important to choose proper cable size to ensure that the
voltage does not go below the minimum allowable level.
• According to the MS1837 standard, the maximum voltage
drop allowed from PV array to inverter is 5% only.

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7. Aging
• PV modules have an expected lifespan of around 20 to 25
years.
• Generally, the power output will decrease gradually due to
natural aging.
• This degradation aspect needs to be considered when
estimating future power output from the systems.
• Tcell = Tamb + xG

 Tcell is temperature of cell during operation (oC)

 Tamb is temperature of ambient atmosphere during operation time (oC)
 Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) is given by manufacturing
and often range from 45 to 50 oC
 G is irradiance at that ambient temperature.

• In the case where NOCT is not available, use:

Tcell = Tamb + 25 oC

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Calculate the cell temperature by using below data. The ambient
temperature is 30 degree Celsius with solar irradiance 700W/m2.
Find Tcell with two different formula.

Crystalline Module

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Calculate the cell temperature by using below data. The ambient
temperature is 30 degree Celsius with solar irradiance 700W/m2.
Find Tcell with two different formula.
Thin Film Module

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Which type of module obtain a higher cell temperature?
Why?

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• Determine the corrected outputs values of the modules
when operating at the various climate condition.
• Coefficient of current is small positive number. The
current output increase marginally with increasing
temperature.
• Coefficient of voltage is bigger negative number. The
voltage output decreases significantly with increasing
temperature.

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 600

Solar Cell Power Generation (W)

TF
550
C-Si

500
5.62% @ 50 C
450

400

350
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Temperature (deg C)

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• Direct temperature effect on the cells
• Become convenient to introduce a temperature correction
factor.
• Formula:
ktemp_x = 1 + [γx/100 * (Tcell – Tstc)]

Where
ktemp_x is temperature correction factor of parameter x for
the module (unitless).
γx is temperature coefficient of parameter x for the
module(%/oC).
Tstc is temperature of cell at STC (oC)
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• Temperature correction factor formula
ktemp_current = 1 + (γcurrent /100 x (Tcell – Tstc))

Where
ktemp_current is temperature correction factor for current (dimensionless).
γcurrent is temperature coefficient current (%/oC).

• Corrected output formula

Icorrected = Istc x ktemp_current

Where
Icorrected is corrected current output of module (A)
Istc is current output of module at STC (A)
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• Temperature correction factor formula
ktemp_power = 1 + (γpower /100 x (Tcell – Tstc))

Where
ktemp_power is temperature correction factor for power (dimensionless).
γpower is temperature coefficient power (%/oC).

• Corrected output formula

Pcorrected = Pstc x ktemp_power

Where
Pcorrected is corrected power output of module (W)
Pstc is power output of module at STC (W)
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Pcorrected = Pmax x ktemp_power
= Pmax x [1 + (γpower (%/oC) x (Tcell – Tstc))]

Voc_corrected = Voc x ktemp_voltage

= Voc x [1 + (γoc (%/oC) x (Tcell – Tstc))] << Sharp Thin Film Spec
= Voc +[ γoc (V/oC) x (Tcell – Tstc)] << Sharp Crystalline Spec

Isc_corrected = Isc x ktemp_current

= Isc x [1 + (Isc (%/oC) x (Tcell – Tstc))]

*Tstc = 25 oC

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• For the NSF130-G5 module, calculate the ktemp for
current, voltage and power if the module temperature
is 50C. Assume G= 1000W/m2
Proc  Pmp  k temp  k G  k mm  k dirt  k aging

I sc _ roc  I sc _ stc  k temp _ i  k G  k mm  k dirt

Voc _ roc  Voc _ stc  k temp _ v  k mm

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Ambient temperature 30oC , G= 800W/m2, NOCT = 47.5 oC

1.Calculate temperature correction factor & corrected, Voc, Isc & Pmax.

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Ambient temperature 30oC , G= 800W/m 2, NOCT = 44 oC

1.Calculate temperature correction factor & corrected, Voc, Isc & Pmax

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• The solar irradiance varies quickly & the output PV
module behaves in synchronicity immediately with
solar irradiance.

PSF = kG = (Garray_plane / 1000 Wm-2)

Where
PSF is Peak Sun Factor (dimensionless)
Garray_plane is solar irradiance in array plane (Wm-2)

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• Current is directly proportional to solar irradiance and
voltage is marginally affected, while power is
approximately directly proportional to solar irradiance.

Pmp_corrected_psf = Pmp_stc x ftemp_power x PSF

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Calculate previous power corrected output if
irradiance is 800W/m 2.

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