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Experiment#6 - Characteristic Curves of A Solar Cell

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221 views20 pages

Experiment#6 - Characteristic Curves of A Solar Cell

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Experiment# 6

Characteristic Curves of a Solar Cell


Introduction:
To measure the current-voltage characteristics of a solar cell at different light intensities, the
distance between the light source and the solar cell is varied. Moreover, the dependence of no-
load voltage on temperature is determined.

Figure 1: Experimental setup

Keywords:
Semi-conductor, PN junction, Energy-band diagram, Fermi characteristic energy level, Diffusion
potential, Internal resistance, Efficiency, Photo- conductive effect, Acceptors, Donors, Valence
band, Conduction band.
Conceptual Objectives/Tasks:
1. Measure the intensity of light lamp with glass and without glass at various distances
using thermopile and plot the light intensity at various distances.
2. Measure the short circuit current and no-load voltage with glass and without glass at
different light intensities and plot the current-voltage characteristic at different light
intensities.
3. Estimate the dependence of no-load voltage and short-circuit current on temperature at

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various distances using air blower (heating).
4. Plot the current-voltage characteristic under different operating conditions i.e. heating the
equipment with a blower, no heating, and shining the light through a glass plate.
Questions to be prepared before coming to the lab:
1. How do you measure the IV curve of a solar cell?
2. What are the characteristics of the solar cell?
3. What are solar cell parameters?

Theory:
Pure silicon is deliberately "impurities" (doped) with trivalent and pentavalent impurity atoms to
make a P or N type Semi-conductor. If we put a P-and N-type crystal together we get a junction
(PN-junction in Fig. 2) whose electrical properties determine the performance of the solar cell.

Figure 2: PN-Junction in the Energy Band Diagram – acceptors, + donors, UD is the diffusion potential,
EF is the Fermi Characteristic Energy Level and e is the elementary charge

In equilibrium (with no external voltage) the Fermi characteristic energy level EF will be the
same throughout. Because of the difference in the concentrations of electrons and holes in the P-
and N-regions, electrons diffuse into the P-region and holes into the N-region. The immobile
impurity atoms create a space charge-limited current region; the diffusion current and the field
current offset one another in equilibrium.

Figure 3: Construction of a silicon solar cell

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The diffusion potential UD in the PN-junction depends on the amount of doping and corresponds
to the original difference between the Fermi energy levels of the separate P- and N-regions.
The distance between the valence band and the conduction band in silicon at room temperature
is;
𝑬 = 𝟏. 𝟏 𝒆𝑽
For silicon, the diffusion potential is;
𝑼𝑫 = 𝟎. 𝟓 𝒕𝒐 𝟎. 𝟕 𝑽
If light falls on the PN-junction, the photons create electron hole pairs separated by the space
charge. The electrons are drawn into the n-region and the holes into the p-region. Photons are
absorbed not only in the PN-junction but also in the P-layer above it. The electrons produced are
minority carriers in those areas: their concentration is greatly reduced by recombination and with
it their efficiency.
The P-layer must therefore be sufficiently thin for the electrons of diffusion length LE to enter
the n-layer.
𝑳𝑬 ≫ 𝒕
Where;
t = thickness of p-layer.

Figure 4: Light intensity (J) at distance (s) normal to the light source

If g is the number of electron-hole pairs produced per unit area and of a voltage U is applied

3
across the PN-junction, a stream of electrons and holes of density is produced;
𝒏𝒐 𝑫𝒆 𝒕 𝒑𝒐 𝑫𝒉
𝒊 = 𝒆. (𝒆𝒆𝑼⁄𝒌𝑻−𝟏 ). ( 𝟐 + ) − 𝒆𝒈
𝑳 𝒆 𝑳𝒉

Where e is the elementary charge, k is Boltzmann’s constant, T is the temperature, L is the


diffusion length of electrons and holes, D is the diffusion constant for electrons and holes, no and
po are equilibrium concentrations of the minority carriers.
The short-circuit current density (U = 0) is proportional to the intensity of the incident light at
fixed temperature represented by the relation
𝒊𝒔 = −𝒆. 𝒈
Here g becomes very slightly greater (less than 0.01 % / K) as the temperature rises.
The voltage U can become as high as the diffusion potential UD but no higher. As the
temperature rises the no-load voltage decreases typically by –2.3 mV/K, since the equilibrium
concentrations n0 and p0 increase with the temperature:
𝒏𝒐 ~𝒆−∆𝑬/𝟐𝒌𝑻

Experiment and Procedure:


The thermopile only measures the light of the lamp but the solar cell also detects the diffused
light coming from reflections on the bench top. Therefore, it is recommended to cover the bench
with a black cloth or piece of black card to suppress the diffused light.
The experimental set-up is as shown in Fig. 1. Do the electrical connections as shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 5: Circuit for measuring the current-voltage characteristic.

4
Task 1
Light Intensity Measurements:
The light intensity is varied by varying the distance between the light source and the solar cell.
1. First of all, measure the light intensity with the thermopile and universal measuring amplifier
with the equipment at different distances from the light source (Note: the maximum output
voltage of the amplifier is 10 V). For this purpose, connect the red cable (+ve) at red terminal of
thermopile and its other end at In port (Max: ± 10V) of the universal measuring amplifier while
a black cable is attached with black port of thermopile and ground port of the universal
measuring amplifier.
2. The universal measuring amplifier is set to input mode switch at “Low Drift”, to
amplification factor 100 (102) and to time constant 0.
3. The output terminal (max. output voltage ± 10V) of the universal measuring amplifier is
connected with a digital multi-meter (press DC button and set its voltage knob at 20V). For this
purpose, connect the one end of the red cable with one of the out terminal (yellow color) of the
amplifier while its other end with voltmeter port “V”. Similarly, connect the one end of the
black cable with the out ground terminal of the universal measuring amplifier.
4. The inlet aperture marks the position of the thermopile (dia: 2.5 cm). The initial distance
between the lamp and the thermopile should be at least 50 cm, since the angular aperture of the
thermopile is only 20°. To suppress the influence of the temperature on the characteristics of the
solar cell, keep it at room temperature with the aid of the cold air blower during the experiment.
5. Place the light lamp at 50 cm away from the thermopile and it should be adjusted in such a
way that DMM give the maximum output voltage “Vthermopile” and immediately switch off the
lamp in-order to avoid the heat up. Record the value of “Vthermopile” in Table I.
6 Now change the position of thermopile by increasing the distance 10 cm away from the light
lamp, so thermopile will be at 60 cm distance from the lamp. Again switch ON the lamp and
measure the Vthermopile.
7. Repeat these steps from 4 to 6 for 70 cm, 80 cm, 90 cm and 100 cm distances and measure
the Vthermopile on each distance.
Glass effect on the intensity of light:
8. Place the glass at a fixed distance near to the lamp but it must be ensuring that all light from
the lamp is passed through this glass.

5
9. Then, repeat steps from 4 to 7.
Short Circuit Current and No Load Voltage Measurements:
10. In-order to measure the short circuit current of solar cell battery, connect the red cable (+ve)
of solar cell battery to the red terminal of rheostat (variable resistor). Then, a one end of the
black cable is connected to black terminal of rheostat and its other end is connected with
positive port (mA) of Ammeter. Finally, negative terminal (blue color cable) of solar cell
battery is connected with ammeter port “COM”. So the Ammeter is in series with the solar cell
battery and the rheostat.
11. Select the measuring range 200 mA DC of ammeter.
12. Now, connect the voltmeter in parallel to the terminal of the solar cell battery. For this
purpose, connect the one end of the red cable with positive terminal (red color cable end) of the
solar cell battery while its other end with Voltmeter port “V”. Similarly, connect the one end of
the black cable with the negative terminal (blue color cable end) of the solar cell battery while
its other end with Voltmeter port ‘COM’.
13. Select the measuring range 20 V of DC voltmeter.
14. Switch on the lamp and align it so that the solar cell battery is uniformly irradiated.
15. Place the solar cell battery at 50 cm
16. Place the light lamp at 50 cm away from the solar cell battery and it should be adjusted in
such a way that Voltmeter give the maximum no load voltage “Uo” and immediately switch off
the lamp in-order to avoid the heat up. Record the value of Uo in Table I.
17. Change the load resistance through the rheostat until Uo become almost zero, then note the
reading on Ammeter, so that the short-circuit current (IS) should be approximately 180 mA or
greater than 150 mA. Record the value of that short-circuit current in Table I.
18. Now change the position of solar cell battery by increasing the distance 10 cm away from
the light lamp, so solar cell battery will be at 60 cm distance from the lamp. Again switch ON
the lamp and measure the Uo and IS.
19. Repeat the steps from 16 to 18 for 70 cm, 80 cm, 90 cm and 100 cm distances and measure
the Uo and IS on each distance.
Glass effect on the short circuit current and no load voltage:
20. Place the glass at a fixed distance (it should be same as in case of thermopile) near to the
lamp but it must be ensuring that all light from the lamp is passed through this glass.

6
21. Then, repeat the steps from 15 to 19.
Light Intensity:
Finally, the intensity of the light lamp without glass and with glass can be calculated through the
following relation;
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
Where
Vthermopile = Output voltage (V) from thermopile
Is = short-circuit current (mA)
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m
Table I: Thermopile voltage, short circuit current and no load voltage values without glass and with glass
for measuring the light intensity.
Distance between Distance Thermopile Short Circuit No Load Intensity of
the Lamp and between Voltage (V) Current (mA) Voltage (V) Light (J/W.m-2)
Thermopile/Solar the Without With Without With Without With Without With
Cell (cm) Lamp Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass
and
Glass
Plate
(cm)
50 20
60 20
70 20
80 20
90 20
100 20

Task 2
To demonstrate the temperature effect, blow hot air over the solar cell and measure the
temperature directly in front of it with a thermometer. Do not touch the cell as its thin p-layer can
easily be damaged. Remember: Air blower should be place between the lamp and solar cell
battery but it should not be in the path of light.
1. Switch ON the Air blower and align it such that all hot air falls on solar cell battery and
measure the temperature (degree Celsius) on surface of solar cell battery at 50 cm, 60 cm, 70 cm,

7
80 cm, 90 cm and 100 cm via thermometer and record the values of temperature in Table II.
2. Repeat the steps (10 to 21) of Task 1 and we recommend separating the lamp and solar cell at
least 50 cm because in shorter distances the temperature rise caused by radiation could falsify the
measurement.
Light Intensity due to effect of temperature:
Finally, the intensity of the light lamp without glass and with glass in the condition of
temperature can be calculated through the following relation;
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
Where
Vthermopile = Output voltage (V) from thermopile
Is = short-circuit current (mA)
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m
Table II: Thermopile voltage, short circuit current and no load voltage values due to effect of
temperature.
Distance between the Lamp Temp (°C) Short Circuit No Load Voltage
and Solar Cell (cm) Current (mA) (V)
50
60
70
80
90
100

Evaluation:
Task: 1
It is assumed that all the light entering the aperture (dia. 2.5 cm) reaches the measuring surface.
The sensitivity is 0.16 mV/mW. Plotting the light intensity J over the distance s gives a straight
line. By extrapolating the straight line we can determine the intensity at distances s ≤ 50 cm.
Fig. 6 shows the relationship between the light intensity and the short circuit current and no-load
voltage

8
Figure 6: Short-circuit current Is and no-load voltage Uo as a function of the light intensity J.

The solar battery which consists of four cells connected in series thus has a maximum no-load
voltage of 2 V. The short circuit current is proportional to the light intensity.
𝑨
𝑰𝑺 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑱
𝑾𝒎−𝟐
Task 2:
Measuring the effect of temperature on Uo and Is the temperature distribution over the hot air
area must be taken into account. The measurements can provide only a rough order of magnitude
of this. Measuring the no-load voltage with hot and cold air gave:
∆𝑼𝒐
= −𝟖 𝒎𝑽/𝑲
∆𝑻
We thus obtain the value –2 mV/K for one cell. The change in short-circuit current with the
temperature cannot be measured.
Glass plate effect:
A glass plate which absorbs light in the infrared region can be used to reduce a rise in
temperature of the solar battery. Fig. 7 shows the effect of the various ‘operating modes’.

9
Figure 7: Current-voltage characteristics of the solar battery (a) with blower heating (b) With no blower
heating (c) when screened with a glass plate.

10
National University of Technology
(NUTECH)
Initial Lab Report
Course: Applied Physics Lab (PHY1302)
Batch: Fall 2023
Department: Computer Engineering

Initial Lab Report


Experiment No. 6 Date:

Experiment Title:

Name: _______________________________

NUTECH ID: _________________________

Instructor: ____________________________

Signature (Instructor):

1. Experiment Objectives:

2. Basic Equations of Experiment Theory:

11
3. Observations and Calculations:
A. Measurement of Light Intensity Without Glass and With Glass:
At 50 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 50 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 60 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐

12
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 60 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 70 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 70 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

13
Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 80 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 80 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

At 90 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2

14
At 90 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2
At 100 cm without Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2
At 100 cm with Glass:
Vthermopile = V
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA
𝑽𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 × 𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑱⁄𝑾. 𝒎−𝟐 ) =
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐
r = Radius of black surface of thermopile = 2.5 cm = 0.0125 m

Intensity = J/W.m-2
Note:
i) Plot the graph between Light intensity without glass and with glass at various
distances from the light source.
ii) Plot the graph between short circuit current and no-load voltage as a function of light
intensity.

15
Table I: Thermopile voltage, short circuit current and no load voltage values without glass and with glass
for measuring the light intensity.
Distance between Distance Thermopile Short Circuit No Load Intensity of
the Lamp and between Voltage (V) Current (mA) Voltage (V) Light (J/W.m-2)
Thermopile/Solar the Without With Without With Without With Without With
Cell (cm) Lamp Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass Glass
and
Glass
Plate
(cm)
50 20

60 20

70 20

80 20

90 20

100 20

B. Measurement of No Load Voltage and Short Circuit Current of Solar Battery


Due to Effect of Temperature:
At 50 cm without Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 50 cm with Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 60 cm without Glass:
Temperature = °C

16
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 60 cm with Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 70 cm without Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 70 cm with Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 80 cm without Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 80 cm with Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 90 cm without Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V

17
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 90 cm with Glass:
Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 100 cm without Glass:


Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

At 100 cm with Glass:


Temperature = °C
Uo (no load voltage) = V
IS (short circuit current) = mA

Note:
i) Plot the graph of Current-voltage characteristics of the solar battery (a) with blower
heating (b) With no blower heating (c) when screened with a glass plate.

Table II: Thermopile voltage, short circuit current and no load voltage values due to effect of
temperature.
Distance between the Temp (°C) Short Circuit Current (mA) No Load Voltage (V)
Lamp and Solar Cell (cm)
50
60
70
80
90
100

18
4. Results and Analysis:

19
Final Lab Report Template
Title Page
The title page of your Lab report should include the following information:
a) NUTECH Logo
b) No. and Name of the Experiment
c) Submitted To: Name of the Instructor
d) Submitted By: Individual Member Name with respective registration No.s
e) Date of Experiment Performed

1. Objective:
Objective of the practical will be explained in this section. For example, this practical is used to determine
different types of strength.
2. Apparatus:
Write the name of the apparatus used in the experiment.
3. Theoretical Explanation:
Explain the theory behind the practical or experiment. It can include ideal diagrams used in theory and
graphs etc.
4. Explanation of Procedure:
Pre explanation of the practical
5. Observations and Calculations:
The Calculation and observation during the experiment which includes reading and noting down the
measurements, draw concerned tables shown in the demonstration and class lecture.
6. Results and Analysis:
In this portion, you will describe what is achieved during experiment. Analyze and discuss the practical.
Use graphical representation if any. All calculation using formulas and demonstration of graphical portion
of the practical should be explained in this section.
7. Precautions:
Note the necessary precautions of respective practical.
8. Comments:
a) Comments about the result.
b) Whether we have achieved the desire result or not. Deduction of the practical.
c) Conclusion of the practical.

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