Solar PV
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IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 24, NO. 5, MAY 2009
Comprehensive Approach to Modeling and
Simulation of Photovoltaic Arrays
Marcelo Gradella Villalva, Jonas Rafael Gazoli, and Ernesto Ruppert Filho
Abstract—This paper proposes a method of modeling and simulation of photovoltaic arrays. The main objective is to find the parameters of the nonlinear I–V equation by adjusting the curve at three points: open circuit, maximum power, and short circuit.
Given these three points, which are provided by all commercial array datasheets, the method finds the best I–V equation for the single-diode photovoltaic (PV) model including the effect of the series and parallel resistances, and warranties that the maximum power of the model matches with the maximum power of the real array. With the parameters of the adjusted I–V equation, one can build a PV circuit model with any circuit simulator by using basic math blocks. The modeling method and the proposed circuit model are useful for power electronics designers who need a simple, fast, accurate, and easy-to-use modeling method for using in simulations of PV systems. In the first pages, the reader will find a tutorial on
PV devices and will understand the parameters that compose the single-diode PV model. The modeling method is then introduced and presented in details. The model is validated with experimental data of commercial PV arrays.
Index Terms—Array, circuit, equivalent, model, modeling, photovoltaic (PV), simulation.
I. INTRODUCTION
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) system directly converts sunlight into electricity. The basic device of a PV system is the
PV cell. Cells may be grouped to form panels or arrays. The voltage and current available at the terminals of a PV device may directly feed small loads such as lighting systems and
DC motors. More sophisticated applications require electronic converters to process the electricity from the PV device. These converters may be used to
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 24, NO. 5, MAY 2009
Comprehensive Approach to Modeling and
Simulation of Photovoltaic Arrays
Marcelo Gradella Villalva, Jonas Rafael Gazoli, and Ernesto Ruppert Filho
Abstract—This paper proposes a method of modeling and simulation of photovoltaic arrays. The main objective is to find the parameters of the nonlinear I–V equation by adjusting the curve at three points: open circuit, maximum power, and short circuit.
Given these three points, which are provided by all commercial array datasheets, the method finds the best I–V equation for the single-diode photovoltaic (PV) model including the effect of the series and parallel resistances, and warranties that the maximum power of the model matches with the maximum power of the real array. With the parameters of the adjusted I–V equation, one can build a PV circuit model with any circuit simulator by using basic math blocks. The modeling method and the proposed circuit model are useful for power electronics designers who need a simple, fast, accurate, and easy-to-use modeling method for using in simulations of PV systems. In the first pages, the reader will find a tutorial on
PV devices and will understand the parameters that compose the single-diode PV model. The modeling method is then introduced and presented in details. The model is validated with experimental data of commercial PV arrays.
Index Terms—Array, circuit, equivalent, model, modeling, photovoltaic (PV), simulation.
I. INTRODUCTION
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) system directly converts sunlight into electricity. The basic device of a PV system is the
PV cell. Cells may be grouped to form panels or arrays. The voltage and current available at the terminals of a PV device may directly feed small loads such as lighting systems and
DC motors. More sophisticated applications require electronic converters to process the electricity from the PV device. These converters may be used to
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