Exercise 4: PV

performance during a
day 1. Make a drawing of the irradiance
and temperature curve for that day
Irradiance during a day shall be
(simplified):
0 W/m² before 6 am
300 W/m² from 6 am to 10 am
600 W/m² from 10 am to 2 pm
300 W/m² from 2 pm to 6 pm
0 W/m² after 6 pm

Module temperature shall be

(simplified):
20°C before 6 am
30 °C from 6 am to 10 am
50 °C from 10 am to 2 pm
40 °C from 2 pm to 6 pm
20°C after 6 pm

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 187
Exercise 4: PV performance during a day: Case study

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 188
Exercise 4: PV performance during a day

2. Calculate the actual generated electrical energy Wactual of a 10 kWp

(at STC) PV system (c-Si) during that day (temperature coefficient for
power output is -0.4%/K)

W t1 until t2 = PSTC ( Eactual / ESTC) ∙ (1 + (TCP ΔT)) ∙ (t2 - t1)

ΔT = Tactual – TSTC (in K)

before 6 am: Case 0: Irradiance E = 0 W/m² → Wuntil 6 am = 0 Wh

From 6 am to 10 am: Case 1: E = 300 W/m² Tcell = 30 °C

W 6-10 am = PSTC (300 W/m² / 1000 W/m²) ∙ (1 + (-0.004 /K (30-25)K)) 4 h
= 10 kW ∙ 0.3 ∙ 0.98 ∙ 4 h = 11.76 kWh
From 10 am to 2 pm: Case 2: E = 600 W/m² Tcell = 50 °C
W 10am-2pm = PSTC (600 W/m² / 1000 W/m²) ∙ (1 + (-0.004 /K (50-25)K)) 4 h
= 10 kW ∙ 0.6 ∙ 0.9 ∙ 4 h = 21.6 kWh

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 189
Exercise 4: PV performance during a day

2. Calculate the actual generated electrical energy Wactual of a 10 kWp (at STC) PV system (c-
Si) during that day (temperature coefficient for power output is -0.4%/K)

W t1 until t2 = PSTC ( Eactual / ESTC) (1 + (TCP ΔT)) (t2 - t1)

ΔT = Tactual – TSTC (in K)

From 2 pm to 6 pm: Case 3: E = 300 W/m² Tcell = 40 °C

W 6-10 am = PSTC (300 W/m² / 1000 W/m²) ∙ (1 + (-0.004 /K (40-25)K)) 4 h
= 10 kW ∙ 0.3 ∙ 0.94 ∙ 4 h = 11.28 kWh

After 6 pm: Case 4: E = 0 W/m² Tcell = 20 °C

W 10am-2pm = PSTC (0 / 1000) ∙ (1 + (-0.004 /K (20-25)K)) 4 h = 0 kWh

Total: Wtotal actual = (0 + 11.76 + 21.6 + 11.28 + 0) kWh = 44.64 kWh

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 190
 Exercise 4: PV performance during a day

3. What is the Performance Ratio PR (due to temperature effects; spectral

effects and reflections are not considered) ?

PR = Wactual / W25°C

W t1 until t2 = PSTC ( Eactual / ESTC) ∙ (1 + (TCP ΔT)) ∙ (t2 - t1)

ΔT = Tactual – TSTC (in K)

W25°C = PSTC (300 W/m² / 1000 W/m²) (1+0) 8 h + (600 W/m² / 1000 W/m²) (1+0) 4 h
= 10 kW ∙ 4.8 h = 48 kWh

PR = Wactual / W25°C = 44.64 kWh / 48 kWh = 0.93 (effect by temperature only)

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 191
4 a) From which parameters depends the open-circuit voltage of a solar cell:
O The spectrum of the irradiance (at same level of irradiance)
O the temperature of the solar cell
O the solar cell technology

4 b) From which parameters depends the short-circuit current of a solar cell?

O the spectrum of the irradiance
O the level of irradiance

5. Why are solar cells interconnected in series in a solar module?

O to increase the current O to increase the lifetime
O to increase the voltage O to increase PV conversion efficiency
O to reduce the temperature coefficient

6. If just the size of a Silicon solar cell is increased from 10 cm by 10 cm to 16 cm by 16

cm: How much is the increase of voltage ?
… of current ?
The current I is proportional to the number of absorbed photons, so it is also proportional
to the receiving area, so I-increase: 16 x 16 / 100 = 2.56 (or 156% increase). V-Increase = 0
Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems
Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 192
7) From which parameters depends the open-circuit voltage of a solar cell:
It depends on the strength of the internal electrical field, that depends on the
solar cell materials and its technology and on operating temperature
8a) For which conditions bypass diodes are important ?
O at homogeneous fog O at high wind speeds O at open-circuit conditions
O at low operating temperatures O when a cell is shadowed
O when a module is shadowed (> 1 module system)

8b) How are the bypass diodes connected ?

O bypass diodes are connected in parallel to one or a string of solar cells
O bypass diodes are connected in series to one or a string of solar cells

8c) How are the bypass diodes positioned or orientated?

O bypass diodes are positioned in such way that they are in blocking condition
for the voltage of the bridged solar cells(s) under unshaded condition
O bypass diodes are positioned in such way that they are in conducting condition
for the voltage of the bridged solar cells(s) under unshaded condition

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 193
9) Which component(s) is (are) responsible for the “weak light effect”?

O RLoad (in MPP) O Rp

O D O Rs

10. What are “sting diodes”?

O string diodes are connected in parallel to a PV module

O string diodes are connected in parallel to a string of PV modules

O string diodes are connected in series to a string of PV modules

O string diodes block the current into a string of modules if a string in parallel has a
higher voltage than the string with the string diode

O string diodes conduct the current into a string of modules if a string in parallel has
a higher voltage than the string with the string diode

O string diodes always cause a voltage loss due to the break-through-voltage of the
diode.

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 194
11. What are the “Standard Test Conditions” (STC) ?
O AM 0.0 O AM 0.5 O AM 1.0 O AM 1.5 O AM 2.0
O 100 W m² O 800 W/m² O 1000 W/m² O 1000 W m² O 1000 W
O 10 kW/m² O Ambient Temperature of 20°C O Ambient Temperature of 25°C
O Cell Temperature of 20°C O Cell Temperature of 25°C
O perpendicular incidence O both terminal contacts grounded

12. What is the “Fill factor” (FF) of a solar module ?

FF = (Vmp x I_mp) / (V_oc x I_sc)

13. What does the “Performance Ratio” (PR) mean ? It depends on which parameters ?
PR = Pactual / PSTC or Eactual / (PSTC * Number of Full Sunshine Hours)
O the performance ratio depends on the operating temperature
O the performance ratio depends on the angle of incidence of the sun
O the performance ratio depends on the actual solar spectrum in relation to the
spectral efficiency of the solar cell
O the performance ratio depends on the short circuit current under Standard Test
Conditions (STC)

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 195
14 a) A photovoltaic module operating at the MPP at an irradiance of 1000 W/m² and an
ohmic load of 4 Ohms, is now receiving 250 W/m². To which value the attached ohmic
load has to be set in order to still operate the PV module at MPP ?

O 1 Ohm O 2 Ohms O 4 Ohms O 6 Ohms O 16 Ohms

14 b) The operating temperature of that module (Vmpp = 32 V, Impp = 8 A) at 1000 W/m²

increases from 25°C to 50°C;
Temperature coefficients: TC (Vmpp) = -0.5%/K, TC (Impp) = ±0.0%/K, TC (Pmpp) = -0.5%/K

To which value the attached ohmic load has be set in order to still operate at MPP?

O 2.0 Ohms O 2.5 Ohms O 3.0 Ohms O 3.5 Ohms O 4.0 Ohms

V50°C = VSTC (1 + (TCV ΔT)) = 32 V (1-0.125) = 28 V

O 4.5 Ohms O 5.0 Ohms
Rmpp 50°C = Vmpp50°C / Impp50°C = 28 V / 8 A = 3.5 Ω

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 196
 End of
Lecture 4
and
Exercise 4

Lecture on Solar Electric Energy Systems

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter
page 197