Modeling and Simulation of Energy Recovery from a Photovoltaic Solar Cell

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) solar cell which converts solar energy directly into electric energy is one of the feasible alternative sources to fossil fuel. This study aims at predicting the energy recovery from typical photovoltaic solar cell, BP 3 series 235 W solar panel, by developing a reliable mathematical model of the solar panel which could represent the real systems. The model equation was solve using the ‘solve block’ tool in MathCAD 14 software and validated by physical data obtained from literature. Using the model develop the effect of temperature and solar radiance on performance of PV solar panel was investigated using nominal condition of 298 K and 1000 W/m2 as basis. Temperature was varied between 273, 298, 323, 348 and 373 K at constant irradiance of 1000W/m2. Solar irradiance was varied using 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 W/m2 while maintaining temperature at 298 K. The energy recovery from the PV model was evaluated using the fill factor concept . From the analysis of results, there is some agreement between the simulated result and the reported experimental performance of the PV solar panel. In purview of values of solar irradiation (200 - 1000 W/m2) and temperature (273 - 373 K) there were studied, the energy recovery was maximum at 79.98% which agrees with values between 75% and 85% obtained in practical solar cells.