Quantification of Shading Tolerability for Photovoltaic Modules

Journal article (2017)

Authors

H. Ziar University of Tehran, Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
Behzad Asaei University of Tehran
Shahrokh Farhangi University of Tehran
O. Isabella Photovoltaic Materials and Devices - EEMCS
M.A.N. Korevaar Kipp & Zonen
M. Zeman Electrical Sustainable Energy
Research Group
Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 H. Ziar, Behzad Asaei, Shahrokh Farhangi, O. Isabella, M.A.N. Korevaar, M. Zeman
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2017.2711429
Bypass diode Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) Partial shading Performance ratio (PR) Photovoltaic (PV) technology
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Published Date

11-07-2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Electrical Sustainable Energy

Research Group

Photovoltaic Materials and Devices

Abstract

Despite several decades of research in the field of photovoltaic (PV) systems, shading tolerance has still not been properly addressed. PV modules are influenced by shading concerning many factors, such as number and configuration of cells in the module, electrical and thermal characteristics of the cells, number and type of bypass circuits, electrical characteristics of bypass elements, and shading profile features. Along with the random nature of shading profile over the lifetime of a PV system, it is difficult to choose the best module for a location which is most of the time sunny, partly cloudy, or cloudy. This paper suggests a measurable parameter, the so-called shading tolerability (ST), to classify PV modules regarding the ability to oppose shading effects. Based on mathematical and probability analysis, the ST parameter is extracted and then measured using a large area steady state solar simulator. Finally, the results of on-field experiments are presented as a proof for the shading quantification method and its significant contribution to performance ratio improvement.