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Comparative Analysis on the Performance of a Short String of Series-Connected and Parallel-Connected Photovoltaic Array Under Partial Shading

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Abstract

The output power from the photovoltaic (PV) array decreases and the array exhibit multiple peaks when it is subjected to partial shading (PS). The power loss in the PV array varies with the array configuration, physical location and the shading pattern. This paper compares the relative performance of a PV array consisting of a short string of three PV modules for two different configurations. The mismatch loss, shading loss, fill factor and the power loss due to the failure in tracking of the global maximum power point, of a series string with bypass diodes and short parallel string are analysed using MATLAB/Simulink model. The performance of the system is investigated for three different conditions of solar insolation for the same shading pattern. Results indicate that there is considerable power loss due to shading in a series string during PS than in a parallel string with same number of modules.

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Abbreviations

A :

Ideality factor of the diode: 1.3

A bypass :

Ideality factor of the bypass diode

G :

Irradiance reaching the surface of the module

I ph :

PV cell photocurrent, proportional to temperature and irradiance of the PV cell

I d0 :

Average current through the diode

I o :

Reverse saturation current of the diode

I :

Output current of the PV cell

I PV :

Output current of the PV array

\( I_{{o_{bypass}}} \) :

Reverse saturation current of the bypass diode

I module :

Output current of the PV module with bypass diode

K :

Boltzmann constant: 1.38 × 10−23 J/K

K i :

Temperature coefficient of SC current

K V :

Temperature coefficient on open circuit voltage

K t :

Temperature-rise coefficient

P MPP1 :

Power of the local MPP at low voltages

P MPP2 :

Power of the local MPP at high voltages

\( P_{{MPP}_{global}} \) :

Power at global MPP

P max :

Maximum possible power under partial shading

q :

Charge of an electron: 1.6 × 10−19C

R S :

Intrinsic series resistance of the solar cell

R sh :

Equivalent shunt resistance of the solar array

ST :

Standard test conditions: irradiance 1,000 W/m2, cell junction temperature 25 °C, and reference air mass 1.5 solar spectral irradiance distributions

T :

Surface temperature of the PV module

T amb :

Ambient temperature of PV cell, 20 °C

ΔT :

(T –T ST ), temperature at ST is taken to be 25 °C

V do :

Average voltage across the diode

V :

Output voltage of the PV cell

V pv :

Output voltage of the PV array

V module :

Output voltage of the PV module with bypass diode

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Acknowledgments

The first author is thankful to the IT Department, Ministry of Kerala for the providing the facilities under the SPEED IT Programme for undergoing research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Trivandrum, Trivandrum, India

    S. Vijayalekshmy, S. Rama Iyer & Bisharathu Beevi

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  1. S. Vijayalekshmy
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Correspondence to S. Vijayalekshmy.

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Vijayalekshmy, S., Rama Iyer, S. & Beevi, B. Comparative Analysis on the Performance of a Short String of Series-Connected and Parallel-Connected Photovoltaic Array Under Partial Shading. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. B 96, 217–226 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40031-014-0143-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40031-014-0143-7

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