A novel method to extract the series resistances of individual cells in a photovoltaic module

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells 2013-08, Vol.115, p.21-28
• Main Authors: Kim, Yong Sin, Kang, Sung-Mo, Johnston, Bruce, Winston, Roland
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Differential resistance; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; I–V curve; Modules; Natural energy; Partial shading; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Series resistance; Shading; Short circuit currents; Shunts; Simulation; Solar cell; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.03.021

Non-disruptive cell-level characterization of a photovoltaic module is presented. Previous works have developed methods to extract the shunt resistances and the short circuit currents of individual cells, but their series resistances have not been characterized yet. In this paper, a novel methodology that quantifies the series resistances of individual cells is developed by using a partial shading technique with two different shading ratios. The simulation and experimental test results are presented for validation. •Extraction of the series resistances of individual cells in a PV module is presented.•A partially shaded cell quantifies the series resistance of unshaded cells.•Each cell is shaded and quantified at two different shading ratios.•The series resistance of a cell can be extracted by using those of unshaded cells.•Two separate test results of a PV module validated the theoretical analysis.