1. E-ISSN: 2321–9637
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology
Available Online at: http://www.ijrat.org
408
MODELING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY AND
EXAMINING EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION IN
MATLAB/SIMULINK
Nitin R. Aghara1
, Punit N. Sompura2
1
Student, School of Engineering R.K.University
2
Assistant Professor, School of Engineering R.K.University
Email: agharanitin1990@gmail.com
punit.sompura@rku.ac.in
ABSTARCT:
This paper presents the modeling and simulation of photovoltaic model using MATLAB/Simulink
software package. The proposed model is design with a user-friendly icon using Simpower of Simulink
block libraries. Taking the effect of irradiance and temperature into consideration, the output current
and power characteristic of PV model are simulated using the proposed model.
Keywords: Photovoltaic cell; characteristics; matlab/Simulink.
1. INTRODUCTION
Photovoltaic energy is a source of interesting energy. It is renewable, inexhaustible and nonpolluting and that it
is more and more intensively used as energy sources in various applications. Photovoltaic systems have been the
worldwide fast growing energy source because of the increase in energy demand and the fact that fossil energy
sources are finite, and that they are expensive. Furthermore, the impacts that the energy technology has on the
environment which make the photovoltaic become a mature technology in used. The increase in a number of
Photovoltaic system installed all over the world brought the need for proper supervision and control algorithms
as well as modeling and simulation tool for researcher and practitioners involved in its application is very
necessary.
In this paper, the design of PV system using simple circuit model with detailed circuit modeling of PV module
is presented.
2. THE CIRCUIT MODELS OF THE PV MODULES
Photovoltaic cell models have long been a source for the description of photovoltaic cell behaviors for
researchers and professionals. The ideal photovoltaic module consists of a single diode connected in parallel
with a light generated current source (Isc ) as shown in Figure-1. The equation for the output current is given by:
I=Isc-ID
where,
ID== Isc/[exp( qVoc / NskAT ) -1]
Fig.1 Equivalent circuit of photovoltaic cell

2. E-ISSN: 2321–9637
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology
Available Online at: http://www.ijrat.org
409
For modeling of photovoltaic array, we must be calculating photo current, reverse saturation current. So first we
calculate this term in following steps.
2.1. Photo Current
In Fig.2[2], the module photocurrent Iph of the photovoltaic module depends linearly on the solar irradiation
and is also influenced by the temperature according to the following equation.
Iph = [Iscref + Ki (Tk - Tref)]*λ/1000
Where,
Iph =light generated current at nominal condition
Ki = Temperature co efficient
Tk =actual Temperature
Tref =reference Temperature
2.2. Module Reverse Saturation Current
In Fig.3[2] Module reverse saturation current, Irs is given by the equation,
Irs = Isc/[exp( qVoc / NskAT ) -1]
Where,
Irs= Reverse Saturation Current,
q = electron charge (1.6 × 10-19C),
Voc = the Solar module open circuit voltage (21.24V),
Ns = the number of cells connected in series,
k = the Boltzmann constant (1.3805×10-23 J/K),
A = the Ideality factor (1.6).
2.3. Module Saturation Current I0
In Fig.4 The module saturation current Io that varies with the cell temperature is given by,
Fig.2 Model of photo current Iph
Fig.3 Model of reverse saturation current, Irs

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Where,
Eg = the bandgap energy of the semiconductor
2.4. Module for calculate NsAKT
2.5. Equivalent circuit of photovoltaic array
The detailed circuit model of PV module is shown in fig.6.
3. THE SIMULATION RESULTS
Figure -8 shows the I-V characteristics of PV module at constant irradiation and constant temperature.
E-ISSN: 2321–9637
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology
Available Online at: http://www.ijrat.org
= the bandgap energy of the semiconductor
Equivalent circuit of photovoltaic array
The detailed circuit model of PV module is shown in fig.6.
THE SIMULATION RESULTS
V characteristics of PV module at constant irradiation and constant temperature.
Fig.4 Model of saturation current I0
Fig.5 Model for calculate NsAKT
Fig.7 Equivalent circuit of PV module.
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Advent Technology
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V characteristics of PV module at constant irradiation and constant temperature.

4. E-ISSN: 2321–9637
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology
Available Online at: http://www.ijrat.org
411
Figure -9 shows the P-V characteristics of PV module at constant irradiation and constant temperature.
Figure-10 shows the I-V output characteristics of PV module with varying irradiance at the constant
temperatures. It is depicted that the PV output current varies drastically with insulation conditions and there is
an optimum operating point such that the PV system delivers its maximum possible power to the load. The
optimum operating points changes with the solar insulation, temperature and load conditions.
Figure-11 shows the P-V out characteristics of the PV module with varying irradiance at the constant
temperatures. From the graphs when the irradiance increases, the current and voltage output also increases. This
result shows the net increase in power output with an increase in irradiance at the constant temperatures.
Fig.8 I-V characteristics of PV module
Fig.9 P-V characteristics of PV module
Fig.10 Characteristic-varying irradiance- constant temperature

5. E-ISSN: 2321–9637
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology
Available Online at: http://www.ijrat.org
412
4. CONCLUSION
An accurate PV module electrical model is presented and demonstrated in Matla/Simulink. It can be seen
that the PV current IPH is a function of the solar irradiation and is the only energy conversion process in which light
energy is converted to electrical energy. The physical equations governing the PV module (also applicable to PV cell)
is elaborately presented with numerical values of module saturation current at various temperatures. Hence, this
circuit model presents the relationship between module parameters and circuit performance. This involves the step-by-
step method for the PV modeling in Matlab Simulink. This paper provides a clear and concise understanding of the, I-
V and P-V characteristics of PV module, which will serve as the model for researchers and expert in the field of PV
modeling.
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Fig.11 P-V characteristic-varying irradiance-constant temperature.