2014 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Control and Computing Technologies (lCACCCT)

Performance Analysis of a Two-Diode model ofPV

cell forPV based generation in MATLAB
A.V. Pavan Kumari,Alivelu M. Parimi2,K. Vma Rao3
2
i
3
Research Scholar, Assistant Professor, Professor
i2
, Dept. of EE,BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, AP, India
3
R V College of Engineering, M ysore Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
2
i
3
pawanra082@gmail.com, alivelu@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in, drumarao@yahoo.co.in
Abstract-The
reduction

in

increase in concern for

natural

resources

carbon emission and

for

conventional

power

generation, the renewable energy based generation such as Wind,

Photovoltaic (PV), and Fuel cell has gained importance. Out of
which the PV based generation has gained significance due to
availability of abundant sunlight. As the Solar power conversion
is a low efficient conversion process, accurate and reliable,
modeling of solar cell is important. Due to the non-linear nature
of diode based PV model, the accurate design of PV cell is a
difficult task. A built-in model of PV cell is available in Simscape,
Simelectronics
parameters

library,

have

to

be

Matlab.
computed

The

equivalent

from

data

circuit

sheet

and

incorporated into the model. However it acts as a stiff source

when implemented with a MPPT controller.

Henceforth, to

overcome this drawback, in this paper a two-diode model of PV

cell is implemented in Matlab

Simulink

with reduced four

required parameters along with similar configuration of the

built-in

model.

This

model

allows

incorporation

of

MPPT

controller. The I-V and P-V characteristics of these two models

are investigated under different insolation levels. A PV based
generation system feeding a DC load is designed and investigated
using these two models and further implemented with MPPT
based on P&O technique.
Keywords: Two-diode model, PV modeling, PV power generation,
MATLABISimulink, Solar insolation.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The increase in the use of conventional energy sources

causes the possibility of their enervation and increase in
carbon emission. The global energy consumption is amassed
exponentially. The need of clean energy generation with less
environmental impact is required. The renewable energy
sources such as solar energy, Wind energy, Fuel cell, Geo
thermal energy, Tidal energy are gaining importance. Among
these renewable energy sources, despite of high installation
cost, the energy produced from the photovoltaic is currently
regarded as the prerequisite sustainable resources for both
standalone and grid connected system, since it offers zero
input fuel cost, rich and clean energy. Nonetheless, this kind
of alternating power generation causes problems in the
conventional electrical system where it will be connected to,
because of the dearth of control on the active and reactive
power generation. In order to overcome the shortcomings, the
potential of PV power generation should be investigated by
selecting appropriate PV module. Numerous studies have been
absorbed over the demonstration of PV module characteristics

ISBN No. 978-1-4799-3914-5/14/$3l.0 0 20 14 IEEE

and simulated for better understanding of their performances.

On the other hand, choosing the right controlling technique is
needed in order to achieve an efficient renewable energy
system [1-3].
The output power of a PV module is related to ambient
temperature and solar irradiation, which are the major
components of the mathematical model of PV cell that affect
the accuracy in the simulation. Among the various
mathematical models of PV cell proposed in the literature,
simple model is a single diode model of PV cell consisting of
short circuit current (lse), open circuit voltage (Voe) and the
diode ideality factor (N). Various researchers have proposed
different modified mathematical models of PV cell in order to
produce accurate Current-Voltage (I-V), Power-Voltage (P-V)
characteristics similar to the manufacturer PV panel [4-7]. Out
of which a two-diode model of PV cell is considered in this
paper. The behavior of the PV cell is investigated under
different solar insolation levels, by calculating the values of
Series resistance (Rs), Shunt resistance (Rp) by iteration
method to study the performance of the PV cell. A Solar cell
block having a two-diode model configuration is also inbuilt
in Simscape, Simelectronics library in M atlab.
The two PV cell models based on diodes and its
configuration (in Simscape) are considered and by selecting
optimum values, an accurate output similar to the industrial
manufacturer PV data sheet is produced and compared. Later
the PV based generation is simulated using both the
configurations of PV models to form one model with four
parameters. This PV generation system with M aximum Power
Point Tracking (MPPT) controller based on Perturb and
Observe (P&O) algoritlun feeding a DC load is analyzed. In
this context a mathematical model of two diode PV cell is
discussed in section II. Section III discussed the PV cell model
in Simscape. The characteristics of these models are compared
with manufacture data sheet in section IV. Section V
integrates these two models for PV based generation system
and implemented with MPPT controller. Section VI gives
shows the effectiveness of this system connected to a DC load.
II.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING

OF

TWO-DIODE PV CELL

In order to simulate the real behavior of a two-diode PV

cell in M ATLAB / Simulink mathematical model need to be
developed. An electrical equivalent circuit is essential to
analyze the performance of PV cell. The equivalent circuit of
two-diode PV cell is as shown in Fig. 1 consisting of Photo-

68

2014 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Control and Computing Technologies (lCACCCT)
generated current (lph), two diodes with diode currents (ld\,
1d2), Series Resistance (Rs), Shunt Resistance (Rp), output
voltage (V) and PV current (I or Ipv).

The output current of the PV cell represented by (3) is that

of single PV cell. In order to achieve desired level of output
voltage and current the PV cell are connected in series and
parallel. If the PV modules consist of Np parallel connected
cells, the output current of the PV module is expressed as:
I v,Module = I v
p
p

Fig. I.

Equivalent Circuit of Two-diode model of PV cell

The graphical interface of the M ATLAB, Simulink helps

us to develop and investigate the mathematical model of the
two-diode PV cell which cannot be interpreted by looking into
manufacturer datasheet. This electrical equivalent circuit of
PV cell is known to comprise improved accuracy at low
irradiation levels which helps us for more accurate prediction
of PV system performance under different environmental
conditions when compared to manufacturer datasheet [8, 9]. In
Fig. 1, which shows the equivalent circuit of two diode model
of PV cell the relation between output current and voltage can
be obtained by applying Kirchhoffs current law (KCL) and
governed by (1)
I v=IpH -Idl-Id2 -ISH
p

Where,

Rp

III.

Solar Cell

I'

[(

V + Rsxl
Nl xV,

J] [ (
-1 -Is2 e

V + Rsxl
N2xV,

1.602

2
lO- 3

J/K,

Isl,Is2 =

Reverse Saturation current of diodes D\, D2, A,

T = Reference cell operating temperature, 20 C

number of PV cells connected in series,

=

C h a r-a c t e r, i s t i c curves,,: c u rrent: I povver

(cell ternpelrature: 2S c-C)
12
11

Ideality factors of diodes D],

D 2.

10

1,000 (VV/rn2) _

::

3
'-'

8
7
6

5
4

2
1

Cell output voltage, V,

N], N2

Sharp NU-E245 (J5) solar panel is selected for the

M ATLAB simulation. The model consists of 50 cells of
Silicon nitride multi-crystalline silicon cells. Fig. 3 shows the
I-V and P-V characteristics taken from the data sheet [11].The
electrical parameters of the SX 320 0 are shown in Table. I.

10 . 1 9 C,

Iph = Photocurrent, function of irradiation level and

junction temperature, A,

Ns =

I-V & P-V CHARACTERISTICS OF PV CELL MODELS

COMPARED WITH MANUFACTURER DATA SHEET

(3)

k = Boltzmann constant = l.38 *

The solar cell block has three different configurations

inbuilt (a) By SIC Current and OIC Voltage, 5 parameter, (b)
By equivalent circuit parameters,5 parameter, (c) By
equivalent circuit parameters, 8 parameter. Out of the three
configurations 'by equivalent circuit parameters, 8 parameter'
is selected which is similar to that of equation based two-diode
model of PV cell discussed in section II.

-1

Rp

where,

Solar cell block in Simscape/Simelectronics library

IV.

J]

V+RsxIpv

charge on electron

SIMELECTRONICS

The solar cell block in the Simelectronics library shown in

Fig. 2 is modeled on the basis of two diode equivalent circuit
of PV cell as shown in Fig. 1. The output current of the PV
cell is given by (3).

10" 102 are the currents of the diodes D" D2.

Ipv=Iph-isl e

V=

PV CELL MODEL IN SIMSCAPE,

(1)

(2)
Equation (2) is the elementary PV cell model which does
not represent the practical I-V characteristics of the PV cell.
Practical PV module comprises of different elements that need
to be added into the elementary (2) such as Rs, Rp. The output
current of PV cell (2) is rewritten as (3)

q=

p
(4)
In order to simulate the PV cell behavior similar to the
practical PV cell the unknown parameters in (3) i.e., R., Rp are
calculated by iteration [10 ]. The computed values of Rs and Rp
are used to make the maximum point of the P-V curve
simulated to coincide with the maximum point of the practical
P-V curve of the PV module taken from datasheet. This can be
achieved by iteratively increasing the values of Rs and
simultaneously calculating the value of Rp. Computation of the
iterative values will terminate when the calculated power
P max,C using these values equals the reference maximum power
P max, 0 taken from the datasheet.

Fig. 2.

V +Rs xl

800

(VV/rn2)

/'

'600 (vv}rn2) /./

-400 (vvYn,;)
200

(vVXn2)----0" ____

10

20

L
/'
./'
/'

vs.

250

J.---.

r--\--"-

:>

"'\\
,

b
\
f',.'\. \

--

voltage

240
220
200
180

150

100

140
120

80

50

1"-...\\1
,,\1

40
20

"u,
o
30
40
Curure ..... 1!: vs. v o- I "t: age
P c> ""'-er-

V'S

vc::>lt.;;t.ge

Fig. 3. I-V and P-V characteristics of Sharp NU-E245 (15) from data sheet

69

2014 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Control and Computing Technologies (lCACCCT)
TABLE T.

ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS OF SHARP NU-E245 (J5) FROM DATA

SHEET
Electrical Parameters

Maximum Power (Pmax)

calculated from the manufacturer data sheet. The simulated I

V and P-V characteristics at different solar irradiance levels
are shown in Fig. 7 [12, 13].
I-V And P-V Characteristics of SOLAR CELL

245 W

Voltage at Pmax (Vmpp)

30.5 V

Current at Pmax (Impp)

8.04 A

Short-circuit Current (lsc)

8.73 A

Open-circuit voltage (Voc)

37.5 V

Temperature co-efficient of Tsc

+0. 053%/'C

Temperature co-efficient of Voc

-130mV/'C

Temperature co-efficient of power

NOCT

-0.485

k
:r=----
==---d
u

VOLTAGE IV)

o/oI'c

47.5C

Fig.4 shows the equation based implementation of the

Two-diode model of PV panel in Simulink. The mathematical
modeling of the PV cell was discussed in section II. The PV
panel consists of 50 PV such cells connected in series to
generate Voc=37.5V to match the datasheet. The I-V and P-V
characteristics for different solar irradiation levels obtained by
simulation are shown in Fig.5.

Fig. 7. I-V and P-V Characteristics of Two-diode model of PV panel

implemented in simulink, Simscape at T=25C, different irradiation
levels.

The electrical parameters obtained at standard test

condition (STC) from simulation of the two PV cell models
are compared with the electrical parameters of the
manufacturer datasheet. The results are tabulated in Table II. It
is observed that the simulated electrical parameters of the PV
panel from both models coincide with the manufacturer
datasheet parameters.
TABLE II. COMPARING ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS OF TWO PV PANEL
MODELS AT STC WITH MANUFACTURER DATASHEET

Fig. 4. Simulink implementation of Two-diode model of PV panel

I-V AND P-V CHARACTERISTICS OF PV CELL

160
140
120
100

;:Q
?
..:s

Two-diode model
ofPV cell in
Simulink

Two-diode
model ofPV
cell in
Simulink,
Simscaoe

Electrical
Parameters

Manufacturer
Data-sheet

Voc

37.5 V

37.5 V

36.0 V

Isc

8.73 A

8.729 A

8.73 A

Pmax

245 W

245.06 W

245.09 W

Vmpp

30.5 V

30.75 V

30.05 V

Impp

8.04 A

7.97 A

8.15 A

The models discussed in the above two sections will be

considered in the PV based generation system with MPPT
controller as described in the following section.
V.

PV BASED GENERATION SYSTEM WITH MPPT

CONTROLLER

VOLTAGE (V)

Fig. 5. I-V and P-V Characteristics of Two-diode model of PV panel

implemented in simulink at T=250C, different irradiation levels.

The block diagram of PV based generation system is shown

in Fig. 8. It consists of PV panel, Boost converter, MPPT
controller and DC load.
PV
PANEL

Fig. 8.
Fig. 6.

SimulinkiSimscape implementation of Two-diode model of PV panel

Fig.6 shows the model based design of Two-diode model

of PV panel in Simulink, Simscape environment. Similarly 50
solar cells are connected in series in the panel to give
Voc=37.5V. The equivalent circuit parameters of the model are

Building blocks of PV based generation System

The Boost converter connected at the output of PV panel

boosts up the PV panel output voltage to required level. This
is achieved by sensing PV panel terminal voltage and current
and giving it as an input to M MPT controller. The MPPT
controller uses the P&O algorithm [14, 15] to track the

70

2014 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Control and Computing Technologies (lCACCCT)
maximum power point (MPP) and generates the gate signal of
IGBT to boost up the output voltage to the required level.
Thus the two different models of PV cell discussed in section
II and III is implemented with MPPT controller and analyzed.
A.

seen in Fig. 11 and 12. Fig.13 is the voltage, current sample

input to the MPPT controller, which is the output voltage and
current of the PV panel. It is observed that the output voltage
of PV cell remains constant at n.05V.
?

Simulink. Simscape Implementation of PV based

generation system with MPPT controller:

f--

m
oc
oc
::J
U

V I Inout to MPPT controller

80

60

40
20
W
0 V\
f-
...J
-200

!
!
i
0.1

0.2

0.3

O.4Tlme 0.5

0.6

,,

0.7

0.8

0.9

Fig. 13. Voltage, Current Samples for MPPT

Fig. 9. PV based generation system in MATLAB, Simulink, Simscape

A PV based generation system shown in Fig. 9 is built in

M atlab, Simulink. The PV cell block is a two-diode model
which is the Solar cell block from Simscape as discussed in
section III. Two PV panels are connected in series to give
Voc=65V. The boost converter is designed to step this voltage
to 220V as the system supplies a load of 220V, 40 0 W. The
simulation results are shown in Fig 10 -13 which gives the
voltage across the load, the load current, power absorbed by
the load and voltage current samples of MPPT respectively.
D Y-Oli TAGF v
___--,,_-,-D)'f"A, .,,-,--

,-

i
"
' . . . . ]i . .. . .. "j'"
.

ij . . . .. + . . . "

"

"

rI

': r
:j llti!r
g:oo

j,

..... ...... ........ ..

.................................................,.,"1
.

. ............i ............

j,

j, ""' rt " .jj

............... 1
i
i

. !"

!..

............. ...... .......

. ..............j ...............ii ............. +...
T

Fig. 10. Voltage across the load

0.7

12o

'00
a::

8o

" f\" , .....

... \
.

60

0
4

... .

..

LC, AD PO W ER t\'V I

. .

. .. ......... . .. . ........ . .

Simulink Implementation of PV based generation system

with MPPT controller:

A PV based generation similar to the block diagram in Fig.

8 is built in M atlab, Simulink as shown in Fig.14 using
equation based model of PV cell, discussed in section II. In
order to meet the load two PV panels are connected in series.
The output voltage and current samples from PV panels are
given as input to MPPT controller to generate the required
control signal to operate the Boost chopper. The simulation
results of this model are shown in Fig 15-18 which gives the
vo Itage across the load, the load current, power absorbed by
the load and voltage current samples of MPPT respectively.

powe

. ., .............. 1....

. .. ... ....... . ..

Fig. 14. shows the Matlab, Simulink implementation of PV based generation.

\.
""
0.1

B.

0.9

Fig. I I. Load current

140

The two-diode model of PV panel implemented using solar

cell block from Simscape is acting like a stiff voltage source
instead of showing the non-linear behavior of diode based PV
cell. The MPPT controller and the boost converter are
ineffective. The value of voltage sample from PV panel in the
MPPT controller remains constant. Due to which the current at
that particular voltage from the characteristics is being tracked
by the MPPT controller. As such the operating point of PV
panel is shifted away from the MPP and the desired MPP is
not reached.

,
,
0.2

0.3

O.4Tlme 0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Fig. 12. Load power

It is observed from Fig. 10 that the load voltage settles at

n.05V instead of stepping up to 220V due to which the
output current and power for the load settles at 0 .6A, 40 W as

Fig. 15. Voltage across the load

71

2014 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Communication Control and Computing Technologies (lCACCCT)

Fig. 16. Load Current

LOAD POWER (W)

>oo
c::::

tracks the power with respect to that voltage on the P-V

characteristic which is not the desired output. Henceforth the
PV based generation implemented using equation based
design of two-diode PV cell in Simulink has produced desired
simulated results. The inputs to the MPPT controller are
varying according to the controller action due to which the
MPP is being tracked by the MPPT controller to achieve the
desired output. It is able to supply the required power to the
load at rated voltage. The PV based generation using two
diode model implemented in Simulink can be used for further
app lications.

250

200

1O
. . .. .L

.....1..

REFERENCES
[I]

Yuncong Jiang; Qahouq, lA. A.; Batarseh, I. , "Improved solar PV cell

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Fig. 17. Load power

Fig. 18. Voltage, Current samples for MPPT

It is observed that the output voltage of the PV system is

boosted up to 220V as shown in Fig. 15. The load current of
1.816A is plotted in the Fig.16. The power fed to the load
gradually reaches the desired value i.e. 40 0 W as shown in
Fig. 17. The voltage samples given as input to MPPT
controller are plotted in Fig.18. The MPPT controller is
tracking the V mpp' Impp so that the PV system is operated at its
maximum power point. This can be clearly observed in Fig.18.
The output voltage and current of the PV panel are operating
at MPP (61V, 16A) as seen from the characteristics given in
Table II. The PV based generation system implemented using
the Two-diode model of PV panel built up in Simulink
produces the desired operation.
VI.

CONCLUSION

In this paper performance analysis of two-diode model of

PV cell implemented in M ATLAB, Simulink and Simscape
under different irradiance was performed. The simulated I-V
and P-V characteristics of both models duplicate the
characteristics of the practical PV cell whose values are
obtained from the manufacturer datasheet. The numbers of
input parameters required for modeling are reduced by
computing the values of Rs and Rp by iterative method. The
Simscape implementation of the Solar cell is available as a
source in Simscape, Simelectronics library. A simple PV
based generation system was implemented in the Simulink
using this source block. However, this solar cell block of
Simulink, Simscape acts as a constant source instead of
displaying the non-linear behavior of the diode based
implementation of PV cell. Due to which the input voltage to
MPPT controller remains constant. So, the MPPT controller

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72