Design, development and simulation of PC-based scheme for characterisation of solar photovoltaic modules

This paper presents design, simulation and experimental set up for characterisation of PV cells/modules in the laboratory. A PC-based data acquisition system and associated interface circuit is developed, simulated and used for loading PV module in the laboratory to completely scan its I-V characteristics under varying environmental conditions of solar insolation and temperature. The scheme makes use of hysteresis band controller as PC interface circuit and its linear response against control variable, is established mathematically. The proposed interface circuit is simulated under PSpice to ascertain linearity of response. The comprehensive simulation exercise under PSpice is evolved and described to establish underlying principle and to emulate PC-based control. A PC programme written in 'C' language acquires online data of PV module and stores it in a data file for analysis and plotting of the I-V characteristics.

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