Analysis of photovoltaic array with reconfigurable modules under partial shading

Partial shading across solar arrays can significantly deteriorate maximum generated power. Typical arrays implementing a parallel-in-series architecture have bypass diodes integrated in the modules to reduce the effects of partial shading. In this paper, analysis is performed on the effectiveness of improving maximum power of a solar array comprising of modules and reconfigurable switches. Matlab models are developed for modules with and without bypass diodes. I-V and P-V curves are simulated for several shading patterns. Significant improvement in the fill factors has been observed when using reconfigurable switches. The absence of reconfigurable switches reduced the peak power by almost 88% under some partial shading scenarios.