Simulink Model of Solar Array for Photovoltaic Power Generation System

Photovoltaic power supplied to the utility grid is gaining more and more visibility while the world’s powers demand is increases. Growing demand, advancements in semiconductor technology and magnetic materials such as high frequency inductor cores, has a significant impact on PV inverter topologies and their efficiencies, on the improvement of the control circuits on the potential of costs reduction. The user naturally wants to operate the Photovoltaic (PV) array at its highest energy conversion output by continuously utilizing the maximum available solar power of the array. In this paper, a comprehensive but straightforward solar cell model is introduced which focuses on a MATLAB/SIMULINK model of a photovoltaic cell. This model is based on mathematical equations and is described through an equivalent circuit including a photocurrent source, a diode, a series resistor and a shunt resistor. The developed model allows the prediction of PV cell behaviour under different physical and environmental parameters. Simulation results are given for validating the proposed model.