SOLAR CELL POWER MATCHING

1. Introduction

gn01

This experiment explores power transfer between a solar cell and load. In the first part the power transferred from a current source to a resistive load is studied. The load line, which is linear in this case, is obtained and the source impedance determined. In the second part the current source is replaced with a solar cell. Now the source impedance is dependent on the intensity of illumination falling on the cell and so the power transferred to the load is dependent on the level of illumination. By studying the power available for different illuminations, the condition for maximum power transfer can be obtained and compared with theoretical expectations.

2. Theory
The equivalent circuit for the first experiment using the current source is shown in figure 1 below.

RL Is Rs VL IL

Figure 1 Here the current source is represented by the dashed box: it consists of an ideal current source (which has infinite internal resistance), supplying a current Is , with a resistance Rs across its terminals. Rs is the effective resistance of the current source, and does not necessarily represent a single electronic component. The real current source (the dashed box) is clearly not ideal: it delivers a current smaller than Is , because some current flows through Rs . The load current, IL , flowing into the load resistance, RL , produces a load voltage, V L . As the current through the internal resistance is Is IL , we have:
V L = Rs Is Rs I L

(1)

The solar cell is a silicon diode, which produces an electrical current when illuminated. When the current source of figure 1 is replaced by a solar cell the equivalent circuit becomes as shown in figure 2: the dashed box represents the solar cell, which is electrically equivalent to an ideal current generator in parallel with a diode.

RL Is Id VL IL

Figure 2 The voltage across the diode V L is related to the diode current Id by:

V Id I0 exp L V0 Where V 0 and I0 are constants. Then since: V IL = Is Id = Is I0 exp L V0 We can write:

(2)

(3)

ln (Is IL ) = ln I0 +

VL V0

(4)

3. Experiment
Connect the current source and power supply unit to construct the circuit of figure 1 and use a variable resistance box to provide the load (0 2000 ohms). Take measurements of the load current and load voltage for different values of the load resistance. For a graph of V L against IL the gradient will be Rs and the intercept on the V L axis gives a value for Rs Is . Plot a suitable graph and determine values for Is and Rs . You should also plot the power transferred to the load (i.e. V L I L ) as a function of load resistance RL . Check the theoretical prediction (Reference [1]) that the maximum power transfer occurs when RL = Rs . For what source current does this occur? In the design of power stations, one would always try to make the load resistance equal to the source resistance. Now replace the current source and power supply by the solar cell. Determine Is by measuring the short-circuit current and plot a suitable straight-line graph (based on equation (4)) to determine V 0 and I0 . The theory of silicon diodes predicts that V 0 = kT e (T the absolute temperature, k is Boltzmanns constant and e is the electronic charge). In practice values of V 0 for real devices can be up to twice this value. Check this.

Plot the power transferred to the load as a function of the load resistance. Repeat these measurements for various illuminations, using filters to reduce the illumination to 80%, 60% and 30% of its initial value. What happens to the effective resistance of the solar cell as a function of illumination?

4. Extension
How is the operation of the solar cell affected when covered by coloured filters? Consider the practical situation of a fixed load connected to your solar cell, which is subject to variable illumination. What would be a suitable value of load to minimise the variation in the power transferred to the load?

References
[1] Duffin Electricity and Magnetism p151 (3rd Edition).