PV Array Characteristics Analysis Under Partial Shading &

Modeling of P&O MPPT Applied Boost Convertor Using

Matlab/Simulink
Alex Joseph,M.E Applied Electronics
ECE Department
College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University
Chennai, India
alexjoseph94@gmail.com
Abstract This paper deals with analysis of a photovoltaic panel
array characteristics by considering partial shading effects and
modeling of perturb and observe MPPT (Maximum Power Point
Tracking)
algorithm
applied
boost
convertor
using
Matlab/Simulink . Performance of a photovoltaic (PV) array is
affected by temperature, solar insolation, shading and array
configuration. Analysis of photovoltaic array characteristics
plays an important role in developing an algorithm based devices
for Maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Such devices play
an important role in efficient usage of available solar energy. The
analyzer developed in command window reads panel
temperature, irradiance and number of cells exposed to light and
generates corresponding PV characteristics. Maximum power
point tracking algorithm is used to generate pulse width
modulated signal for boost convertor thus extracting the
maximum power from the solar PV module and transferring that
power to the load. Perturb and observes algorithm is used, which
is the simplest algorithm for implementation.
KeywordsMatlab based analyzer, partial shading effects,
Maximmum power point tracking(MPPT), perturb and observe
algorithm.

I.

INTRODUCTION

Solar energy is widely available renewable and clean

energy resource [1], [2] for the future, leading to focus of
major energy research of 21st century. Technology
developments mainly concentrate on efficient, economic and
effective utilization of the available solar energy. New era
harvesting techniques like single axis and dual axis sun
tracking systems plays a valuable role for effective harvesting
of solar energy. Many researches are taking place to develop
maximum efficient solar cells using advanced semiconductor
and nanotechnologies for maximum conversion of
photovoltaic energy. This paper focuses on Matlab/Simulink
modeling of system that extracts maximum energy from the
photovoltaic panel by operating at maximum power point.
Energy available from the solar cells is not in uniform manner,
it randomly varies according to environmental conditions like
temperature, intensity of radiation and partial shading effects.
Alonso-Gracia et al. [3] have experimentally obtained the IV
characteristics of the PV module and the constituent cells to
study the effects of partial shading. However, their work is
limited to module-level study and does not discuss the shading
effects on an entire PV array. Kawamura et al. [4] have also
investigated the effect of shading on the output of the PV
modules and the associated change in their IV characteristics.
Solar cells characteristics are based on the phenomenon of
photovoltaic effect i.e. ability of semiconductors to convert
electromagnetic radiation directly into electrical current. PV
power generators can be classified into stand-alone and gridconnected generators [5]. Solar cell is basically a p-n junction
978-1-4673-6150-7/13/$31.00 2013 IEEE

Kamala J,Member IEEE

Assistant Professor, ECE Department
College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University
Chennai, India
jkamalaa@annauniv.edu
with n and p layers joined together. At the interface of layers,
free electrons of n-layer are diffused in the p-side, leaving
behind an area positively charged by the donors. Similarly, the
free holes in p-layer are diffused in the n-side, leaving behind
a region negatively charged by acceptors. This creates an
electrical field between two sides that is a potential barrier to
further flow. Equilibrium is reached in the junction when
electrons and holes cannot cross that potential barrier. This
electric field pulls electrons and holes in opposite directions so
current can flow in one way only electrons can move from the
p-side to the n-side and the holes in the opposite direction.
When photons from solar radiation fall on cell, three different
cases can happen some of the photons are reflected from the
top surface of the cell and metal fingers. Those that are not
reflected penetrate in the substrate. Some of them, usually the
ones with less energy, pass through the cell without causing
any effect. Photons with energy level above the band gap of
silicon only can create an electron-hole pair. These pairs are
generated at both sides of the p-n junction. Minority charges
are diffused to the junction and swept away in opposite
directions by electric field, generates current in the cell, which
is collected by the metal contacts at both sides. This is the
light-generated current which depends directly on intensity of
irradiation, if it is higher, then it contains more photons with
enough energy to create more electron-hole pairs and
consequently more current is generated by the solar cell. The
current-voltage (IV) curve of a solar cell is the superposition
of the IV curve of the solar cell diode in the dark and the lightgenerated current [6]. The power produced by a single
photovoltaic module is not sufficient to meet the power
demands for most of practical purposes. Photovoltaic array
consists of several photovoltaic cells in series and parallel
connections. Series connections are responsible for increasing
the voltage of the module whereas the parallel connection is
responsible for increasing the current in the array. For
maximum power point tracking of the solar panel, Perturb and
Observe (P&O) is the simplest method [7]. It uses current and
voltage sensor circuit to sense the PV array voltage and
current. Cost of implementation of P&O algorithm for
practical application is less comparing to other MPPT
algorithms hence it is economical.
Section II describes Matlab based modeling of Photovoltaic
array. Perturb and observe method of MPPT is explained in
section III. Simulation results of the system developed in
Matlab/Simulink are explained in section IV. Section V
concludes with the characteristics of PV cell at different
environmental conditions and future implementation of the
system.
II. MATLAB BASED MODELING OF PHOTOVOLTIC ARRAY
596

short-circuit currents between about 28 mA/cm2 and 35

mA/cm2. Dark current (Irs) across the diode is ,

Energy gap of silicon is,

Eg=Eg0-(TT)/(T+)

(1)

Where, , Eg0=1.166, =636 and = 0.000473 for

silicon, and are material parameters. Illumination current,
Ipv is solely dependent on incoming light and is independent
of voltage across the cell. However, Ipv varies with voltage in
case of drift-field solar cells and where carrier lifetime is a
function of injection level such as defected multicrystalline
materials. Photovoltaic current Ipv is,
Ipv = (Isc+ki(T-Tr))S(i)

(4)

Irs=Ir (exp(q/(kTA)Vo/Ns)-1)
(5)
Where Ir is reverse saturation current of the diode.

(2)

S(i) - radiation intensity at instant i,

Isc - short circuit current
ki - temperature coefficient taken as 3mA/degree Celsius.
Short-circuit current, Isc is the current through solar cell
when voltage across the solar cell is zero (i.e., solar cell is
short circuited). Short-circuit current is due to the generation
and collection of light-generated carriers. For an ideal solar
cell at most moderate resistive loss mechanisms, short-circuit
current and light-generated current are identical. Therefore,
short-circuit current is the largest current which may be drawn
from the solar cell. Short-circuit current depends on a number
of factors which are described below:
a) Area of solar cell
b) Number of photons: Isc from solar cell is directly
dependent on the light intensity (power of incident light
source).
c) Spectrum of the incident light: For most solar cell
measurement, the spectrum is standardized to the AM1.5
spectrum.
d) Optical properties: Absorption and reflection of the
solar cell.
e) Collection probability of solar cell: Depends mainly on
the surface passivation and the minority carrier lifetime in
the base.
When comparing solar cells of same material, the most
critical material parameter is the diffusion length and surface
passivation. In a cell with perfectly passivized surface and
uniform generation, the equation for the short-circuit current,
Isc can be approximated as
Isc=qG(Ln +Lp)

Ir=Irr((T/Tr)^3)exp(qEg/(kA)((1/Tr)-(1/T)))

(3)

Fig.1 Equivalent circuit of a solar cell.

Model of solar cell consists of current source (Ipv)

along with a diode and series resistance (Rs). Shunt resistance
(Rsh) in parallel is very high, has a negligible effect and can
be neglected and Irs is taken as the current though the diode.
The output current from the photovoltaic array is
Io=Ipv Irs

(6)

Where, k is Boltzmann constant (1.38 10-19 J/K),T

is junction temperature or surface temperature, Tr is radiation
temperature, constant Irr = 0.000021and q is charge of
electron.
Output current of a solar cell is given as
Io = Ipv Ir (exp((V+IRs)/AkT) - 1)

(7)

Net output current of the panel is given by,

Io=NpIpv-NpIr(exp(q/(kTA)Vo/Ns)-1)

(8)

Where, Np is number of cells in parallel and Ns is

number of cells in series and A is the diode quality (ideality)
factor, A for silicon is 2.15 Open circuit voltage, VOC, is the
maximum voltage available from a solar cell, and this occurs
at zero current. Open circuit voltage corresponds to amount of
forward bias on the solar cell due to the bias of the solar cell
junction with the light-generated current. Open circuit voltage
can be approximated as,
Voc = ((AkT)/q) ln((Ipv/Irs)+1)

Where G is the generation rate, and Ln and Lp are the

electron and hole diffusion lengths respectively. Equation (3)
indicates that short circuit current depends strongly on the
generation rate and the diffusion length. Silicon solar cells
under AM1.5 spectrum have maximum possible current of
46mA/cm2. Laboratory devices have measured short-circuit
currents over 42mA/cm2, and commercial solar cell have

(9)

Net power output is given by,

Po=VoIo

(10)

Based on above concepts, analysis of Photovoltaic

array characteristics is developed in Matlab at different
irradiation, surface temperature and partial shading conditions.

597

20
30degree celcius
50degree celcius
70degree celcius
100degree celcius

15
current in amp

Photo-generated current is directly proportional to the

irradiance level, so an increment in the irradiation leads to a
higher photo-generated current. Fig.2 and Fig.3 show ideal
characteristics of a solar array, which indicates variation of
current and power with respect to voltage at different
irradiation intensities. Net output voltage and power will
increase as the radiation intensities increases.

10

20
100mW/sq.cm
80mW/sq.cm
60mW/sq.cm
40mW/sq.cm
20mW/sq.cm

current in amp

15

10

15
20
Voltage in volt

25

30

35

Fig. 2 Voltage versus current characteristics for a PV panel at different

irradiation intensities
500
100mW/sq.cm
80mW/sq.cm
60mW/sq.cm
40mW/sq.cm
20mW/sq.cm

400
power in watt

20
30
Voltage in volt

40

50

300

100

10

15
20
Voltage in volt

25

30

Considering the effect of irradiance, temperature

variations number of cells exposed directly to solar radiation
(partial shading effects), we can develop a characteristics
analyzer in a command window which can read input
parameters for consideration and generates characteristics
plots. The algorithm developed generates the output of the
panel without considering the partial shading effects and also
by considering the partial shading effects.
III. PERTURB AND OBSERVE MPPT ALGORITHM

200

10

Fig.5 Voltage versus power characteristics for a PV panel at different

Surface temperature.

10

35

Fig.3 Power versus voltage characteristics for a PV panel at different

irradiation intensities

Temperature, affects mostly the cell voltage. Open

circuit voltage is linearly dependent on the temperature [8] i.e,
when the temperature rises, the cell voltage decreases.
Increase in current with temperature is very small and it does
not compensate for decrease in voltage caused by temperature
rise. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 illustrate ideal characteristics of a solar
array, which show the variation of current and power with
respect to voltage at different surface temperatures. Net output
voltage and power will decrease as the surface temperature
increase.

In this algorithm, operating voltage of the PV

module is perturbed and resulting change in power is
observed. If the change is positive, then it is supposed that it
has moved the operating point closer to the MPP. Thus,
further voltage perturbations in the same direction should
move the operating point toward the MPP. If the change is
negative, the operating point has moved away from the MPP,
and the direction of perturbation should be reversed to move
back toward the MPP. The block diagram of P&O MPPT
applied system is shown in Fig. 6. The flow chat of the P&O
algorithm is as shown in Fig. 7. Based on the flow chart
Simulink model is developed using Matlab function and
required delay shown in Fig.8.

500
30degree celcius
50degree celcius
70degree celcius
100degree celcius

power in watt

400

300

200

100

10

20
30
Voltage in volt

40

50

Fig.4 Voltage versus current characteristics for a PV panel at different

Surface temperature
Fig.6 Block diagram of the system

598

Fig. 9 Simulink model of boost convertor.

.
The PWM Generator generates pulses for carrier
based pulse width modulation (PWM) converters using two
level topology. It can be used to fire the forced commutated
devices (FETs, GTOs, or IGBTs). Pulses are generated by
comparing a triangular carrier waveform to a reference
modulating signal. Modulating signals can be generated by
PWM generator itself, or it can be a vector of external signals
connected at the input of the block. Amplitude (modulation),
phase, and frequency of the reference signals are set to control
the output of PWM Generator, Simulink model of PWM
generator is shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 7 Flow chart of Perturb and observe algorithm.

Fig. 10 Simulink model of PWM pulse generator

Fig. 8 P&O MPPT Simulink block.

DC/DC converter forms the integral part of any

MPPT system. Dc/dc convertor is used in DC power supplies
and DC motor drives for converting unregulated DC input into
controlled DC output at desired voltage level [9]. MPPT
implementation uses converter for regulating the input voltage
of photovoltaic panel and providing load matching for the
maximum power transfer. DC/DC converter can be either a
step down converter in which output voltage is less than input
voltage or step up converter in which the output voltage is
higher than the input voltage. Boost converter or step up
converter has output voltage greater than input, the voltage
transformation ratio is
Vo=Vi/(1-D)

(11)

By varying D (duty cycle) output voltage can be

changed and it is always more than input voltage, Vi.
Advantage of this converter is that the input and output current
both are continuous. The Simulink model of the boost
convertor is shown in fig. 9.

Fig.11 Simulink model of complete system.

IV. RESULTS
Solar panel having total of 400 cells arranged in 8
equal parallel arrays having 50 cells in each array is
considered for simulation. Cells exposed to light in each
parallel array from 1to 8 is 23, 21, 2, 40, 33, 11, 0, and 12
respectively. Surface temperature is considered as 30 degree
Celsius and irradiation intensity is taken as 100w/cm square.
The command window input is given in Fig. 12.

599

Fig.15 Simulink CRO output of PV array before applying MPPT.

Fig .12 Matlab command window for reading parameters of solar panel.

From Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show ideal characteristics

of solar array which show the variation of current and power
with partial shading and without partial shading (shown by
green dotted line in the characteristics). Under partially shaded
conditions, the PV characteristics get more complex with
multiple peaks. Output voltage and power will decrease as the
number of cells exposed to light decreases.

Fig. 13 Voltage versus current characteristics for a PV panel with and without
partial shading.

Fig.16 Simulink CRO output of boost convertor with applied MPPT.

V. CONCLUSION
Effects of partial shading, temperature and irradiation
are verified by analyzer in Matlab/Simulink, based on onediode model of a PV cell. Partial shading was varied with
respect to system shading and shading strength, which
represent the amount of shaded PV modules of the generator,
and attenuation of irradiance due to the shading, respectively.
Perturb and observe MPPT algorithm based boost convertor is
modeled and successfully simulated using Simulink. Digital
controllers can be programmed thus capable of implementing
algorithm effectively. Digital controllers with multiple A/D
converters and PWM generators are more suitable for the
application.
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Fig. 14 Voltage versus power characteristics for a PV panel with and without
partial shading

Output of system with and without applying MPPT is shown

in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 respectively.

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renewable energy sources into the smart power grid through industrial
electronics, IEEE Ind. Electron. Mag., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1837, Mar.2010.
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