An approach to extract the parameters of solar cells from their illuminated $I-V$ curves using the Lambert W function

Abstract

In this article an approach based on the Lambert W function is applied to analysis of various types solar cells and solar modules at a given insolation level and temperature; it can be used to extract accurate values of the parameters of a solar cell/module using experimental data or information available from the datasheet. These parameters are the photocurrent Iph, the reverse saturation current Io, the diode ideality factor a, the series resistance Rs, and the shunt resistance Rsh. The parameters Io, a, Rs, and Rsh are calculated with the aid of 4 equations that can be solved simultaneously while increasing the value of Iph in small increments. The calculated parameters are found to be in good agreement with those obtained in the literature. The experimental data of various solar cells/modules devices are obtained from the literature. Some of these devices are silicon solar cells and modules in addition to organic and DSSC solar cells. The mathematical I-V characteristics and the mathematical P-V characteristics are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.