Nano-structured photovoltaic cell design for high conversion efficiency by optimizing various parameters
- Authors: Shelat, Niraj , Das, Narottam , Khan, Masud , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2019 29th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference; Momi Bay, Fiji; 26th-29th November 2019
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the effect of different types of nano-grating structures embossed on top of the substrate of solar photovoltaic (PV) cell for high conversion efficiency. The simulation results for light reflection are obtained by using Opti-wave finite difference time-domain (Opti-FDTD) software. These nano-grating structures have different shapes, such as triangular, trapezoidal, pillar and parabolic. These nano-grating profiles work as a multilayer anti-reflective coating for GaAs solar cells and reduce the light reflection from the surface of the panel and increase the light trapping capacity inside the solar cell. These structures allow the gradual change in refractive index and provide a high transmission and less reflection of light that confirms excellent anti-reflective coating and increased light trapping capacity inside the cell substrate. For this simulation, different periodic shaped arrangements were made to obtain the higher conversion efficiency, the factors considered while develop the design are the aspect ratio (AR), thickness of the nano-grating structure and duty cycles. The simulation result shows that the light reflection loss in pillar shaped nano-grating structures having 150 nm of height and a 50% period (i.e., duty cycle) is ~0.5% only, which is the lowest reflection loss obtained, when compared with the triangular and trapezoidal shaped nano-grating structures, it is approximately 38% more efficient in trapping the incident light.
- Description: This research is supported by the School of Engineering and Technology, Melbourne, Victoria; Centre for Intelligent Systems, Brisbane, QLD, Central Queensland University, Australia.
A preliminary study on conversion efficiency improvement of a multi-junction PV cell with MPPT
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Smart Power Systems and Renewable Energy System Integration (part of the Studies in Systems, Decision and Control book series) Chapter 4 p. 49-73
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This chapter presents a preliminary study conducted to improve photovoltaic (PV) cell conversion efficiency using MATLAB/Simulink platform. The study uses multi-junction solar cell and investigates the maximum performance compared with a conventional silicon PV cell. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) is applied to assess the conversion efficiency of the PV system. Study integrates thermoelectric generator (TEG) with PV modules because the PV cells work by converting high frequency irradiation where as a TEG has the ability to convert wasted low frequency heat to the electricity. The combination delivers more power and contributes to enhance the conversion efficiency of a PV system. The simulation results show that a tandem cell can provide a considerable higher power with a conventional PV cell operation.
Modeling of multi-junction photovoltaic cell using MATLAB/Simulink to improve the conversion efficiency
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Renewable Energy Vol. 74, no. (2015), p. 917-924
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper focuses on modeling of multi-junction solar cell (MJSC) to improve the conversion efficiency using MATLAB/Simulink software. The multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) cell is investigated to obtain its maximum performance compare to the conventional silicon PV cell. MATLAB/Simulink modeled results show that tandem cell can provide almost 3-times maximum power compared to the conventional PV cells. Maximum power point tracker (MPPT) has also been performed to improve the conversion efficiency of the PV systems. The MPPT is able to assist the PV cells to attain more power efficiently and deliver electricity to the grid.
Modelling and analysis of multi-junction solar cells to improve the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic systems
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Al Ghadeer, Abdulmohsen , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 24th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014; Perth, Australia; 28th September-1st October 2014 p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents modelling and analysis of multi-junction solar cells to improve the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems. For this modelling, Matlab/Simulink tool is used to obtain the simulation results. The modelling of a single junction solar cell can be performed by single or double diode models. From the simulation results, it was found that the double diode model is more accurate than the single diode model. Hence, the double diode model is used to simulate dual and triple junction solar cells. The simulations were performed under varying the critical factors, such as temperature and solar irradiance. The effect of these factors was clearly demonstrated on the I-V and P-V characteristics of the solar cells. It was found that the temperature increases, short circuit current increases slightly and open circuit voltage drops significantly. Consequently, the PV power generation decreases considerably. However, when the irradiance increases, the short circuit current increases slightly and the open circuit voltage increases significantly. Consequently, the power generation increases considerably and the conversion efficiency increases of the PV systems.
Photovoltaic cell modeling for maximum power point tracking using MATLAB/Simulink to improve the conversion efficiency
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, PES 2013; Vancouver, Canada; 21st-25th July 2013 p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper focuses on the behavior of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) on photovoltaic (PV) cell systems using MATLAB/Simulink software. The PV cells can offer better simulation results when a double-exponential type, i.e., double-diode model is used. The reason, it is more accurate with the real testing condition even though the efficiency is a bit less. This confirms that theoretical single-diode model still require more improvements. In addition, multijunction solar cell also investigated to obtain its maximum performance compared with the conventional silicon PV cell. The obtained results show that the tandem (or multijunction) cell can provide almost 3-times maximum power compared to the conventional PV cell. Therefore, the multijunction/ tandem PV cells can produce higher power throughout the sunny day due to the higher MPPT capacity. Furthermore, perturb and observe method seems to be very useful because of its simplicity despite the unresolved algorithm for different methods, such as constant voltage tracking technique.