Open Access

ARTICLE

PV Solar Yield Applicable Simulator Based on Free Irradiance Data Source: Applied Comprehensive Tool for Solar Engineers

by Ahmed Mohamed Ragab^1,*, Abdelhalim Abdelnaby Zekry², Ashraf Yahia Hassan¹

1 Faculty of Engineering, Communication Section, Benha University, Benha, 13511, Egypt
2 Faculty of Engineering, Communication Section, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

* Corresponding Authors: Ahmed Mohamed Ragab. Email: ,

Energy Engineering 2023, 120(4), 885-910. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2023.026425

Received 05 September 2022; Accepted 24 November 2022; Issue published 13 February 2023

Abstract

Accurate PV system simulators are implemented with expensive software platforms using paid irradiance data. The main purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a PV system simulator, beginning with a solar cell parameter extraction model, then test and validate long-term Irradiance data using free online source (Typical Meteorological Year TMY in (PVGIS) European website), and finally building full solar generator simulator to run in working real conditions. Comparing results with Accurate Paid PV simulators (which use the Muneer model) showed good accuracy of the proposed simulator. Work flow starts with the Irradiance model’s data processing, then solar cell 5 parameters model data processing (to extract cell parameters), and finally full system simulator. MATLAB coding programs in real working conditions are used for simulation. Results of solar cell parameter extraction show 99.6% to 99.99% matching with data sheet and cell performance under standard test conditions. System model simulation output shows 8% less yearly generated energy compared to the PVGIS 2022 long-term simulation (hourly basis (one-year time)). This is due to incident energy variations (between the years 2016 and 2022) of 4.02%. The novelty of the algorithm is the methodology, as it tests irradiance data on an hourly basis and validates results for a whole continuous year. Also, the 5-parameter solar cell model is used to be validated in long term analysis, not only STC conditions and could be applied on any PV solar cell. The algorithm and block diagram used are scalable, modular, and interchangeable with similar models to be tested. This simulator could test several methods and models in solar pv technology.

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Keywords

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