A Simple Resistive Load I-V Curve Tracer for Monitoring Photovoltaic Module Characteristics
No Thumbnail Available
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
2014 IEEE
Abstract
Description
Current-Voltage (I-V) curve tracers are
useful implements for solar Photovoltaic (PV)
research and manufacturing, particularly when
wishing to ascertain module yield viz-a-viz solar
irradiation falling on the module in different climatic
conditions. This paper presents a simple affordable
and easy to fabricate instrument for tracing I-V
characteristics of a PV module. It comprises of
rapidly varying resistive loads centred on power
resistors connected to relays and controlled by an
electronic circuitry. The circuit consists of a 555
astable oscillator that is used to send clock pulses to
the clock terminal of a 4017 decade counter which in
turn produces a sequence of pulses. Each progression
of pulse advances by one bit to sequentially turn on
individual relays via driver transistors. The speed of
the count is made variable from the frequency
determining network of the 555 oscillator. The I-V
characteristics of the module are thus measured by
the sequential selection of the relays which are each
connected to a selected load resistor to determine the
operating point on the I-V curve. The currents and
voltages are then recorded simultaneously with
irradiance from a pyranometer, by a datalogger to
which the instruments are connected. The circuit was
tested on two monocrystalline modules to compare
the effect of Harmattan dust on PV output yield.
Keywords
QC Physics