Modelization and Simulation of a Low Cost Concentrated Photovoltaic Solar Cell:
Parametric and Sensitivity Study under MATLAB
Zineb Aqachmar
1*
, Mustapha Raoufi
1
, Abdelali El Gourari
1
, Tarik Bouhal
2
, Mariame Jenhi
3
, Bekkay Hajji
4
, Abdelfettah
Barhdadi
5
1
Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University UCA, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
2
ALTES Energy, Alternative Energy Solutions, Zagora 47900, Morocco
3
Laboratory of Electrical Engineering and Energy System, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra 14000, Morocco
4
National School of Applied Sciences, University Mohammed Premier, Oujda 60000, Morocco
5
PSES Research Team, Energy Research Center, ENS, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10000, Morocco
Corresponding Author Email: zineb.aqachmar@uca.ac.ma
https://doi.org/10.18280/i2m.210101 ABSTRACT
Received: 24 December 2021
Accepted: 21 February 2022
The concentrated photovoltaic solar cells are the most efficient among photovoltaic
technologies. This paper studies a low-cost concentrated photovoltaic solar cell made of
silicon that is cheap, available, and easy to manufacture coupled to a concentrator. The
novelty of this work consists on replacing the expensive triple-junction solar cell with a
Silicon cell. A modelization of the electronic equivalent circuit of the low cost
concentrated photovoltaic solar cell is given. The equations describing the current, voltage,
and power of the CPV cell are presented. Subsequently, the computation program of the
implemented MATLAB code is shown. Afterward, the I-V curves and P-V curves of the
CPV cell are plotted under different temperatures of the cell, irradiances, and concentration
ratios. It is demonstrated that the increase of the temperature of the cell decreases the
voltage/power and increases the current produced by a CPV cell. Furthermore, raising the
concentration ratio/irradiance enhances the power/current produced by a CPV cell.
Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to find high leverage variables and shows that
the concentration ratio is the most sensitive parameter among the criteria studied. This
study can be used as a base case study to the experimental projects ongoing about low-
cost concentrated photovoltaic solar cells.
Keywords:
silicon, concentrated photovoltaics,
renewable energy, electronics, photovoltaics
1. INTRODUCTION
With the increase of energetic needs during the actual
expansion of using electrical cars and devices, solar energy is
the best electrical source as it fulfills the double objective of
producing energy and protecting the environment. Solar
energy is one of the most abundant renewable energies [1, 2].
Besides, the concentrated photovoltaics CPV have excellent
efficiency and environmental impact.
Many studies detail the study of the electronic equivalent
circuit of the concentrated photovoltaic solar cell. One can site
Segev et al. [3] who have studied one and two diode models
of triple junction CPV cells. They showed that the two diode
model fit better with the experimental result of the modeled
triple junction CPV cell. Another interesting study was
released by Rezk et al. [4] who proposed a model of
concentrated triple-junction solar cell with a simulation under
the Simulink tool. They proposed a method to track the MPPT
that they compared to the classical P&O and show that the
P&O gives better results. Aqachmar et al. [5] studied large
scale CPV power plants in the six climatic zones of Morocco
and estimated that CPV is more competitive than PV in some
Moroccan regions. Besides, Burhan et al. [6] designed a
strategy for the optimization of the management of the CPV-
Hydrogen systems with real weather data of Singapore.
Furthermore, Das et al. [7] modeled a multi-junction
photovoltaic cell using MATLAB, they showed that two
junctions solar cells deliver 3 times more power than mono-
junction solar cells. Moreover, Nieto-Nieto et al. [8] made a
setup to characterize multi-junction solar cells up to 1500 suns
of irradiance. For instance, Dimroth et al. [9] discussed the
promises of multi-junction solar cells for use in CPV systems.
Moreover, González-Longatt et al. [10] presented a model of
a photovoltaic system in MATLAB. The last study of this
literature review was conducted by Famoso et al. [11]
compared a low concentrated installation using
monocrystalline silicon to a classical photovoltaic device
without a concentrator.
Usually, the concentrated photovoltaic solar cells use triple-
junction solar cells which costs are high, and which
manufacturing requires very high expertise [12]. Using Silicon
instead of triple-junction solar cells can be advantageous as
Silicon is cheap, available, and easy to manufacture. Hence,
this study undertakes the study of the behavior of low-cost
concentrated photovoltaic solar cells under different
parameters and highlights the high leverage variables. In this
paper, a mathematical model is presented to describe the
behavior of low cost concentrated solar cells; a computation
program is given to calculate the current, voltage, and power
produced by a CPV cell under MATLAB environment. The I-
V curves and P-V curves of mono-junction CPV cells are
exclusively plotted in this paper under different parameters
Instrumentation Mesure Métrologie
Vol. 21, No. 1, February, 2022, pp. 1-6
Journal homepage: http://iieta.org/journals/i2m
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