Energies 2013, 6, 128-144; doi:10.3390/en6010128
energies
ISSN 1996-1073
www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
Article
Analytical Modeling of Partially Shaded Photovoltaic Systems
Mohammadmehdi Seyedmahmoudian 1,*, Saad Mekhilef 1, Rasoul Rahmani 2, Rubiyah Yusof 2
and Ehsan Taslimi Renani 1
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
E-Mails: saad@um.edu.my (S.M.); taslimi.ehsan@siswa.um.edu.my (E.T.R.)
2 Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54100,
Malaysia; E-Mails: rahmani@ic.utm.my (R.R.); rubiyah@ic.utm.my (R.Y.)
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: msmahmodian@siswa.um.edu.my;
Tel.: +60-03-26154695; Fax: +60-03-26970815.
Received: 7 November 2012; in revised form: 14 December 2012 / Accepted: 19 December 2012 /
Published: 4 January 2013
Abstract: As of today, the considerable influence of select environmental variables,
especially irradiance intensity, must still be accounted for whenever discussing the
performance of a solar system. Therefore, an extensive, dependable modeling method is
required in investigating the most suitable Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
method under different conditions. Following these requirements, MATLAB-programmed
modeling and simulation of photovoltaic systems is presented here, by focusing on the
effects of partial shading on the output of the photovoltaic (PV) systems. End results prove
the reliability of the proposed model in replicating the aforementioned output
characteristics in the prescribed setting. The proposed model is chosen because it can,
conveniently, simulate the behavior of different ranges of PV systems from a single PV
module through the multidimensional PV structure.
Keywords: photovoltaic system; partial shading; multidimensional configuration
Nomenclature:
Iph Solar-Generated current A Diode ideality factor
Ki Short-circuit temperature/current coefficient Q Electron charge constant
G Operating irradiance level (W/m2) K Boltzmann constant
Gr Nominal irradiance level (W/m2) Ns Number of series connected cells
Tk Operating temperature (K) Irs Solar generated current
OPEN ACCESS
energies
ISSN 1996-1073
www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
Article
Analytical Modeling of Partially Shaded Photovoltaic Systems
Mohammadmehdi Seyedmahmoudian 1,*, Saad Mekhilef 1, Rasoul Rahmani 2, Rubiyah Yusof 2
and Ehsan Taslimi Renani 1
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
E-Mails: saad@um.edu.my (S.M.); taslimi.ehsan@siswa.um.edu.my (E.T.R.)
2 Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54100,
Malaysia; E-Mails: rahmani@ic.utm.my (R.R.); rubiyah@ic.utm.my (R.Y.)
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: msmahmodian@siswa.um.edu.my;
Tel.: +60-03-26154695; Fax: +60-03-26970815.
Received: 7 November 2012; in revised form: 14 December 2012 / Accepted: 19 December 2012 /
Published: 4 January 2013
Abstract: As of today, the considerable influence of select environmental variables,
especially irradiance intensity, must still be accounted for whenever discussing the
performance of a solar system. Therefore, an extensive, dependable modeling method is
required in investigating the most suitable Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
method under different conditions. Following these requirements, MATLAB-programmed
modeling and simulation of photovoltaic systems is presented here, by focusing on the
effects of partial shading on the output of the photovoltaic (PV) systems. End results prove
the reliability of the proposed model in replicating the aforementioned output
characteristics in the prescribed setting. The proposed model is chosen because it can,
conveniently, simulate the behavior of different ranges of PV systems from a single PV
module through the multidimensional PV structure.
Keywords: photovoltaic system; partial shading; multidimensional configuration
Nomenclature:
Iph Solar-Generated current A Diode ideality factor
Ki Short-circuit temperature/current coefficient Q Electron charge constant
G Operating irradiance level (W/m2) K Boltzmann constant
Gr Nominal irradiance level (W/m2) Ns Number of series connected cells
Tk Operating temperature (K) Irs Solar generated current
OPEN ACCESS
