A Step by Step Analytical Solution to the Single Diode Model of a Solar Cell

Abstract

Making use of previous results where the series resistance, Rs, and the light-generated current, IL, of a solar cell are determined through the knowledge of the open-circuit voltage, Voc, the short-circuit current, Isc, the voltage and current at the maximum power point, Vmp and Imp, respectively, a simple and analytical step-by-step approach has been developed to determine the shunt resistance, Rsh, the reverse saturation current, Is and the ideality factor, A, of a solar cell. Making use of these results and with the knowledge of the operating temperature, T, this work demonstrates that a single I-V curve is enough to fully solve the transcendental equation governing the behavior of a solar cell in the Single-Diode Model.