Study of characteristics of single and double diode electrical equivalent circuit models of solar PV module

In this paper modelling of solar photovoltaic (PV) module is carried out thorugh MATLAB programming. The two most commonly used electrical equivalent circuit models: single-diode and double-diode model, are used and their various characteristics are explained in detail. The necessary non-linear mathematical equations are described and used for modelling of solar PV module in obtaining unknown parameters of single-diode and double-diode models. A flowchart has been developed for estimation of solar cell output current, for single-diode and double-diode model, using Newton-Raphson iterative technique which is then programmed in MATLAB script file accordingly. A typical 60W multicrystalline solar module specifications is used for model accuracy evaluation. The characteristic I–V and P-V curves were obtained with the use of manufacturer's datasheet and it shows the precise correspondence for both the models. The aspects of theses curves are hence discussed and criteria for selection of a model under all possible conditions for all time are then described.