Design and Implementation of Cost-Effective PV String I-V and P-V curve tracer by using IGBT as a Power Electronic Load

The I-V curve tracer serves as a vital instrument for capturing the I-V characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) strings, reflecting variable environmental conditions. This device finds widespread application in assessing power generation performance and detecting potential faults within PV strings. To ensure heightened accuracy and rapid data acquisition, numerous I-V tracer techniques have been developed and proposed. This paper introduces a novel and cost-effective approach for tracing string-level (1500V DC, 20A) I-V and P-V curves, leveraging an IGBT as a variable load. The gate voltage of the IGBT is precisely controlled by a PWM signal from a microcontroller. A comparative analysis is conducted under standard temperature and illumination conditions, comparing the manufacturer's datasheet with simulations using MATLAB/Simulink. Additionally, a comparison is made between the manufacturer's datasheet and experimental data to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technique. The methodology presented in this study aims to provide an efficient and economical solution for tracing I-V and P-V curves at string level, contributing to the accurate assessment of PV string performance and fault detection.