Photovoltaic Solar Energy: Measurement of the characteristic curve of a photovoltaic module with an I-V curve tracer at constant temperature and constant solar irradiation based on the IEC 60904-1:2020 standard guide.

Abstract

This research work represents the first of a series of tests with photovoltaic modules which have been developed at the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (C.I.E.M.A.T.), in the city of Madrid, Spain. A photovoltaic (PV) module is electrically defined by its current-voltage (I-V) curve. This curve basically depends on the incident solar irradiance. The present study consisted on measuring the IV curves for a monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module using the IV curve tracer "PVPM 1000 CX" as a tool, where the PV module was measured at various laboratory conditions, found in the operation stage: a) maintaining a constant solar radiation of 857 W/m² in the PV module for five different temperatures of 38 °C, 40 °C, 44.9 °C, 49.65 °C and 53.4 °C; and b) maintaining a constant temperature of 51.4 °C in the module for four different solar radiations of 857 W/m², 596 W/m², 727 W/m² and 784 W/m².

The I-V curves have been drawn up, the behavior of the module has been analyzed with the conditions imposed regarding the open circuit voltage (V_oc) and the short circuit intensity (I_sc). The results obtained from the measurements reproduce the traditional shape of the IV curves for the nine laboratory conditions, it is also shown that, in none of the tests, the values ​​of standard conditions (I_sc) and (V_oc) of the photovoltaic module have been exceeded.