Partial shading of one solar cell in a photovoltaic module with 3-terminal cell interconnection

authored by: Robert Witteck, Susanne Blankemeyer, Michael Siebert, Marc Köntges, Henning Schulte-Huxel
Abstract: We examine the electrical and thermal characteristics of a photovoltaic module with three-terminal cell interconnection when partially shading a solar cell by experimentally verified modeling. For the interconnection of multi junction and tandem solar cells a two- (2T), three- (3T), and four-terminal (4T) cell architecture is conceivable. The 3T architecture featuring a combination of parallel and series interconnection combines the advantageous of 2T and 4T cells without their drawbacks. We build a photovoltaic (PV) module with silicon solar cells in a 3T tandem solar cell interconnection configuration (3TTSC PV module) to emulate a solar module with 20 3TTSC. To the best of our knowledge, no 3TTSC PV module with more than five solar cells has been shown in previous studies. We measure the effect of partially shading a 3TTSC in this module and develop an electrical simulation to model our experimental results. In the simulations we determine the dissipated power in the top and bottom cells due to the current mismatch caused by partial shading. Our results reveal that the shaded top and bottom cell as well as the adjacent top cell dissipate power when a single 3TTSC is shaded. The two top cells share the dissipated power. Our simulated power dissipation correlates with temperature measurements of the 3TTSC PV module in a steady-state sun simulator. Therefore, in a 3TTSC PV module the temperature of a shaded cell is lower than in a module with 2T configuration. This is an advantage of PV modules with 3T tandem solar cells in terms of reliability and long-term stability.
External Organisation(s): Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH)
Type: Article
Journal: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume: 219
ISSN: 0927-0248
Publication date: 01.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110811 (Access: Closed)