Generating I-V Curves with the Agilent E4360A Solar Array Simulator Using the Parameters Voc, Isc,

N, and Rs
Application Note

Overview
Agilents family of solar array simulators, including the E435XB Series and E4360A modular solar array simulator mainframe, can be programmed to simulate a wide range of solar array performances. Three methods for generating an I-V curve are available: using table mode to enter I-V data pairs and using parametric values in SAS and list modes. Two major formats for parametrically programming solar array simulators using equation-based I-V curve generation are currently in use. The parameters required by the equipment using either format are not directly compatible with the other, and the conversion from one format to the other is not mathematically tenable since no closed-form solutions for the equations exist. However, values for Voc, Vmp, Imp, and Isc, the Agilent format, can be obtained from the values for Voc, Isc, N, and Rs through the application of an iterative solution technique. This application note provides the methodology.

Parametric Equations

Both parametric formats require the entry of values for the open circuit voltage, Voc, and the short circuit current, Isc. The additional parameters required by the Agilent E435XB series or E4360A are the maximum power point voltage, Vmp, and the maximum power point current, Imp. Additional parameters required by the other format are values for N, which is strongly related to the array shunt resistance, and Rs, which is essentially the output resistance of the array. In Figure 1, the slope of the horizontal part of the I-V curve is a strong function of N, and the vertical section is a strong function of Rs. Iteratively calculable values of Imp and Vmp are a function of N and Rs and will generate an identical I-V curve.

FIGURE 1. Array I-V curve relationship of Rs, N, and Imp, Vmp. Decreasing N and increasing Rs results in decreasing Imp and Vmp.

Isc

N
Imp

Rs
Decreasing N

Increasing Rs Vmp Voc

In SAS and List modes the E4360A accepts four parameters, Voc, Vmp, Imp, and Isc, that are applied to internal equations to simulate an I-V curve. The equations are:

*The exponential model is described in the

EQUATION 1

ln ln

Values for Rs and N are derived from the following:

ln ln

EQUATION 4

Problem

Values for Vmp and Imp are not directly calculable with the governing transcendental equations. If you are familiar with the parameters Voc, Isc, Rs, and N and prefer to start with them when you work with your Agilent E435XB Series solar array simulator or E4360A solar array simulator system, you must have an accurate, convenient, and fast conversion method. You must be able to obtain values for Vmp and Imp that when coupled with Voc and Isc result in I-V curves that are identical to those generated by the N and Rs format. Obtaining values for Vmp and Imp begins with manipulating equations 2 and 4 to obtain a new expression for equation 4 that replaces Vmp with Imp. That is accomplished by substituting for the variable Vmp in equation 4 with the expression for Vmp derived from equation 2. The equation for N is then iteratively solved until its calculated value equals the value of N given as a part of the Voc, Isc, Rs and N parameter list. Starting with an initial value for Imp and then incrementing Imp positively or negatively until the calculated value for N equals the given value of N establishes Imp. Vmp may then be calculated with equation 2. The process can of course be done manually, but can be very time consuming. Achieving quick and accurate results can be done with a computer program or a spreadsheet-embedded macro. Solving equation 2 for Vmp results in:
EQUATION 5

Solution

Process

V mp = V oc - R s * I mp
(equation 4) results in equation 6.

Substituting equation 5 in the equation for

a=

I ( V oc - R s * I mp) * (1+ R s * Vsc ) + R s * ( I mp - I sc) oc Voc

Given Voc, Isc, Rs, and N, equations 6 and 3 are iteratively solved for a and N respectively with an initial value for Imp (equal to one half of Isc) that is thereafter incremented (increased and/or decreased) until the calculated value for N is within an acceptable error band relative to the given value of N. The magnitude of the error band determines the degree to which the calculated values of Vmp and Imp will result in an equivalent curve generated by the Rs and N values. The magnitude of the error band influences the number of iterations required to establish a value for Imp. The tighter the error band the better the curve match and the greater the number of required iterations. The calculation of the value of is maintained as an intermediate step as it must be checked to ensure that it is not greater than or equal to 1, or less than or equal to zero before calculating the value of N. A value of 1 would result in an attempt to calculate the natural log of zero in equation 3; a calculated solution for N does not exist. Values for less than or equal to zero or greater than 1 will result in useless calculated values for N.

Conversion Algorithm

An example algorithm follows. Set allowable error limit for exit criteria. This establishes the allowable error limit for the calculated value of N relative to the given value of N. N_error = N_given*1E-12 Set values for calculating initial Imp left = 0 right = Isc Execute the following loop until the calculated value for N defined as N_calc is within the error limit N_error or until a <= 0 or a =>1. Do Imp = (left + right) / 2 a = ((Voc - Rs * Imp) * (1 + Rs * Isc / Voc) + Rs * (Imp - Isc)) / Voc If a <> 1 Then N_calc = Log(2 - 2 ^ a) / Log(Imp / Isc) If N_calc > N_given Then right = Imp ElseIf N_calc < N_given Then left = Imp End If End If Loop Until Abs(N_calc N_given) <= N_error Or a >= 1 Or a <= 0 If a > 0 And a < 1 And Abs(N_calc N_given) <= N_error Then Vmp = Voc - Rs * Imp If the do loop is exited here, the calculated value for Imp is used to calculate Vmp. Imp and Vmp are now established Else If the do loop is exited here with a not greater than zero or less than 1, Vmp and Imp are not calculable with this algorithm. End If

Additional Resources

An Rs and N to Vmp and Imp macro embedded spreadsheet conversion tool is available. The following graphic is an illustration of the Conversion from Rs and N to Vmp and Imp tool available on the Agilent application note Web site. Entering values for Voc, Isc, Rs, and N in the spreadsheet and clicking the Solve for Vmp and Imp button will calculate and return values in the designated fields. To ensure that the values of Imp and Vmp will accurately reproduce and represent the I-V curve that would be generated by the use of Rs and N, the maximum allowable error in the calculation of N is limited to 1e-12 times the given value of N.

Related Agilent Literature

Publication Conversion from Rs and N to Vmp and Imp Download from: www.agilent.com/find/E4360Conversion Agilent E4360 Modular Solar Array Simulators Side-by-Side Comparison of Agilent E435xB and E436xA Solar Array Simulators

Publication type Spread sheet

Literature number NA

Data sheet Application note

5989-8485EN 5989-9884EN

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