Comparative analysis of uniform and non uniform shading on the efficiency and power output of a PV panel using LABVIEW

Multisim software from National Instruments will be used to model the equivalent circuit above using the ordinary circuit components shown. LABVIEW development platform would then be used to display the IV and PV characteristics obtained from the Multisim software for the PV model operation under Standard Test Conditions (irradiance of 1000 W/m 2 and temperature of 25 0 C). The irradiance value will be multiplied by a reducing factor and another simulation run. This would represent uniform shading of the PV cells. LABVIEW will be used again to obtain the PV and IV characteristics of the PV model. The final step would involve connecting of a bypass diode to a specific number of cells in a series circuit. This is because shaded cells need to work with a reverse bias voltage in order to give the same current as the illuminated cells. However, excess reverse bias voltage could cause hotspots in the shaded cells that would result in an open circuit creation in the entire PV module thus the need for the bypass diode. The simulation will then be run with these new changes and the PV and IV as displayed on the LABVIEW Front panel will be recorded. Finally, analysis for all the three cases would be done to identify the changes in the power output of the PV from the PV plots so as to determine the effects of uniform and non-uniform shading on power output of a PV. Efficiency of the PV model for each case and fill factor for each case will be determined. The values of interest for each case can be obtained from the PV and IV curves. These include short circuit current (I sc ), open circuit voltage (V oc ) and maximum power (Pmax).