Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-based solar cells have exhibited greater performance than the ones utilizing cadmium telluride (CdTe) or hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H) as the absorber. CIGS-based devices are more efficient, considering their device performance, environmentally benign nature, and reduced cost. In this article, we proposed a potential CIGS-absorber-based solar cell with an FTO/ZnSe/CIGS/V2O5/Cu heterostructure, with a V2O5 back-surface field (BSF) layer, SnO2:F (FTO) window layer, and ZnSe buffer layer. Using the solar cell capacitance simulator one-dimensional simulation software, the effects of the presence of the BSF layer, the thickness, bulk defect density, and acceptor density of the absorber layer, buffer layer thickness, interfacial defect density, device resistance, and operating temperature on the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill factor, and efficiency, as well as on the quantum efficiency and recombination and generation rate, of the device have been explored in detail. The simulation results revealed that only a 1 μm-thick-CIGS absorber layer with V2O5 BSF and ZnSe buffer layers in this structure offers an outstanding efficiency of 31.86% with a VOC of ∼0.9 V. Thus, these outcomes of the CIGS-based proposed heterostructure provide an insightful pathway for fabricating high-efficiency solar cells with performance more promising than the previously reported conventional designs.
The challenges with solar energy extraction are addressed in the proposed approach through development and demonstration of multilevel inverter architecture and the associated control algorithms. The proposed multilevel inverter topology along with the control algorithms for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems increase the overall energy capture from the sun. Multilevel inverters are mostly used in medium and high power applications because of their robustness and reliability. It offers higher efficiency and operates at low frequency. Numerous multilevel inverter topologies have been introduced over the years. In this proposed approach, cascaded multilevel inverter topology has been used. The proposed system suggests how to achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT) from individual panels rather than from a centralized structure. A centralized controller coordinates the power flow from the individual cells which then feeds into a multilevel inverter to achieve overall MPPT and to deliver compatible AC energy to the utility system. The resulting output AC voltage of the inverter swings with nine levels and forms a staircase waveform which is nearly sinusoidal. To interface the inverter with the grid, a zero crossing detector is used. A 9-level inverter with a total capacity of 800 watts was successfully implemented and tested. A new current control algorithm was developed for the proposed multilevel inverter. The simulation and experimental results show that the current drawn iv from the individual PV arrays using the developed algorithm are very close to the commanded inputs so that the arrays can operate at their MPPT points. The overall system minimizes the shading effect and improves the per panel efficiency as well as increase the overall energy harvest.
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