Summary
This paper develops a novel hybrid parameter estimation technique of the solar photovoltaic (PV) cell. First, a mathematical model of the solar PV cell, which is a function of three unknown parameters, namely, series resistance, shunt resistance, and thermal voltage, is developed. Then, trust‐region algorithms are used to evaluate these three unknown parameters. The accuracy and efficacy of the proposed technique are tested with five different PV modules of mono‐ and poly‐crystalline materials by estimating their various benchmarks, such as relative maximum power error (RMPE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the current. In addition, the results of the proposed technique are compared with the experimental as well as the results obtained from other established techniques. The %RMSE, as obtained with the proposed technique, is found in order of 10−4 while the other techniques provide the value in the range between 10−1 and 10−3. Similarly, %MAE and %RMSE, as obtained with the proposed technique, are found 0.064 and 0.17, respectively, which is smaller than the other existing techniques. Hence, the proposed hybrid technique provides characteristics that are almost similar to the real characteristics of solar PV.
Highlights
The characteristic equation is developed in terms of Rs, Rp, and Vth.
The hybrid technique is used to evaluate five unknown parameters of solar PV.
Various performance indicators have been estimated for different types of solar PV.
Characteristics obtained with the proposed technique are similar to real characteristics.
The proposed technique reduces the complexity of parameter estimations.