Simulation of current-voltage characteristics and power-voltage characteristics of «space» solar cells based porous silicon in the Comsol Multiphysics package

Abstract

To analyze the characteristics of solar modules based on porous silicon involved in the flight experiment aboard a small spacecraft AIST 2D, the method of computer simulation of solar cell characteristics was used. The paper presents the procedure for developing a simulation model of photovoltaic modules in Comsol Multyphysics. The developed model allows us to investigate the current-voltage and voltage-watt characteristics of solar modules and determine the main parameters. The discrepancy between the experimental data obtained from the telemetry data from the AIST-2D with the simulation results does not exceed 5%.

Photovoltaic Solar Cells: A Review

“…In real cells, power is dissipated through a series resistance 'R s ' created due to the ohmic contact in the front surface and shunt resistance 'R sh ' due to leakage current. Therefore, for a practical solar cell, the equivalent circuit includes 'R sh ' added in parallel with the diode and 'R s ' added in series with the load as given below, Figure 6 [31][32][33]. Therefore, the above equation can be written as follows:…”

“…The results showed that higher PV efficiencies can be achieved by increasing the mobility and carriers' lifetime while decreasing the surface recombination velocities [111][112][113]. Moreover, [31] developed a simulation model of PV modules in COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate the I-V and P-V characteristics of p-n junction space solar modules based on porous Si. The difference between the PV electrical characteristics COMSOL results and the experimental data obtained does not exceed 5%.…”