An equivalent circuit approach to solar cell modeling

Abstract

In the equivalent circuit model approach, the model is a non-linear distributed circuit where the circuit elements are related to familiar semiconductor device parameters. The well-established circuit simulation techniques can therefore be applied to analyze the equivalent circuit. In this paper, we expand the model to the silicon photovoltaic cell by adding the photo-excitation. We illustrate this by an example in which monochromatic light is applied to one side of a p+/n junction cell. The output characteristics of the solar cell are then compared with the results from the Medici simulator. The design optimization of the solar cell and the effects on accuracy by reducing the number of sections in the model are also described.