Abstract:
A solar cell (Photovoltaic cell) is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light
directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic modules provide safe, reliable,
and maintenance-free, without noise and environmentally friendly source of power. This paper
evaluates the performance of a mono-crystalline GaAs module based on irradiance and
temperature. Short circuit current of the module increased significantly with increasing
irradiance while open circuit voltage was least affected. Both fill factor and efficiency showed a
similar trend with irradiance, increasing slightly and then reducing. The response variables; fill
factor, efficiency, open circuit voltage and maximum power were found to reduce with increase
in surface temperature while short circuit current increased slightly. The temperature effect on
GaAs solar cells for the average efficiency, fill factor, short circuit current and open circuit
voltage for the module was found to be 18.6%, 0.738, 8.23A, and 28.91V respectively and the
maximum Voltage, maximum current and maximum power was found to be 23.13V, 7.65A and
176.9W respectively. The irradiance effect on GaAs solar cells for the average efficiency, fill
factor, short circuit current and open circuit voltage for the module was found to be 12.9%,
0.744, 4.93A, and 32.74V respectively and the maximum Voltage, maximum current and
maximum power was found to be 25.8V, 4.59A and 121W respectively. A good knowledge of the
power output of a solar module and how it varies with solar temperature and irradiance would
give accurate information which is vital in sizing and design of photovoltaic system.
