Enhancing the i-v characteristic and hence M.P.

P of a photovoltaic panel
(via mirror and aluminum sheet as reflectors-a comparative study)
1

Aditya Chauhan, 2Anupam Km Das, 3Swapnil Km Maurya

Aditya Chauhan- M.Tech (Energy & Environment)-BBAU,Lucknow

Anupam Km Das- M.Tech (Energy & Environment)-BBAU,Lucknow
3
Swapnil Km Maurya- M.Tech (Energy & Environment)-BBAU,Lucknow
2

Abstract: The *i-v characteristic is the heart of working of a photovoltaic panel. This paper
aims to show that how the enhancement in the i-v characteristic and maximum power point of a
photovoltaic panel can be achieved by using mirror and aluminium sheet as a reflectors.
The results are quite impressive with a maximum increment of about 68.33% in *M.P.P is
observed around 3:30 pm with mirror as reflector and a maximum increment of about 47.55% in
*M.P.P is observed around 3:30 pm with aluminium sheet as reflector under same insolation.
The trend in percentage increment of M.P.P follows almost a *parabolic curve from 9:30 AM to
3:30 PM for both reflectors (mirror & aluminium sheet).
The average increment in M.P.P by using mirror as reflector for a period of 7 hours is around
44% and the average increment in M.P.P using aluminium sheet as reflector for a period of 7
hours is 34%.
The results of this research will definitely encourages the design and use of appropriate reflectors
provided with each photovoltaic panel in a *PV power plant.
The readings were taken on 21st March 2015 for mirror as reflector and 22nd March 2015 for
aluminium sheet as reflector under almost same insolation from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, the
ambient temperature variation is from 32 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius.
Key Words: * i-v characteristic, *M.P.P= Maximum Power Point, *PV= Photovoltaic,
*parabolic curve

Introduction: Only obtaining high short circuit current (Isc) [1] or open circuit voltage (Voc)
[1] is not sufficient unless and until we operate at M.P.P[2], because in the i-v characteristic[2]
of a PV panel M.P.P is the point where we are maximally utilizing the energy of what is
available. The MPP is the point by which we can determine the Fill Factor (FF) [3] of any PV
panel; which is an important factor in selecting the PV panel for any site.This research focusses
on the percentage increament in MPP via reflectors(mirror & aluminium sheet) and to track the
enhanced MPP with time.The connections are made as per the following figure.

Fig.1-schematic representation of the set up used

Following are the enhanced i-v characteristics with mirror and aluminium
sheet.
Time: 3:30 PM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 68.33%

2.5
2
1.5

Current
(Amps)

1
0.5
0
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage (Volts)

Time: 3:30 PM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 47.55%

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2

Current
(Amps)

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

10

15

Voltage (Volts)

20

25

Time: 2:30 PM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 47.55%

3
2.5
2
1.5

Current
(Amps)

1
0.5
0
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage (Volts)

Time: 2:30 PM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 33%

2.5

Current
(Amps)

1.5

0.5

0
0

10

Voltage (Volts)

15

20

25

Time: 1:30 PM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 45.24%

3.5

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage (Volts)

Time: 1:30 PM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 29.17%

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

Voltage (Volts)

15

20

25

Time: 12:30 PM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 31.48%

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5

Current
(Amps)

1
0.5
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage (Volts)

Time: 12:30 PM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 29%

3
2.5

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15

Voltage (Volts)

20

25

Time: 11:30 AM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 31.93%

3.5
3
2.5

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage(Volts)

Time: 11:30 AM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 29%

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

Voltage (Volts)

15

20

25

Time: 10:30 AM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 36.65%

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage(Volts)

Time: 10:30 AM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 28.64%

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15

Voltage (Volts)

20

25

Time: 9:30 AM, Reflector: Mirror,

= 48.31%

2.5

Current
(Amps)

1.5

0.5

0
0

10

15

20

25

Voltage(Volts)

Time: 9:30 AM, Reflector: Aluminium sheet,

= 40.44%

3
2.5
2

Current
(Amps)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

15

Voltage (Volts)

20

25

Result & Observation:

Time in hours
21/03/2015

% increment in
M.P.P with
Aluminium Sheet

Time in hours
22/03/2015

% increment in M.P.P
with Mirror

15:30

47.55

15:30

68.33

14:30

33

14:30

47.55

13:30

29.17

13:30

45.24

12:30

29

12:30

31.48

11:30

29

11:30

31.93

10:30

28.64

10:30

36.65

09:30

40.44

09:30

48.31

80
70
60
50

% age increment
in M.PP

40
30
20
10
0
15:30

14:30

13:30

12:30

11:30

10:30

09:30

Time (Hours)
Bar Graph showing a comparison of percentage increment in M.P.P by mirror & aluminium
sheet with time.
Red bar represents percentage increment in M.P.P with mirror
Blue bar represents percentage increment in M.P.P with aluminium sheet.

80
70
60
50

% age increament
in M.P.P

40
30
20
10

0
00:00

04:48

09:36

14:24

19:12

Time (Hours)
Scatter Graph showing a comparison of percentage increment in M.P.P by mirror & aluminium
sheet with time.
Red Dot represents percentage increment in M.P.P with mirror.
Blue Dot represents percentage increment in M.P.P with aluminium sheet.

Conclusion:
This research is all about percentage increment in M.P.P of a photovoltaic panel via use
of reflectors (mirror & aluminium sheet).
If we have a megawatt solar photovoltaic plant than definitely we can enhance the power
generation on an average by 34% for at least 7 hours during the day if we use aluminium
sheet as a reflector, i.e. we have an additional power of 340000 watt per megawatt for a
SPV plant.
So in this way we can reduce the number of panels & hence the area required for any
desired demand.
Thus it is advisable for SPV power plant designers to have an optimized reflector with
each panel and it can be achieved in a feasible as well as cost effective manner.
The variation in M.P.P from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM via use of both the reflectors mirror as
well as aluminium sheet follows a parabolic trend, this trend can be useful to track the
M.P.P with time.
The parabolic trend of percentage increment in M.P.P can also be utilized in load
optimization with time.

References:
[1]-Solanki, Chetan Singh., Solar Photovoltaics, Fundamentals, Technologies and
Applications, second edition, PHI
[2]-Green, M.A., Solar Cells: Operating Principles, Technology and System Applications,
Prentice Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., USA, 1982
[3]-Green, M.A., Silicon Solar Cells: Advance Principle and Practices, Bridge Printrey,
Sydney, 1995
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