An approach to extract the parameters of solar cells from their illuminated I - V curves using the Lambert W function

In this article an approach based on the Lambert W function is applied to analysis of various types solar cells and solar modules at a given insolation level and temperature; it can be used to extract accurate values of the parameters of a solar cell/module using experimental data or information available from the datasheet. These parameters are the photocurrent I-ph, the reverse saturation current I-o, the diode ideality factor a, the series resistance R-s, and the shunt resistance R-sh. The parameters I-o,, a, Rs, and Rsh are calculated with the aid of 4 equations that can be solved simultaneously while increasing the value of /ph in small increments. The calculated parameters are found to be in good agreement with those obtained in the literature. The experimental data of various solar cells/modules devices are obtained from the literature. Some of these devices are silicon solar cells and modules in addition to organic and DSSC solar cells. The mathematical I V characteristics and the mathematical P - V characteristics are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.