Efficient mathematical models for parameters estimation of single-diode photovoltaic cells

The photovoltaic (PV) cell behavior is characterized by its current-voltage relationship. This relationship is dependent on the PV cell's equivalent circuit parameters. Accurate estimation of such parameters is essential to study and analyze the PV system performance in terms of many aspects such as modeling and control. The main purpose of this paper is to develop mathematical models for the parameters of the single-diode poly and monocrystalline PV cells. The models are formulated using Eureqa software by utilizing training data collected from simulating thousands of PV modules available in Simulink library. The developed models can be easily and instantly executed by only using information available from module datasheet under standard test conditions (STC). The models are then validated using four different assessments by considering testing data, commercial PV modules, and experimental data, in addition to benchmarking with other reported algorithms. As an overall evaluation, the assessments have shown that the developed models are efficient in estimating the PV cell equivalent circuit parameters and can consequently predict the I-V curves for any poly or monocrystalline PV modules, under any weather conditions, with a high degree of accuracy.