Simulation of photovoltaic systems

Abstract

A method (20) for generating/ updating a database of current-voltage characteristic curves is disclosed. This method comprises simulating (25), for at least one combination of a topology of a photovoltaic cell group, an internal cell temperature(s) and a cell irradiation(s), a model of the photovoltaic cell group to provide a current-voltage characteristic curve representative of that combination,and clustering (24) the current-voltage characteristic curves to identify at least one plurality of similar current-voltage characteristic curves. The method also comprises generating (26) a many-to-one mapping in the database to map query requests that correspond to each of the at least one plurality of similar current-voltage characteristic curves onto a single representative current-voltage characteristic curve for that plurality of similar current-voltage characteristic curves, each query request identifying a topology of a photovoltaic cell group, at least one internal temperature for the photovoltaic cells in the photovoltaic cell group and at least one cell irradiation for the photovoltaic cells in the photovoltaic cell group.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of simulation and modeling of photovoltaic systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for estimating performance metrics and / or operating parameters of a photovoltaic system configuration over a series of time-evolving operating conditions, a method for generating a database used in conjunction with the aforementioned method, and Computer program products and apparatus for implementing these methods. Background technique [0002] Solar energy is a favorable source of on-site clean energy production. For example, photovoltaic installations can advantageously provide energy in urban areas where operating conditions for photovoltaic arrays are not always optimal. Under partial shading conditions that may frequently occur in rooftop installations, building-integrated photovoltaics, and solar vehicles, traditional designs of photovoltaic modules or systems may not be able to meet the demand for...

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Problems solved by technology

[0018] Furthermore, if the parameters and design choices of the reconfigurable modules (e.g., the size and shape of the battery strings, the number of local converters, the number of configurable series and parallel connections supported by the switches, the connection configuration of the local converters, and connection configurations to the module converter, wherein, in simulation, each of these may require different operation on different runtime configurations (e.g., active current paths) of the reconfigurable module and to be taken into account conditions) are to be taken into account, the number of simulations required will thus rapidly exceed the computationally feasible number of evaluations for the module

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