Modelling real photovoltaic solar cell using Maple

In this paper, Maple software is used to study a solar cell modelled by an electronic circuit containing five physical parameters. The physical parameters are: the series resistance, the shunt resistance, the diode reverse saturation current, the diode ideality factor and the photocurrent (see figure 1). First, the characteristic equation is solved in order to find the output current as a function of the output voltage of the solar cell. Second, the expressions of the short circuit current, the open circuit voltage, the dynamical resistance of the solar cell and different kinds of powers involved: the output power, the power dissipated by Joule effect in the internal components of the solar cell and the solar cell total power are determined analytically. Finally, the effects of the different physical parameters on the characteristic and on the delivered power of the solar cell are studied and analyzed.