Small area high voltage photovoltaic module for high tolerance to partial shading

Luthfan Fauzan; Min Ju Yun; Yeon Hyang Sim; Dong Yoon Lee; Seung I Cha

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106745

Small area high voltage photovoltaic module for high tolerance to partial shading

iScience. 2023 Apr 25;26(6):106745. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106745. eCollection 2023 Jun 16.

Authors

Luthfan Fauzan^{1

2}, Min Ju Yun¹, Yeon Hyang Sim¹, Dong Yoon Lee¹, Seung I Cha^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Energy Conversion Research Center, Electrical Materials Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 51543, Korea.
² Department of Electro-functionality Materials Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 51543, Korea.

Abstract

The urban application of photovoltaics is necessary to achieve carbon-free electricity production. However, the serial connections within modules cause problems under partial shading conditions, which is inevitable in urban applications. Therefore, a partial shading-tolerance photovoltaic module is needed. This research introduces the small-area-high-voltage (SAHiV) module with rectangle and triangle shapes for high partial shading tolerance and compares its performance with conventional and shingled modules. We tested it with discrete and continuous shading shape groups to represent unpredictable shading by simulations using LTspice with Monte Carlo simulation combined with latin hypercube sampling that were validated by comparison with experimental results. The SAHiV triangle module exhibited the best partial shading tolerance under most scenarios. Both types of SAHiV modules (rectangular and triangular) were robust against all types of shading patterns and angles, as indicated by their stable shading-tolerance values. These modules are thus suitable for use in urban areas.

Keywords: Applied physics; Devices.