A comprehensive investigation of a solar array with wire length under partial shading conditions

ABSTRACT

Partial shading condition (PSC) leads to mismatch losses and multiple peaks on the output curves. Several static-based reconfigurations like total cross-tied (TCT), skyscraper reconfiguration (SSR), and odd-even reconfiguration (OER) were reported to address these issues. But, less shade dispersion and more wiring losses occur in these arrays. This work focuses on both power improvement and wire length reduction of solar arrays under PSC. Based on the reduced wire length to more than 50% for SSR over OER, a novel enhanced skyscraper reconfiguration (ESR) is proposed in this work. ESR is cheaper by 169.13 INR and 1699.07 INR as compared to SSR and OER respectively. Further, the performance of the novel ESR is compared by obtaining several parameters like fill factor (FF), efficiency (Ƞ), global power (GP), execution ratio (ER), current loss (IL), and mismatch loss (M_L) with the existing SSR and OER. It is observed that the Ƞ is improved by 4% and 13.05% and GP is maximized by 3.74W and 4.48W for the novel-proposed ESR over SSR and OER, which is experimentally verified under regional and corner shadings respectively. Overall, the novel-proposed ESR confirms its supremacy over other considered models in this study.

KEYWORDS:

• Cost analysis
• efficiency
• partial shading conditions
• solar array
• wiring parameters

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vijay Laxmi Mishra

Vijay Laxmi Mishra received the M. Tech degree in Power System from Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India in 2016. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering with the Kamla Nehru Institute of Technology, Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India under the Homi Bhabha Research cum Teaching Fellowship scheme. Her research interests include electric power systems, photovoltaic systems, and load forecasting.

Yogesh K. Chauhan

Yogesh K. Chauhan received the M. Tech. degree in Power Electronics and Drives from IITD, New Delhi, and the Ph.D. degree in Induction Generator from Thapar University, Patiala, India, in 1998 and 2010, respectively. Currently he is working as the Professor and Head of the Department in EED at KNIT, Sultanpur. He is having more than 20 years of teaching/research experience. His research interests include power electronics converters and drives, induction generators, and renewable energy-based electrical power generation.

K.S. Verma

K. S. Verma received the M. Tech degree in Power Systems from KNIT Sultanpur, India, and the Ph. D degree in FACTS devices from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India in 1998 and 2003 respectively. Presently he is working as a Professor in the Electrical Engineering department and Director at KNIT Sultanpur Uttar Pradesh, India. He is having more than 20 years of teaching/research experience. His research interests include flexible AC transmission systems, planning, and operation of distributed generation, and modeling & simulation of power systems.