Application of firefly algorithm for power estimations of solar photovoltaic power plants

ABSTRACT

Modeling of solar photovoltaic cell is an essential requirement in the computations involved in solar photovoltaic power systems. Some metaheuristic algorithms are used for determining the cell parameters in the literature, however, more investigation is required with reference to varying solar irradiation and temperature to improve the accuracy of the models. Hence, this paper proposes firefly algorithm for identification of the cell parameters accurate enough to construct the cell characteristics under varying solar irradiation and temperature conditions. Experimental results obtained at standard irradiation and temperature of 1000 W/m², 25°C, and at other irradiation levels such as 80 0 W/m² and 600 W/m², temperature levels such as 40°C and 50°C were presented along with simulated values. The value of series resistance, shunt resistance and diode ideality factor for temperatures from 20°C to 60°C and irradiation of 400 W/m² to 1000 W/m² are computed using this proposed method. A comparison of the proposed method with other researchers at irradiation of 1000, 800, and 600 W/m² and 25°C was provided. The results of implementation show that there is a good agreement between computed values and data sheet values. The proposed method will definitely be useful for large scale solar photovoltaic designers, researchers, simulators.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar photovoltaic
• firefly algorithm
• estimation
• ideality factor
• PV cell
• cell modeling

Symbols

βDegree of attractiveness

φFunction of R_series, R_shunt and α

αIdeality factor

β_oInitial attractiveness

E_gband-gap energy of the semiconductor (eV)

Gactual irradiation (W/m²)

G_nsolar irradiation at STC (W/m²)

I_diodediode current (A)

I_mpcurrent at maximum power (A)

I_mp,nnominal current at maximum power (A)

I_oreverse saturation current (A)

I_o,nnominal saturation current (A)

I_photophotocurrent (A)

I_PVphotovoltaic output current (A)

I_scshort circuit current (A)

I_sc,nnominal short circuit current (A)

KBoltzmann constant

k_itemperature coefficient of short circuit current

k_vtemperature coefficient of open circuit voltage

NEnot evaluated

P_mpmaximum power point (W)

qelectron charge

r_pqdistance between two fireflies

R_seriesseries resistance (Ω)

R_shuntshunt resistance (Ω)

TCell temperature (^oC)

T_nCell temperature at STC (^oC)

V_diodediode voltage (V)

V_mpvoltage at maximum power (V)

V_mp,nnominal voltage at maximum power (V)

V_ocopen circuit voltage (V)

V_oc,nnominal open circuit voltage (V)

V_PVphotovoltaic output current (A)

X_pposition of firefly, p

X_qposition of firefly, q

γabsorption coefficient

φ_lowerlower bounds of PV cell parameters

φ_upperlower bounds of PV cell parameters

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rajkumar K

Rajkumar, K, obtained his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India in the year 2018 . He is a member of Institution of Engineers,  India. He has more than 15 years of teaching experience and he is presently working as an Associate Professor in EEE department of Saranathan College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli, India.  His areas of interests are power converters, renewable energy systems, artificial intelligence and electromagnetic interferences in power converter systems.

Kevin Ark Kumar

Kevin Ark Kumar obtained his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India in the year 2016 . He is a Chartered Engineer in India and BEE certified Energy Manager in India. He joined Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Tiruchirappalli, India in 2008 where he is currently a Manager. His areas of interests are power electronics, solar photovoltaic systems, programmable logic controllers and industrial automation systems.