Estimation of the Parameters of Solar Cells from Current-voltage Characteristics Using Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents a method for calculating the light generated current, the series resistance, shun resistance and the two components of the reverse saturation current usually encountered in the double diode representation of the solar cell from the experimental values of the current-voltage characteristics of the cell using genetic algorithm. The theory is able to regenerate the above mentioned parameters to very good accuracy when applied to cell data that was generated from pre-defined parameters. The method is applied to various types of space quality solar cells and sub cells. All parameters except the light generated current are seen to be nearly the same in the case of a cell whose characteristics under illumination and in dark were analyzed. The light generated current is nearly equal to the shortcircuit current in all cases. The parameters obtained by this method and another method are nearly equal wherever applicable. The parameters are also shown to represent the current-voltage characteristics well.