pvlib.pvsystem.singlediode#

pvlib.pvsystem.singlediode(photocurrent, saturation_current, resistance_series, resistance_shunt, nNsVth, ivcurve_pnts=None, method='lambertw')[source]#

Solve the single diode equation to obtain a photovoltaic IV curve.

Solves the single diode equation 1

\[I = I_L - I_0 \left[ \exp \left(\frac{V+I R_s}{n N_s V_{th}} \right)-1 \right] - \frac{V + I R_s}{R_{sh}}\]

for \(I\) and \(V\) when given \(I_L, I_0, R_s, R_{sh},\) and \(n N_s V_{th}\) which are described later. The five points on the I-V curve specified in 3 are returned. If \(I_L, I_0, R_s, R_{sh},\) and \(n N_s V_{th}\) are all scalars, a single curve is returned. If any are array-like (of the same length), multiple IV curves are calculated.

The input parameters can be calculated from meteorological data using a function for a single diode model, e.g., calcparams_desoto().

Parameters
  • photocurrent (numeric) – Light-generated current \(I_L\) (photocurrent) 0 <= photocurrent. [A]

  • saturation_current (numeric) – Diode saturation \(I_0\) current under desired IV curve conditions. 0 < saturation_current. [A]

  • resistance_series (numeric) – Series resistance \(R_s\) under desired IV curve conditions. 0 <= resistance_series < numpy.inf. [ohm]

  • resistance_shunt (numeric) – Shunt resistance \(R_{sh}\) under desired IV curve conditions. 0 < resistance_shunt <= numpy.inf. [ohm]

  • nNsVth (numeric) – The product of three components: 1) the usual diode ideality factor \(n\), 2) the number of cells in series \(N_s\), and 3) the cell thermal voltage \(V_{th}\). The thermal voltage of the cell (in volts) may be calculated as \(k_B T_c / q\), where \(k_B\) is Boltzmann’s constant (J/K), \(T_c\) is the temperature of the p-n junction in Kelvin, and \(q\) is the charge of an electron (coulombs). 0 < nNsVth. [V]

  • ivcurve_pnts (int, optional) –

    Number of points in the desired IV curve. If not specified or 0, no points on the IV curves will be produced.

    Deprecated since version 0.10.0: Use pvlib.pvsystem.v_from_i() and pvlib.pvsystem.i_from_v() instead.

  • method (str, default 'lambertw') – Determines the method used to calculate points on the IV curve. The options are 'lambertw', 'newton', or 'brentq'.

Returns

dict or pandas.DataFrame

The returned dict-like object always contains the keys/columns:

  • i_sc - short circuit current in amperes.

  • v_oc - open circuit voltage in volts.

  • i_mp - current at maximum power point in amperes.

  • v_mp - voltage at maximum power point in volts.

  • p_mp - power at maximum power point in watts.

  • i_x - current, in amperes, at v = 0.5*v_oc.

  • i_xx - current, in amperes, at v = 0.5*(v_oc+v_mp).

A dict is returned when the input parameters are scalars or ivcurve_pnts > 0. If ivcurve_pnts > 0, the output dictionary will also include the keys:

  • i - IV curve current in amperes.

  • v - IV curve voltage in volts.

Notes

If the method is 'lambertw' then the solution employed to solve the implicit diode equation utilizes the Lambert W function to obtain an explicit function of \(V=f(I)\) and \(I=f(V)\) as shown in 2.

If the method is 'newton' then the root-finding Newton-Raphson method is used. It should be safe for well behaved IV-curves, but the 'brentq' method is recommended for reliability.

If the method is 'brentq' then Brent’s bisection search method is used that guarantees convergence by bounding the voltage between zero and open-circuit.

If the method is either 'newton' or 'brentq' and ivcurve_pnts are indicated, then pvlib.singlediode.bishop88() 4 is used to calculate the points on the IV curve points at diode voltages from zero to open-circuit voltage with a log spacing that gets closer as voltage increases. If the method is 'lambertw' then the calculated points on the IV curve are linearly spaced.

References

1

S.R. Wenham, M.A. Green, M.E. Watt, “Applied Photovoltaics” ISBN 0 86758 909 4

2

A. Jain, A. Kapoor, “Exact analytical solutions of the parameters of real solar cells using Lambert W-function”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 81 (2004) 269-277.

3

D. King et al, “Sandia Photovoltaic Array Performance Model”, SAND2004-3535, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

4

“Computer simulation of the effects of electrical mismatches in photovoltaic cell interconnection circuits” JW Bishop, Solar Cell (1988) https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-6787(88)90059-2

Examples using pvlib.pvsystem.singlediode#

Calculating a module’s IV curves

Calculating a module's IV curves