Solar Array I-V Curve Simulation Power Supply

The Model 62150H-600S/1000S DC Power Supply has a built in SAS model that can easily program the Voc, Isc, Vmp, Imp parameters to simulate different solar cell materials I-V characteristic outputs with fast response time. Moreover, the "Table" mode is capable of saving a 128 point array of user programmed voltages and currents via a remote interface. It can easily create a shadowed I-V Curve and the I-V Program Mode can save up to 100 I-V curves and dwell time intervals (1-15,000s) in memory. These advantages provide steady repetitive control conditions required for PV Inverter design as well as for verification testing. The solar array simulator is ideal for the following testing:

• Design and verify the maximum power tracking circuit and algorithm of the PV inverter.
• Verify the high/low limit of operating input voltage allowed for the PV inverter.
• Verify the high/low limit of operating input voltage allowed for the inverter’s maximum power point.
• Verify the static maximum power point tracking efficiency of the PV inverter.
• Measure and verify the overall efficiency & conversion efficiency of PV inverter.
• Verify the maximum power point tracking performance of the inverter for dynamic curves.
• Verify the maximum power point tracking performance of the inverter under different time period conditions spanning from morning to nightfall.
• Verify the maximum power point tracking mechanism of the inverter for the I-V curve when the solar array is shaded by clouds or trees.
• Simulate the I-V curve under the actual environmental temperatures within burn-in room to do inverter burn-in testing.

Solar Array I-V Curve Simulation SoftPanel

The model 62150H-600S/1000S includes a graphical user Interface software through remote digital interface (USB / GPIB / Ethernet / RS232) control. The user can easily program the I-V curve of the 62150H-600S/1000S as well as the I-V & P-V curve for real-time testing. In addition it will display the MPPT status for the PV inverter. Readings and the report function with real-time monitoring using the softpanel are shown below.

Simulates Different Solar Cell Materials I-V Characteristic (Fill Factor)

The purpose of the PV inverter is to convert the dc voltage (from solar array) to the ac power (utility). The better a PV inverter can adapt to the various irradiation & temperature conditions of sun, the more power that can be fed into the utility grid over time. So, the MPPT performance is a very important factor for PV generation system. The model 62150H-600S/1000S is capable of simulating different types of standard crystalline, multi-crystalline and thin-film fill factor* parameters to verify the MPPT tracking algorithm mechanism and efficiency. *Fill Factor = (Imp*Vmp)/(Isc*Voc)

Static MPPT Efficiency Testing

The 62150H-600S DC Power Supply with solar array simulation can program the I-V curve through SAS mode and table mode via front panel or softpanel easily and up to 100 I-V curves can be stored in the unit. The user can recall the I-V curve from 62150H-600S afterwards for testing and monitoring the MPPT performance of PV inverter with the real-time tracking feature. The softpanel allows the user to set the duration for static MPPT efficiency testing. Each curve test time should be set at between 60s-600s for best MPPT efficiency performance analysis.

Shadow I-V Curve Simulation

The table mode allows the user to create 128 points of I-V curve data consisting of voltage and current in Excel file format. This information is uploaded to the 62150H-600S memory via the softpanel. The user is able to program various I-V curves such as the shadow I-V curve simulation, which is used to verify the maximum power tracking capability of the PV inverter based on the I-V curve when the solar cell is shaded by clouds or trees.

Evaluating The PV Invert's Conversion Efficiency*

The Photovoltaic I-V curve model of Sandia Lab’s built in the softpanel allows the user to input the maximum dc input power (Pmax), I-V Fill Factor, Vmin, Vnom and Vmax desired to test the PV Inverter. Click the maximum power percentage value (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 75%, 100%) desired directly and , the softpanel will produce the tested solar cell I-V curve automatically. Next, download it to the standalone unit to start simulating the I-V curve for the PV Inverter to test the conversion efficiency. *Required an extra power meter.

Inverter Test For Course of A Day

The I-V program function enables the user to edit multiple I-V curves to simulate the irradiation intensity and temperature level from early morning to nightfall. It can also set the execution time of each I-V curve to enable the user to perform MPPT tracking tests under the simulation of actual weather environments.

Report Function

The softpanel also provides data recording capabilities, which include: voltage, current, power, energy and MPPT efficiency and the corresponding parameter sampling time (1s~10000s) for the recording process. The report can be utilized for R&D design characterization verification, QA verification and production quality control.

Master/Slave Parallel Operation Up To 150KW

When high power is required, it is common to connect two or more power supplies in parallel. The 62000H Series DC Power Supplies have a smart master / slave control mode making the parallel operation fast and simple. In this mode, the master scales values and downloads data to slave units with a high speed sync signal process and automatic current sharing control.

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