SERIES-PARALLEL CONNECTION OF SOLAR

PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL

MRE801 PRESENTATION

SUBMITTED TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY

USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO

BY

MUHAMMAD, Sani
20210315003

AUGUST, 2021

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INTRODUCTION
A photovoltaic (PV) system consist of array of solar panels to convert to electricity. Each
solar panels is an arranged of PV cells, made up of semiconductor materials. The capacity of
PV cell can be estimated by knowing cell efficiency and fill factor (F.F). Solar energy refers
primarily to the use of solar radiation for practical electricity generations. However, there are
other renewable resources such as wind, geothermal, tidal and wave power, hydroelectricity
and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on the earth. Only
minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used (Saito, 2011). Ever-increasing energy
demand of the world needs to be fulfilled with renewable sources to save valuable resources
of the planet. Solar energy is one of the means of achieving it, which poses distinctive
advantages over competing alternatives: low maintenance cost, long lifetime, simplicity of
manufacturing as well as the absence of moving parts. Rapid development in the photovoltaic
systems demanding more and more efficient solutions, not only in micro-fabrication
techniques but in energy extraction methods as well. (Kurmanbay et al 2020).
Photovoltaic cell: the smallest, basic photovoltaic device that generates electricity when
exposed to light. Cells can range in size from microscopic to 8 inches square.

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Figure. 1 Photovoltaic cell
Photovoltaic module: A solar module consist of several solar cells connected in series as
well as parallel to increase the power and voltage above that of a single cell.
A solar module consist of several solar cells series. For large installation this cells are
connected in series as well as parallel to increase the power and voltage above that of a single
cell. The voltage of a solar photovoltaic PV module is usually chosen to be compatible with
the system voltage such as batteries and inverters. An individual silicon solar cell has a
voltage at the maximum power point to about 0.5V under 25 0C. Taking into account an
expected reduction in PV module voltage due to temperature and the fact that a battery may
require voltages of 15V or more top charge, most modules contain 36 cells in series. This
gives an open-circuit voltage of about 21V under standard test conditions, and maximum
power voltage of about 17 or 18V. The remaining excess voltage is included to account for
voltage drops caused by other elements of the PV system, including including operation away
from maximum power point and reductions in light intensity. Augusto. A, et al (2017)

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Figure; 2. A typical module, 36 cells are connected in series to produce a voltage sufficient to
charge a 12V battery.
The voltage from the PV module is determined by the number of solar cells and the current
from the module depends primarily on the size of the solar cells. At 1.5AM and under
optimum tilt conditions, the current density from a commercial solar cell is approximately
between 30 mA/cm2 to 36 mA/cm2. Single crystal solar cells are often 15.6 × 15.6 cm2, giving
a total current of almost 9 – 10A from a module. Yang et al (2015).
The table; 1 below shows the output of typical modules at STC. IMP and ISC do not change
that much but VMP and VOC scale with the number of cells in the module.
Cells PMAX VMPP IMPP VOC ISC Efficiency
72 340 W 37.9 V 8.97 A 47.3 V 9.35 A 17.5%
60 280 W 31.4 V 8.91 A 39.3 V 9.38 A 17.1%
36 170 W 19.2 V 8.85 A 23.4 V 9.35 A 17%

Figure; 2. 72 Solar cell module

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Modules for residential or large fields usually contain either 60 or 72 cells. There are other
sizes such as 96 cell modules but they are much less common. If all the solar cells in a
module have identical electrical characteristics, and they all experience the same insolation
and temperature, then all the cells will be operating at exactly the same current and voltage.
In this case, the IV curve of the PV module has the same shape as that of the individual cells,
except that the voltage and current are increased. Bowden et al, (2013).
Series and Parallel combination of photovoltaic panel
Photovoltaic panel: photovoltaic modules connected together electrically to provide a single
output.
Array: a mechanically integrated assembly of modules or panels together with support
structure to form a unit that produces DC power
Series circuit - a type of electrical circuit in which the current passes through each circuit
element in turn without branching.
Parallel circuit - a type of electrical circuit in which the current is divided into two or more
paths and then returns via a common path to complete the circuit

When circuits are connected in series, the voltage of each panel is added together, but the
current remains the same. When circuits are connected in parallel, the voltage of each panel
remains the same and the current of each panel is added. This combination principle is used
to build photovoltaic (PV) modules. (Nakamura et al. 2014) The PV cells in a module can be
connected to any desired voltage and current. Photovoltaic modules can then be wired
together to create PV arrays. Solar panels can together connected in series-parallel to generate
the required voltage and current. Connect positive leads (+) to positive leads and negative
leads (-) to negative leads to wire the PV circuits in parallel. Connect positive leads to
negative leads to wire the PV circuits in series.
Series Connection of Modules
Sometimes the system voltage required for a power is much higher than what a single PV
module can produce. In such cases, N-number of PV modules is connected in series to deliver
the required voltage level. This series connection of the PV modules is similar to that of the
connections of N-number of cells in a module to obtain the required voltage level. The
following figure shows PV panels connected in series configuration.

Figure: 4. Series Connection of Solar Panels

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With this series connection, not only the voltage but also the power generated by the module
also increases. To achieve this the negative terminal of one module is connected to the
positive terminal of the other module.
If a module has an open circuit voltage VOC of 20 V and other connected in series has VOC of
20 V, then the total open circuit of the string is the summation of two voltages
VOC = VOC1 + VOC2
VOC = 20V+20V = 40V
It is important to note that the summation of voltages at the maximum power point is also
applicable in case of PV array.
Parallel Connection of Modules
Sometimes to increase the power of the solar PV system, instead of increasing the voltage by
connecting modules in series the current is increased by connecting modules in parallel. The
current in the parallel combination of the PV modules array is the sum of individual currents
of the modules. The voltage in the parallel combination of the modules remains the same as
that of the individual voltage of the module considering that all the modules have identical
voltage.
The parallel combination is achieved by connecting the positive terminal of one module to
the positive terminal of the next module and negative terminal to the negative terminal of the
next module as shown in the following figure. The following figure shows solar panels
connected in parallel configuration.

Figure: 5. Parallel Connection of Solar Panels

If the current IM1 is the maximum power point current of one module and IM 2 is the
maximum power point current of other module then the total current of the parallel-connected
module will be IM 1 + IM 2. If we keep on adding modules in parallel the current keeps adding
up. It is also applicable for short-circuit current Isc.

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Series – Parallel Connection of Modules – Mixed Combination
When we need to generate large power for large PV systems we need to connect modules in
series-parallel. In large PV systems first, the modules are connected in series known as “PV
module string” to obtain the required voltage level.
Then many such strings are connected in parallel to obtain the required current level for the
system. The following figures shows the connection of modules in series- parallel. As it’s in
the figure below.

Figure: 6. Series - Parallel Connection of Solar Panels

Module 1 and module 2 are connected in series let’s call it the string 1. The open-circuit
voltage of the string 1 VOC1 is added i.e.
VOC1 = VOC + VOC = 2VOC
Whereas the short-circuit current of string 1 ISC1 is the same i.e. ISC1 = ISC
Similar to string 1, the modules 3 and 4 make up the string 2. The open-circuit voltage of the
string 2 VOC2 is added i.e. VOC2 = VOC + VOC = 2VOC
Whereas the short-circuit current of string 2 ISC2 is the same i.e. ISC2 = ISC
Now string 1 and string 2 are connected in parallel, nowhere the voltage remains the same but
the current is added i.e. open-circuit voltage of the PV module array
VOCA = VOC1 = VOC2 = 2VOC
And Short circuit current of the PV module array
ISCA = ISC1 + ISC2 = ISC + ISC = 2ISC
The same calculation is applicable for voltage and current at the maximum PowerPoint

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Conclusion
In this article, an in-depth study of the arrangement of solar photovoltaic cell, module and
array was carried out. The need, structure, and design of the modules for higher power level
was studied. We also saw an explanation of the PV module array along with its need and
connection combination. Calculation and procedure for the design of series, parallel, and mix
connections were done in detail along with the study of mismatch in voltage and current of
the modules. Such a study of Photovoltaic module and array is a must requirement for a
designer of the PV system.The article gives a significant design understanding of important
components (modules and array) in the PV system, which can be utilized to make a proper,
efficient, and reliable design in a PV system.

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