Calculating Efficiency of a Solar Cell Indirectly

[aaron@pitt]

Not sure if this is the right section for this, I apologize in advance.

I have a project to do and my goal is to measure the efficiency of a solar cell INDIRECTLY. I am not sure how to do that.

The equation for the efficiency of a solar cell is

η = P/E*A.

Where P is the cells power output (W), E is the irradiance (W/m^2) and A is the surface area of the cell (m^2).

The only thing I can think of is using a pyranometer to measure irradiance, and digital multimeter to measure power, but these aren't really indirect.

Can someone please help?

Thanks.

 

[berkeman]

Not sure if this is the right section for this, I apologize in advance.

I have a project to do and my goal is to measure the efficiency of a solar cell INDIRECTLY. I am not sure how to do that.

The equation for the efficiency of a solar cell is

η = P/E*A.

Where P is the cells power output (W), E is the irradiance (W/m^2) and A is the surface area of the cell (m^2).

The only thing I can think of is using a pyranometer to measure irradiance, and digital multimeter to measure power, but these aren't really indirect.

Can someone please help?

Thanks.

Interesting question. I have an idea of a way to do it, but is there any more definition to the problem? Like, do they say any more about direct versus indirect measurements?

 

[aaron@pitt]

Interesting question. I have an idea of a way to do it, but is there any more definition to the problem? Like, do they say any more about direct versus indirect measurements?

Not really. All it says is that I need three sensors to indirectly measure it.

 

[berkeman]

Not really. All it says is that I need three sensors to indirectly measure it.

Yeah, that agrees with my idea. We are not allowed to give you solutions here on the PF, but we can provide hints if you show some effort. What other ideas do you have so far?

 

[aaron@pitt]

Yeah, that agrees with my idea. We are not allowed to give you solutions here on the PF, but we can provide hints if you show some effort. What other ideas do you have so far?

That is all I have so far.

 

[berkeman]

That is all I have so far.

Have you been doing any thinking or brainstorming about it? What does a solar cell do? What is its function, and how does it do it? What does efficiency mean in a high-level way for a solar cell power converter?