Max power of a photovoltaic cell -- where did I go wrong?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the mathematical derivation of maximum power output from a photovoltaic (PV) cell, specifically addressing the equation for maximum power conditions. The key equation derived is \((1 + \frac{qV_{max}}{kT})\exp\left(\frac{qV_{max}}{kT}\right) = 1 + \frac{I_{sc}}{I_{rs}}\), where \(I_{sc}\) is the short circuit current and \(I_{rs}\) is the reverse saturation current. The user identifies a mistake in their calculations regarding the relationship between maximum current and voltage, ultimately recognizing the need to express power in terms of voltage and reverse saturation current for accurate differentiation. This highlights the importance of careful algebraic manipulation in deriving PV cell performance equations.

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whatisreality
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1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known da
Show that for a PV cell finding a maximum of power leads to the following equation:
##(1 +\frac{qV_{max}}{kT})\exp\left(\frac{qV_{max}}{kT}\right) = 1 + \frac{I_{sc}}{I_{rs}}##
##I_{sc}## is short circuit current and ##I_{rs}## is reverse saturation current.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I get pretty close, but I've missed something out. The current is given by:
##I = I_{rs}(\exp(V/V_t)-1)-I_L = I_{rs}(e^{qV/kT}-1)-I_L##
For maximum power ##P_{max} = I_{max}V_{max}## and ##I_{max}## is the short circuit current, which occurs at ##V=0##. Subbing ##V=0## into the current equation gives ##I_{sc} = -I_L##, so

##I = I_{rs}(e^{qV/kT}-1)+I_{sc}##

Max power is at ##\frac{dP}{dV}=0## so given ##P=IV##:

##\frac{dP}{dV} = I_{rs}(e^{\frac{qV_m}{kT}}-1)+\frac{qI_{rs}V_m}{kT}(e^{\frac{qV_m}{kT}})+I_{sc}##

##\left(1+\frac{qV_m}{kT}\right)e^{\frac{qV_m}{kT}} = -\frac{I_{sc}}{I_{rs}}##

That's very close to what I'm looking for, I'm missing a ##1## on the RHS and the sign of the fraction is wrong, have I gone wrong somewhere? I've looked and really can't spot it, thanks for any help!
 
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whatisreality said:
For maximum power ##P_{max} = I_{max}V_{max}##
Only if Vmax and Imax can occur together, which does seem impossible.
 
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haruspex said:
Only if Vmax and Imax can occur together, which does seem impossible.
Yes, that's wrong too, I saw ##I_m## and ##V_m## in my notes and assumed they meant maximum current and voltage rather than current and voltage at max power, I should have thought that through.
 
whatisreality said:
Yes, that's wrong too, I saw ##I_m## and ##V_m## in my notes and assumed they meant maximum current and voltage rather than current and voltage at max power, I should have thought that through.
Write out P in terms of V and Irs and do dP/dV.
Is IL a constant?
 
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haruspex said:
Write out P in terms of V and Irs and do dP/dV.
Is IL a constant?
Thanks for your help, spotted my mistake, I just rearranged wrong. My last two lines don't follow from each other. Silly mistake!
 
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