Data-driven modeling and simulation of PV array

This paper presents a technique to build a simulation model of a Photovoltaic (PV) array using Solar PV data. The Solar PV data is fetched from a physical solar panel operating at a solar power generating station. PV arrays are generally modeled using mathematical equations that describe the behavior of PV system and simulated in MATLAB with mathematical operator library and functions. The proposed modeling and simulation technique does not require formulation and implementation of mathematical equations. To carry out the data-driven (DD) modeling of PV array, information regarding the actual voltage and current generated by the same array with reference to the actual irradiance and temperature is to be known. This can be obtained from experimental results, PV simulator, excel/data sheets of PV plant, etc. Authors have carried out data-driven modeling of PV array by first gathering PV test data from a solar power plant and then directly importing it into Simulink curve fitting tool to obtain a surface-fit object. Using this object a 2-dimensional lookup table is modeled to represent a PV array. The model can be integrated in any power system or power electronics application network for simulation studies regarding performance analysis of the solar PV system. The modeling and simulation with the proposed technique is simple and easy and can be done with any set of PV data, acquired using any data acquisition method or tool.