Photovoltaic Cell Modeling for Solar Energy Powered Sensor Networks

none6Photovoltaic scavenging circuits have been presented to reduce installation and maintenance costs of wireless sensor networks. When small-size photovoltaic modules are adopted, optimizing the efficiency of the harvesting process and tracking theMaximum Power Point (MPP) becomes very difficult, and the development of a photovoltaic harvester has to be preceded by extensive simulations. The paper focuses on the definition of the model for a small PV cell allowing the simulation of harvester systems. The model is validated on a case study of MPPT circuit for sensor networks.noneD. Dondi; D. Brunelli; L. Benini; P. Pavan; A. Bertacchini; L. LarcherD. Dondi; D. Brunelli; L. Benini; P. Pavan; A. Bertacchini; L. Larche