Assessment of the usability and accuracy of two-diode models for photovoltaic modules

Many diode-based equivalent circuits for simulating the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels are reported in the scientific literature. Two-diode equivalent circuits, which require more complex procedures to calculate the seven model parameters, are less numerous. The model parameters are generally calculated using the data extracted from the datasheets issued by the PV panel manufactures and adopting simplifying hypotheses and numerical solving techniques. A criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of two-diode models is proposed in this paper with the aim of supporting researchers and designers, working in the area of PV systems, to select and use a model that may be fit for purpose. The criterion adopts a three-level rating scale that considers the ease of finding the data used by the analytical procedure, the simplicity of the mathematical tools needed to perform calculations and the accuracy achieved in calculating the current and power. The analytical procedures, the simplifying hypotheses and the operative steps to calculate the parameters of the most famous two-diode equivalent circuits are exhaustively described in this paper. The accuracy of the models is tested by comparing the characteristics issued by the PV panel manufacturers with the current-voltage (I-V) curves, at constant solar irradiance and/or cell temperature, calculated with the analysed models with. The results of the study show that the two-diode models recently proposed reach accuracies that are comparable with the values derived from the one-diode models