X-636-64-282

SLOPE DETECTION
AS A METHOD OF DETERMINING
THE PEAK POWER POINT
OF SOLAR ARRAYS
,

BY -
JOHN PAULKOVICH

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OCTOBER 1964

i .
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
I ,
GREENBELT, MD.
I *
 SLOPE DETECTION AS A METHOD OF DETERMINING
THE PEAK POWER POINT OF SOLAR ARRAYS

BY
John Paulkovich -

Long term satellite missions have been primarily dependent on solar cells
a s a source of electrical power. The power generating capability of the solar
cells used in the power supply a r e sensitive to hard particle irradiation, tem-
perzitwe and i l h ~ ~ h a t i mTypici!
. voltage-ci_?_rrentcharacteristics under
differing conditions of temperature and irradiation are shown in figure 1. Fig-
ures 14 and 15 depict the effect of illumination on cell output. The maximum
power generation capability for each cell is defined by the largest rectangle
which can be inscribed under the I-E curve. It may be seen from figure 1 that:

1. The absolute values of maximum power varies quite drastically under

differing conditions of temperature and irradiation.

2. The occurrence of maximum power varies quite drastically with voltage

and current.

A t present the power system designer attempts to anticipate the operating

condition in space and then chooses an optimum operational voltage o r current
at which to operate. Once chosen this value usually remains fixed throughout
spacecraft life. This approach h a s the following disadvantages:

1. In a radiation environment initial power is sacrificed s o that at the end

of mission operation will be at maximum power.

. 2. Variations in environment from what is expected can be disastrous for

the power supply.

3. Interplanetary space probes would be forced to sacrifice considerable

power initially in order to compensate for the difference in solar intensity and
temperature at some later time.in the flight.

1
 The solution to these problems is an electronic sensing system that will
allow continuous operation at maximum power no matter what the operating
environment. This report contains the description of such a system along with
the results of initial tests on a breadboard model.

To determine the feasibility of this method a graphical analysis was made

of solar cells under the following conditions:

1. Non irradiated at - 25°C

2. Non irradiated at 76°C

3. Irradiated (10' e/cm2) 77°C

4. Irradiated (lo1 e/cm2) -25°C

5. Solar angles of 0, 40", and 60".

Figure 1 illustrates the possible variations in the E-I curves due to tem-
peratures and space radiation environment. From figure 1 it becomes apparent
that it is impossible to select any one voltage, o r current for that matter, that
will be a t the peak power point under all conditions.

The problems involved in obtaining maximum power from the solar cells
lie in the present method of charging the batteries. The most common method
is to place the solar cells, battery pack and shunt regulator in parallel. The
shunt regulator clamps the solar cell and battery voltages when they reach a
predetermined level. Therefore, the solar array voltage is maintained at some
predetermined maximum voltage.

Again referring to figure 1, it can be seen that if a certain maximum voltage

is selected which will operate under all conditions, it would probably be in the
vicinity of .2 volts per cell. If operation is selected for peak power from curve
"A" of figure 1, then if we refer to figure 5, we can select the optimum voltage.
Figure 5 is a reproduction of curve 'lA'r,figure 1, with a superimposed power
curve. This power curve ("B" of figure 5) indicates maximum power at approxi-
mately .215 volt. Lf the load is operating a t .215 volt, then optimum power will
be delivered to the load. But now, if we refer back to curve "C" of figure 1, w e
will find that at .215 volt less current is available and obviously less power.
Figure 4 is a reproduction of 1-C along with the power curves. A t ,215 volt
approximatcly 5.9 milliwatts of power would be delivered to the load, while
actually 11.5 milliwatts a r e available.

I
 Curves 1-B and 1-C a r e reproduced in figures 3 and 4 and the same con-
ditions prevail. From the foregoing it becomes apparent that a method of
determining the peak power point and operating in this region is of the utmost
*. importance for utilizing maximum available energy.

The method to be discussed is based on operation at a fixed of the

. E-I characteristic curve. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 a r e reproductions of each of
the individual curves of figure 1 with a super-imposed power curve. Also indi-
cated a r e the peak power point, the 95%power points, and the tangent to the
curve at these points. 95%was arbitrarily selected as the lowest desirable
operating point. The tangent has the slope x/y, where volts is represented by
x and amperes is represented by y. In analyzing figures 2 through 5 we can
see that there is a range of slopes which is within 95% of the peak power point
under all conditions. But there is also the solar angle to consider. Figure 6
indicates the effects of solar angle from 0" to 60". Note the change in scales.
The original plot was 10 cells in series, to maintain uniformity, the x scale
numbers lime been altered ?y1/10. Figxes 7, 8, and 9 a r e reproductions of
figure 6 along with the slopes and also a super-imposed power curve. Figure 10
illustrates the range of slopes in each of the preceding graphs. From figure 10,
it becomes apparent that if the slopes were held between 8.5 and 12.5, operation
would be 95% of the peak power point o r better under all conditions except the
60" solar angle. A slope of 12.5 on the 60" solar angle curve, figure 9, repre-
sents approximately 93%of the available peak power. A s the solar angle exceeds
60", the deviation from peak power will increase. The solar angle then sets the
limits of operation and should not exceed 60" for this set of conditions.

Since we a r e interested in the slope, then a method of scanning this slope is

necessary. Figure 11 illustrates a block diagram of a slope detector. The
scanner applies an AC voltage signal across points A and B of a constant
magnitude. This scanner must be insensitive to DC load currents and sensitive
only to the slope x/y. A change of slope causes a change in reflected current
to the slope indicator.

An operational circuit that w i l l perform this function is illustrated in

figure 12.

The voltage across A-B will be constant and represent x. The AC loading
effect will be inversely proportional to the slope "x/y and reflect a current
.
through the transformer and appear as a voltage across R, This voltage is
then compared to a reference voltage which represents the desired slope. The
differential amplifier will balance at the desired slope and the meter will be
either positive or negative above or below the desired slope. This voltage
difference may be utilized to control the load o r charging circuit.

3
 A breadboard model w a s constructed (refer to figure 13) and tested. The
differential amplifier o r comparator was connected to a 100-0- 100 micro-
ampere meter. R, was made adjustable for various slope selections. E-I plots
using an x/y plotter and S51 solar paddles a r e shown in figures 14 through 16.
The plots represent full light intensity, partially shaded solar cells, full paddle,
1/2 paddle and 1/4 paddle, as indicated.

In figure 14, E-I traces of full paddle, 1/2 paddle, and a shaded 1/2 paddle
a r e illustrated, The slope detector w a s s e t to slopes of 30, 70, 100, and 150.
These various points a r e also indicated in figure 14. A slope of 70 was selected
as being the nearest to the peak power point although not necessarily optimum.
The slope detector was then s e t to a slope of 70 for figures 15 and 16. The
arrows indicate the point selected by the slope detector (meter balanced). The
lines drawn tangent to the E-I plots a r e for a calculated slope of 70. The calcu-
lated slope and the slope selected by the slope detector coincide very nicely.
The curves of figure 15 may be extreme conditions since they represent a power
excursion of almost 1 0 to 1. Although the solar paddles a r e 13ely to have
shadowing conditions, it is very. unlikely that they would be shadowed by 90%.
Under lesser shadowing conditions the slope could be optimized for operation
nearer to the peak power point.

Figure 1 7 illustrates the slope detector combined with a pulse width modu-
lated regulator. This method of power detection combined with a pulse width
modulated regulator would certainly increase the charging power to the satellite
battery pack. The pulse width regulator would act as a matching transformer
between the solar cells and the battery pack, while the slope detector would be
the impedance sensing device and control circuit for maintaining this optimum
match.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Brian T. Cunningham and Luther W. Slifer, for the use of the solar labora-
tory facilities that these experiments could be conducted.

REFERENCE

Brian T. Cunningham, Robert L. Sharp, and Luther W. Slifer, Jr., The Electri-
cal Characteristics of Irradiated Silicon Solar Cells a s a Function of Tempera-
ture, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, March 30, 1964.

4
 60

76OC N O N IRRADIATED

50

40

Y
3 30

0
0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7
X=VOLTS

Figure 1 -Typica N/P solar cel I El curves for various environmental conditions.

5
 1 oc

9c

8C

7c

60 24

22

2 50 20

18

40 16

Y
14

30 12 $
10

20 8

10 4

0 I I I I I I \ 0
0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7
X=VOLTS

Figure 2-Graphical determination of optimum slope for maximum power coupling

to detector for a non irriated solar cell at -25°C.

6
 100

90 18

80 16

70 14

60 12

2 50 10

3
z
40 3

30 5
Y

20 1

10 2

' *
0 I

4
X=VOLTS

Figure 3-Graphical determination of optimum slope for maximum power coupling

to detector for a non irriated solar cell at 76°C.

7
 I

\ 95%

1016e/cm2 -25OC 12
/-t\
I T
' 95%
/
/ \
/ \ IO

6z
Q
%
<
,
/
/
I 20 - 4

/
/
/
/
10 - 2
I /
/
/
/
/
nf I I I 1 0
I -0 .I .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7
X=VOLTS

Figure 4-Graphical determination of optimum slope for maximum power coupling

I
to detector for an irriated solar cell at -25°C.

8
 90

b.

80

70

60
io16 e/cm2 RADIATION
+ n0c

50

40 8

'
a
30 6

20 4 z

10 2

0 0

X=VO LTS

I .* Figure 5-Graphical determination of optimum slope for maximum power coupling

to detector for an irriated solar cell at 77OC.

9
 I I I I
0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5
X=VOLTS

Figure 6-Typical solar cell E l curves vs angle of incidence.

3c

10

2c a

s 6
3
i
10 4

0
0

Figure 7-Typical solar cell E l curve at normal incidence.

10
 30

IO

20 B

2 5

zr
10 4

0 0

Figure 8-Typical solar cell E l curve at 40" tilt from normal incidence.

10

ma

zr

VOLTS

Figure 9-Typical solar cell E l curve at 60" tilt from normal incidence.

11
 .

N O N IRRADIATED -25OC (from Figure 2)

~r I

95% 1000/0 95%

NON IRRADIATED +76OC (from Figure 3)

c--+-----l
95% 1000/0 95%

IRRADIATED 1016e/cm2 -25OC (from Figure 4)

-
I I I

95% 100% 95%

IRRADIATED 1016e/cm2 +77OC (from Figure 5)

95% 1oc% 95%

SOLAR ANGLE = 0" (from Figure 7)

I

95%

SOLAR ANGLE = 40' (from Figure 8)

I I 1

95% 1 00% 95%

SOLAR ANGLE = 60' (from Figure 9)

94%
k-- !
95%
I
I

100%
'S- 95% @
LOPE=78

SLOPE RANGE WITHIN 95% OF PEAK POWER UNDER ALL

H CONDITIONS EXCLUDING 60 DEGREE SOLAR ANGLE

I I 1 I I I I I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
SLOPE

Figure 10-Compiled slope variation of Figures 2 through 9.

12
 ~

A B
SCANNER

SLOPE
INDICATOR LOAD

Figure 1 1 -Block diagram of slope detector.

A B

Figure 12-Basic circuit of slope detector.

13
 TO SOLAR CELLS TO LOAD
-7
IB

Figure 13-Schematic of the breadboard model of the slope detector.

1/2 PADDLE
PARTIALLY
SHADED

I I I I I I I

.0 .7 .6 .5 .4 .3 .2 .1 0
AMPS

Figure 14-Solar paddle E l curves, slope detector set to 30, 70, 100 and 150.

14
c

AMPS

Figure 15-Solar paddle E l curves, slope detector set to 70.

AMPS

Figure 16-Solar paddle E l curves, slope detector set to 70.

- .
I

- - $2
-
SLOPE P. w
-- BATTERY =
- 0 1
DETECTOR DRIVER 4, T

A a A P

Figure 17-A block diagram of the slope detector controlling a pulse width
modulated regulator for maintaining optimum matching between the load
and the solar paddles.

15