Comparison of methods for estimating the solar cell temperature and their influence in the calculation of the electrical parameters in a HCPV module

The electrical parameters of a multi-junction solar cell are influenced by its operating temperature. Hence, the estimation of the cell temperature of a HCPV module is critical for its electrical characterization. However, measuring the cell temperature of a HCPV module is a complex task due to its unique features. This paper calculates the cell temperature in a HCPV module by using a number of methods to address this important issue. We conducted a comparative study of three methods used to estimate the cell temperature of a HCPV module: the Voc-Isc method, the thermal resistance method and the lineal method. The results show that all of the studied methods can be used to estimate cell temperatures with an acceptable margin of error.