Design and simulation of a low-cost solar irradiance meter for PV applications

Abstract

This work presents the design and simulation of a low-cost solar irradiance meter based on a PV cell that offers a cheap alternative to existing expensive solar irradiance instruments like pyranometers. Our proposed theoretical framework establishes a direct correlation between solar irradiance and the short circuit current of the photovoltaic (PV) cell. Through sophisticated simulations, we have demonstrated that solar irradiance levels can be accurately determined by measuring the voltage drop across the shunt resistor connected to the PV cell. This voltage differential is subsequently amplified and captured by the analog to digital converter of a microcontroller. The real-time results are then displayed on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), providing immediate feedback. The proposed system can be used to measure direct solar irradiance in solar applications to estimate the energy generated by PV panels.