Extraction of Single Diode Model Parameters of Solar Cells and PV Modules by Combining an Intelligent Optimization Algorithm with Simplified Explicit Equation Based on Lambert W Function

In this paper, the explicit equation of the single diode model (SDM) expressed by the Lambert W function was reduced to its simplified form through variable replacement; then the simplified explicit equation was combined with an intelligent optimization algorithm to estimate the SDM parameters of solar cells and PV modules. To evaluate the parameter extraction performance of the new method, eight typical intelligent optimization algorithms were combined with the implicit, explicit, and simplified explicit equation to extract the SDM parameters of a solar cell and three types of PV modules. The results show that the new method not only improves the accuracy of parameter extraction but also enhances the robustness and convergence speed. Most importantly, the new method can nearly improve the parameter extraction accuracy of a poor-performing algorithm in traditional methods to the level of other well-performing algorithms without enhancing the algorithm itself. In a word, this study offers a new choice for a more accurate and reliable extraction of SDM parameters from both solar cells and PV modules.