Modeling and TCAD Simulation of Solar PV Cell

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ABOUT THE COURSE:This course on solar photovoltaic (PV) cell modeling and simulation covers three main topics: (1) Basics of Solar Cells: working principles and performance metrics, (2) Developing Models: creating both analytical and simulation models with a deep understanding of device physics, and (3) Simulation of Solar Cells using TCAD tools.The course aims to provide a solid physical and intuitive understanding of solar cells, as well as knowledge of the technological advancements that have led to the current state-of-the-art solar cell structures. It covers important physical phenomena related to solar cell operation, such as carrier transport, recombination losses at interfaces and surfaces, optical losses, and contact losses, all of which are essential for developing accurate models. By the end of the course, participants will be able to develop their own TCAD simulation code and propose innovative solutions for solar cell design.INTENDED AUDIENCE: BTech/MSc/MTech in EE/ECEPREREQUISITES: Class XIIth standard in Science Stream(However, those who have completed courses related to Semiconductor Device Physics will find it easier to keep up)INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Solar Cell Manufacturing companies such as RenewSys India Pvt. Ltd., Adani Solar, Tata Power Solar, Websol Energy Systems, Waaree Energies Ltd., XLE; Panasonic, Japan; Jinko Solar and Trina Solar, China

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to the course and to the semiconductor materials

Introduction, why modeling is so important
Introduction to semiconducting material
Energy band diagram in semiconductor material
Doped semiconductors

Week 2: Semiconductor physics

Density of states, Occupation probability.
Calculation of carrier concentration
Problem solving on carrier concentration, example
Problem solving on carrier concentration, example contd…

Week 3: Electrostatics of p-n junction

Electrostatics of p-n junction: equilibrium establishment mechanism, band diagram
How to draw band diagram in heterojunction structure
Band diagram under Non-equilibrium: illuminated p-n junction
Metal-semiconductor Schottky and Ohmic junctions: band diagram and concept

Week 4: Basic working principle of solar PV cell

Illuminated p-n junction: light absorption, solar spectrum, carrier generation
Basic principle of Solar PV Cell: Separation of photo-generated carriers - qualitative discussion
I-V characteristic equation and Performance metrics of solar PV cell
Origin of series and shunt resistances: qualitative analysis, I-V characteristics including these resistances, equivalent circuit

Week 5: Technological evolution to reach present state-of-the-art technologies for commercial solar cells

State-of the art commercial Si solar cell technologies: principle and device structure
Al-BSF, PERC, PERT, PERL, TOPCON structure
Concept of multi-junction and heterojunction solar cell
Thin film solar cell technologies

Week 6: Modeling of solar cell Part 1

Carrier transport: Semi-classical Transport Model, Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE)
Motion of charge carriers in free space and within bulk semiconductor, concept of effective mass
Different types of scattering, mobility and its dependency
Problem session

Week 7: Modeling of solar cell Part 2

Drift diffusion model
Poisson’s equation, continuity equation, current density equation and their consistent solution
Drift-Diffusion model derivation with example
Drift-Diffusion model derivation contd…

Week 8: Numerical techniques for simulation Part 1

Linearization of Poisson’s Equation
Discretization (Scharfetter–Gummel) of Continuity Equation
Finite Difference Method (FDM)
Finite Element Method (FEM) and it’s comparative performance analysis with FDM

Week 9: Numerical techniques for simulation Part 2

Numerical techniques for differentiation, integration, differential equation solution
Newton’s method: to find approximate solution
Iterative solution of Poisson and continuity equations (Gummel method)
Gummel method contd…

Week 10: Important physical models for solar cell simulation