Metaheuristic optimization approach and computational study on advanced mathematical modeling of solar cell

Abstract

A solar cell current usually depends on bandgap, carrier lifetime, diffusion length, diffusion constant, ideality factor, and so on. This article proposes a model that shows direct dependency of bandgap in the solar cell current equation. It is based on foundation principles satisfactory of a single junction being extended to multi-junction solar cell applications with different bandgaps. Different proven optimization techniques such as the Gauss-Newton optimization, Levenberg-Marquardt optimization, differential evolution algorithm, and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) were used for parameter extraction and optimization. To demonstrate the better optimization of model data with experimental data, further analysis of results was carried out on the basis of percentage deviation and error comparison. Complete comprehensive and comparative analysis of results of error and percentage deviation from different standard iterative optimization techniques proves the WOA as one of the best optimization techniques among all. As a result, the WOA offers a better optimal solution of model parameters with the best convergence of model data with the experimental data that shows the smallest possible value of error and minimum percentage deviation. (C) 2020 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.