An improved temperature estimation method for solar cells operating at high concentrations

• This paper presented an improve Voc–Isc method for the cell temperature estimation.
• The method was validated over a broad range of concentrations and temperatures.
• Results from the method and the heat transfer prediction were in agreement.
• Thermal resistances of solar-cell heat-sink system were obtained using this method.

This paper derives and discusses an improved method for estimating the temperature of solar cells operating under high concentration conditions. The accuracy of this method was certified over a broad range of sunlight concentrations and operating temperatures using available experimental data related to multi-junction solar cells. This method provided more accurate estimations of cell temperature under high concentrations than the conventional Voc–Isc method. On-sun solar cell tests were carried out under high concentrations. The experimental data showed that the solar cell temperature, which was calculated by the improved method, increased almost linearly with the concentration ratio. A heat transfer model was established for comparison with the method. The results from both methods were in agreement. Furthermore, the thermal resistances of the solar-cell heat-sink system were also estimated using this method.