Question

A solar module consists of 36 cells in parallel. If the module includes 3 bypass diodes, estimate the percent decrease in the module power when one of the cells is shaded. Repeat the calculations for the case of 4 bypass diodes.

Answer 1

When one cell in a solar module is shaded, the percent decrease in the module power depends on the number of bypass diodes. With 3 bypass diodes, the module power could decrease by approximately 8.3%, while with 4 bypass diodes, the decrease in power would be around 6.7%.

Step-by-step explanation:

When one cell in a solar module is shaded, the percent decrease in the module power depends on the number of bypass diodes. In this case, the module has 36 cells in parallel and 3 bypass diodes. The bypass diodes are able to isolate problem sections but usually in chunks of 18-24 cells, so a shaded cell would affect a larger portion of the module's power output.

With 3 bypass diodes, if one cell is shaded, the module power could decrease by approximately 8.3% (assuming an equal distribution of power between the cells). On the other hand, if the module has 4 bypass diodes, the decrease in power would be slightly less, around 6.7%.