School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST

ME-327 Instrumentation & Measurement Lab (Spring 2023)

Lab Report 10

6th SEMESTER

SUBMITTED BY

Name: Haider Ali

Registration no: 344393
Session: 2020
Section: ME-12-A

Page 1 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Experiment 10: Light Sensor (Photovoltaic Cell)

Objectives:

1. To understand the basic principles of photovoltaic (PV) technology and how it works.
2. To learn how to measure and analyze the electrical characteristics of a PV cell, such as
voltage, current, and power.
3. To develop skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and critical thinking through hands-
on experimentation and analysis of results.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to explain the basic principles of photovoltaic (PV) technology and how it
converts sunlight into electricity.
2. Students will be able to measure and analyze the electrical characteristics of a PV cell or
module, including voltage, current, and power, using appropriate equipment and methods.
3. Students will be able to evaluate the potential applications and benefits of PV technology, and
discuss its advantages and limitations compared to other energy sources.

Apparatus

1. IT-5927 Transducer and Instrumentation Trainer

2. Connecting Leads

Figure 1: IT-5927 Transducer and Instrumentation Trainer

Photovoltaic Cell:

A photovoltaic cell is one which generates an EMF when light falls onto it.

Page 2 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Figure 2: Construction of PV Cell

One of the regions is made very thin (about one millionth of a meter, 1μm). Light can easily pass through
this without much loss of energy. When the light reaches the junction, at the depletion layer, it is
absorbed, and the released energy creates hole-electron pairs which diffuse across the junction.
The thin layer, which is only lightly doped, rapidly becomes saturated and charge carriers can be released
into an external circuit to forma current, pushed around the circuit by the force (electro-motive force,
EMF, electron-moving-force) of the surplus of charge carriers released by the energy absorbed.

If the output of the cell is short circuited there will be no output voltage at all since this will all be dropped
internally across the resistance of the cell. The short circuit output current obtained will vary from zero
to maximum according to the incident light.
The device can be used either as a voltage source or as a current source and is inherently a linear device.
To increase the output voltage, cells may be connected in series. Parallel connection allows a greater
current to be drawn.

Procedure:

Page 3 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Figure 3: Connections Diagram

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig 3 with the digital ampere meter to measure the short circuit
current between the Photovoltaic Cell output and Ground.
2. Switch ON the power supply and set the 10kΩ wirewound resistor to minimum for zero output
voltage from the Power Amplifier.
3. Take readings of Photovoltaic Cell Short Circuit Output Current as indicated on the digital
multimeter as the lamp voltage is increased in IV steps. Record the results in the table.
4. Switch OFF the power supply set the voltmeter in place of ampere meter to read the Open
Circuit Output Voltage. Switch ON the power supply and repeat the readings, adding the results
to the table.
5. Plot the graphs of Photovoltaic Cell Short Circuit Output Current and Open Circuit Output
Voltage against Lamp filament voltage on the scale provided.

Readings and Calculations:

Page 4 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Lamp 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Filament
Voltage
(V)
Short 0.01 0.02 0.42 3.75 14.47 38.55 80.7 153.6 258.5 397 584
Circuit
Current
(µA)
Open 0.0021 0.038 0.359 0.951 1.136 1.244 1.33 1.42 1.50 1.59 1.674
Circuit
Voltage
(V)

Graph:

(Plot Graph of Lamp Filament Voltage V Vs Short Circuit Output Current Vs Open Circuit Output Voltage)

Short Circuit Current Graph

700

600
Short Circuit Current (µA)

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lamp Filament Voltage (V)

Page 5 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Open Circuit Voltage Graph
1.8
1.6

Open Circuit Voltage (V)

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lamp Filament Voltage (V)

Results and Discussion:

The experiment aimed to measure and analyze the electrical characteristics of a photovoltaic
(light sensor) cell, including voltage, current, and power.

Short Circuit Current (µA):

• As the Lamp Filament Voltage (V) increases, the Short Circuit Current (µA) also

increases.
• Initially, at lower voltages, the current is relatively low (0.01 µA at 0V), indicating a

minimal flow of current when the circuit is shorted.

• However, as the voltage increases, the current shows a significant rise, reaching its

highest value of 584 µA at 10V.

Open Circuit Voltage (V):

• The Open Circuit Voltage (V) increases as the Lamp Filament Voltage (V) increases.

• At 0V, the Open Circuit Voltage is only 0.0021V, indicating a minimal voltage output
when the circuit is open.

• As the voltage applied to the lamp filament increases, the Open Circuit Voltage
gradually rises, reaching its highest value of 1.674V at 10V.

Page 6 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Relationship between Voltage and Current:

• The results demonstrate a clear relationship between the Lamp Filament Voltage (V)

and the corresponding Short Circuit Current (µA).

• As the voltage increases, the current also increases, indicating a direct proportionality

between the two variables.

Power Analysis:

• To calculate the power generated by the photovoltaic cell, we can multiply the voltage

and current values obtained for each data point.

• The highest power output can be observed at the maximum voltage and current

values, which occur at 10V and 584 µA, respectively.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the experiment allowed us to learn about the construction and working of the
photovoltaic cell and measure and analyze its electrical characteristics. The data obtained

clearly demonstrate the relationship between the voltage, current, and power output of the
cell. Understanding these characteristics is essential for optimizing the performance of

photovoltaic cells in practical applications such as solar panels or other light-sensing devices.

Task 1: How does the bandgap of a photovoltaic cell affect its ability to generate
electricity from sunlight?

The bandgap of a photovoltaic cell directly impacts its ability to generate electricity from
sunlight. It determines which photons can be absorbed by the cell, as photons with energy

higher than the bandgap can excite electrons and create electron-hole pairs. The bandgap
also affects the efficiency of energy conversion and the voltage output of the cell. Choosing

the right material with an appropriate bandgap is crucial for optimizing the cell's performance
in converting sunlight into electrical energy.

Page 7 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
 Marks Distribution:

Readings, Graph Results & Conclusion Task 1 Total

& Calculations Discussion
3 3 2 2 10

Page 8 of 8
This study source was downloaded by 998768 from cliffsnotes.com on 05-05-2025 22:20:13 GMT -05:00

https://www.cliffsnotes.com//study-notes/5659243
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)