Methodology for Impedance Spectroscopy of Photovoltaic Modules Using a Power Converter

Impedance Spectroscopy (IS) is widely used to analyze the dynamic behavior and degradation of electrochemical systems such as batteries. IS has also been successfully applied to study the performance and degradation mechanisms of photovoltaic (PV) devices. Traditionally, IS is performed with Frequency Response Analyzers (FRA), which apply small-signal perturbations and measure the impedance response of the system. However, those instruments are costly and not suitable for in situ diagnostics. This work proposes a methodology to perform IS measurements on PV systems using a power converter, thereby eliminating the need for external specialized equipment. The proposed approach includes a theoretical analysis of the converter dynamics to derive an expression for the duty cycle amplitude, which is required to maintain a constant perturbation magnitude across a range of frequencies. The methodology is experimentally validated using a synchronous Boost converter connected to a PV panel and controlled by a Texas Instruments F28379D digital signal processor (DSP), which injects the perturbation signal in the converter's duty cycle. Moreover, the voltage and current measurements are performed with an oscilloscope. The results demonstrate that the proposed converter-based IS method accurately reproduces the impedance spectra obtained with a commercial FRA, confirming its feasibility as a low-cost, flexible, and scalable solution for PV impedance characterization and diagnostics.