Low-Power Maximum Power Point Tracker with Digital Control for Thermophotovoltaic Generators
Name
Pilawa-2010-Low-Power Maximum Power Point Tracker with Digital Control for Thermophotovoltaic Generators.pdf
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675.22 KB
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Author(s)
Pallo, Nathan A.
Pilawa-Podgurski, Robert C. N.
Chan, Walker R
Perreault, David J
Celanovic, Ivan L.
Date Issued
February 2010
Journal
IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Citation
Pilawa-Podgurski, R.C.N. et al. “Low-power Maximum Power Point Tracker with Digital Control for Thermophotovoltaic Generators.” Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), 2010 Twenty-Fifth Annual IEEE. 2010. 961-967. Copyright © 2010, IEEE
Version
Final published version
Abstract
This paper describes the design, optimization, and evaluation of the power electronics circuitry for a low-power portable thermophotovotaic (TPV) generator system. TPV system is based on a silicon micro-reactor design and low-bandgap photovoltaic (PV) diodes. We outline critical system-level challenges associated with TPV power generation, and propose a power electronics architecture that addresses these challenges. We present experimental data from a compact, highly efficient peak power tracker and show how the proposed architecture enables increased energy extraction compared to conventional methods. The operation of the power tracker is verified with low-bandgap PV cells illuminated by a quartz halogen lamp producing a PV diode output power of 0.5 W, and above 99% tracking efficiency is demonstrated. Additionally, the complete system operation is verified with the power tracker connected to GaInAsSb PV diodes and a silicon micro-reactor, producing 150 mW of electrical power.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1109/APEC.2010.5433386
