A new MPPT method for low-power solar energy harvesting

This paper describes a new maximum-power-pointtracking (MPPT) method focused on low-power (< 1 W) photovoltaic (PV) panels. The static and dynamic performance is theoretically analyzed, and design criteria are provided. A prototype was implemented with a 500-mW PV panel, a commercial boost conver...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: López Lapeña, Oscar|||0000-0002-6024-0722, Penella López, María Teresa, Gasulla Forner, Manuel|||0000-0002-0364-6806
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/10122
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/10122
https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2009.2037653
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Wireless sensor networks
Solar cells
Energy harvesting
Maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs)
Xarxes de sensors
Cèl·lules solars
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria electrònica::Instrumentació i mesura::Sensors i actuadors
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria de la telecomunicació::Telemàtica i xarxes d'ordinadors
Descripción
Sumario:This paper describes a new maximum-power-pointtracking (MPPT) method focused on low-power (< 1 W) photovoltaic (PV) panels. The static and dynamic performance is theoretically analyzed, and design criteria are provided. A prototype was implemented with a 500-mW PV panel, a commercial boost converter, and low-power components for the MPPT controller. Laboratory measurements were performed to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. Tracking efficiency was higher than 99.6%. The overall efficiency was higher than 92% for a PV panel power higher than 100 mW. This is, in part, feasible due to the low power consumption of the MPPT controller, which was kept lower than 350 μW. The time response of the tracking circuit was tested to be around 1 s. Field measurements showed energy gains higher than 10.3% with respect to a direct-coupled solution for an ambient temperature of 26 ◦C. Higher gains are expected for lower temperatures.