Abstract
Solar photovoltaic (PV) power is a widely used to supply power to the electric grid but can also be used in lower-power emerging applications, like in wearables or the internet of things. One fundamental challenge of using PV power in flexible wearable applications is that individual PV modules point at various angles, thus receiving different light intensities. Using a series configuration for the PV modules greatly decreases power utilization under uneven irradiance conditions. Parallel differential power processing (DPP) converters are employed to address this power reduction problem, while maintaining individual PV control and maximizing output power. Two parallel DPP configurations, with and without a front-end converter, are analyzed and compared for a target battery-charging application. The DPP system without a front-end converter shows consistently high performance and operates properly over a wider range of lighting conditions. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are also examined for parallel DPP systems. When the MPPT parameters are properly calibrated, simulation results indicate that voltage-offset resistive control is the most effective at maximizing PV power under unbalanced lighting conditions.
Highlights
As renewable energy generation increases in popularity, solar photovoltaic (PV) power is becoming more widely used around the world
Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are examined for parallel differential power processing (DPP) systems
A PV-powered wearable application utilizing parallel DPP converters and MPPT for improved power output was explored through mathematical analysis and detailed simulation
Summary
As renewable energy generation increases in popularity, solar photovoltaic (PV) power is becoming more widely used around the world. PV systems are most commonly used to provide solar energy to the electric grid. Recent advancements in PV power systems include the integration of energy storage with PV systems to increase their reliability and cost-effectiveness [1]. Both policies and technological advancements are focused on reducing power consumption by increasing efficiency at the consumer level, such as switching to LED lighting [2]. At the intersection of these trends is the concept of using PV cells to power wearable applications. There are a number of challenges of using PV power for wearables that can be overcome with effective design of the power conversion system
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