Abstract
This paper reviews various power device components of solar-powered aircraft such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, maximum power point tracker (MPPT) and rechargeable batteries. The various power device components were highlighted, and the ones applicable to aircraft were analyzed, based on criteria as efficiency for photovoltaic cells; energy densities about rechargeable batteries; and maximum power point tracker on quick response to achieve maximum power point on I-V curve. Emerging technologies like photovoltaic cells, thin film cell, organic photovoltaic cell, multi-junction cell and silicon quantum dot cell, with the future potential of high efficiencies that can be used in solar-powered aircraft, were all examined. Regarding battery technology, Lithium-air battery (Li-air) was reported as having great opportunities for high energy densities capable of improving the efficiency of the solar-powered aircraft, for the greater prospect of the aviation industry. The design of efficient power device for solar-powered aircraft application is proposed. Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar cells were used because of its high energy conversion efficiency of 30 to 40%. A smart and intelligent MPPT Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is chosen because of its efficiency in partial shading and fast response and speed. The Li-air rechargeable battery is proposed because of its theoretical energy density of 11680 Wh/Kg.
Highlights
Solar-powered aircraft is a remarkable concept, cutting-edge technology, and the aircraft for the future (Cleave 2008)
To build the aircraft that can demonstrate enormous capability for continuous flight (Colozza 2004; Zhang et al 2017), the idea of solar-powered aircraft design equipped with power device that includes photovoltaic (PV) cells, rechargeable batteries and maximum power point tracker (MPPT) (Reddy and Aneesh 2017; Frulla and Cestino 2008) was conceived
Photovoltaic cells are classified based on materials for solar cell production and are grouped as follows: Crystalline silicon, thin-film, organic/ polymer, hybrid PV, and dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell
Summary
Solar-powered aircraft is a remarkable concept, cutting-edge technology, and the aircraft for the future (Cleave 2008). The unlimited availability of solar radiation makes this masterpiece green technology look very promising regarding affordability, safety, sustainability and clean means of transportation (Bicer and Dincer 2017). To build the aircraft that can demonstrate enormous capability for continuous flight (Colozza 2004; Zhang et al 2017), the idea of solar-powered aircraft design equipped with power device that includes photovoltaic (PV) cells, rechargeable batteries and maximum power point tracker (MPPT) (Reddy and Aneesh 2017; Frulla and Cestino 2008) was conceived. The PV cells are installed on the wing – the solar energy converts into electrical energy that is used to power the propulsion system and the avionics. It is used to store energy at day-time and supply power to the systems at night-time (Gao et al 2015)
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