Low-power maximum power point tracker with digital control for thermophotovoltaic generators

Pilawa-Podgurski, Robert C. N.; Pallo, Nathan; Chan, Walker R.; Perreault, David J.; Čelanović, Ivan

doi:10.1109/apec.2010.5433386

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…1 was used to successfully demonstrate the system operation in ref. 11. More recent work (34) has focused on reducing the overall size of the power electronics to fit in a small form factor, as well as to increase the electrical conversion efficiency.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics

Chan

Bermel

Pilawa-Podgurski

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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167

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The challenging problem of ultra-high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and small-scale portable power generation is addressed here using a distinctive thermophotovoltaic energy conversion mechanism and chip-based system design, which we name the microthermophotovoltaic (μTPV) generator. The approach is predicted to be capable of up to 32% efficient heat-to-electricity conversion within a millimeter-scale form factor. Although considerable technological barriers need to be overcome to reach full performance, we have performed a robust experimental demonstration that validates the theoretical framework and the key system components. Even with a much-simplified μTPV system design with theoretical efficiency prediction of 2.7%, we experimentally demonstrate 2.5% efficiency. The μTPV experimental system that was built and tested comprises a silicon propane microcombustor, an integrated high-temperature photonic crystal selective thermal emitter, four 0.55-eV GaInAsSb thermophotovoltaic diodes, and an ultrahigh-efficiency maximum power-point tracking power electronics converter. The system was demonstrated to operate up to 800°C (silicon microcombustor temperature) with an input thermal power of 13.7 W, generating 344 mW of electric power over a 1-cm 2 area.catalytic combustion | micro generator | thermal radiation W ith the recent proliferation of power-hungry mobile devices, significant research efforts have been focused on developing clean, quiet, and portable high-energy-density, compact power sources. Although batteries offer a well-known solution, limits on the chemistry developed to date constrain the energy density to ∼0.2 kWh/kg, whereas many hydrocarbon fuels have energy densities closer to 12 kWh/kg. The fundamental question is, How efficiently and robustly can these widely available chemical fuels be converted into electricity in a millimeter-scale system? Indeed, it is difficult to tap the full potential of hydrocarbon fuels on a small scale. However, their high energy density allows even relatively inefficient generators to be competitive with batteries. To this end, researchers have explored different energy conversion routes, such as mechanical heat engines (1), fuel cells (2, 3), thermoelectrics (4, 5), and thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) (6, 7).TPVs present an extremely appealing approach for small-scale power sources due to the combination of high power density limited ultimately by Planck blackbody emission, multifuel operation due to the ease of generating heat, and a fully static conversion process. Small-scale TPVs have yet to be demonstrated and are particularly challenging because of the need to develop strong synergistic interactions between chemical, thermal, optical, and electrical domains, which in turn give rise to requirements for extreme materials performance and subsystems synchronization.In this work, we present a proof of concept microthermovoltaic (μTPV) system, shown in Fig. 1, that validates the theoretical foundation and paves the way toward a new breed of ultra-highenergy-density, hi...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics

Chan

Bermel

Pilawa-Podgurski

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

167

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“…In order to ensure repeatable and careful characterization of the MPPT solution alone, we performed all experimental testing on a source with carefully matched characteristics. We note that full experimental testing of a discrete MPPT implementation together with a complete micro-reactor setup has been presented in [7]. Shown in Fig.…”

Section: B Tracking Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described in [7], substantial performance improvements can be realized with the proper integration of power electronics in the system architecture. In this paper, we present a distributed maximum power point tracking system developed in 0.35 µm CMOS technology for use in the system depicted in Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated CMOS Energy Harvesting Converter With Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator

Pilawa-Podgurski

Čelanović

et al. 2015

IEEE J. Emerg. Sel. Topics Power Electron.

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Abstract-This paper presents an integrated maximum power point tracking system for use with a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) portable power generator. The design, implemented in 0.35 µm CMOS technology, consists of a low-power control stage and a dc-dc boost power stage with soft-switching capability. With a nominal input voltage of 1 V, and an output voltage of 4 V, we demonstrate a peak conversion efficiency under nominal conditions of over 94% (overall peak efficiency over 95%), at a power level of 300 mW. The control stage uses lossless current sensing together with a custom low-power time-based ADC to minimize control losses. The converter employs a fully integrated digital implementation of a peak power tracking algorithm, and achieves a measured tracking efficiency above 98%. A detailed study of achievable efficiency versus inductor size is also presented, with calculated and measured results.

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“…TPV has proven to be an extremely versatile energy production and conversion concept, as it can be employed to convert energy of any thermal source into electrical energy. Thus, a variety of applications have been proposed, encompassing combustion TPV, [57][58][59] radioisotope TPV 60 as well as solar TPV, 61 solar thermal and solar chemical applications 62 (Fig. 6) with highly promising key figures such as efficiency, power density and output power.…”

Section: Emerging Applications: Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed a micro-TPV system with a 1 cm 2 microreactor operating at 850 • C and an output power of 150 mW has been proposed and demonstrated. 57 Radioisotope TPV applications are used with radioisotope fuel cells, and allow for a very robust and stable energy source for long-term operation (18-30 years) in extreme environments, therefore ideal for space applications but also for terrestrial energy supply where other energy sources are not available or stable long-term operations is needed.…”

Section: Emerging Applications: Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent developments in high-temperature photonic crystals for energy conversion

Rinnerbauer

Ndao

Yeng

et al. 2012

Energy Environ. Sci.

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138

102

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After decades of intense studies focused on cryogenic and room temperature nanophotonics, scientific interest is also growing in high-temperature nanophotonics aimed at solid-state energy conversion. These latest extensive research efforts are spurred by a renewed interest in high temperature thermal-to-electrical energy conversion schemes including thermophotovoltaics (TPV), solar-thermophotovoltaics, solar-thermal, and solar-thermochemical energy conversion systems. This field is profiting tremendously from the outstanding degree of control over the thermal emission properties that can be achieved with nanoscale photonic materials. The key to obtaining high efficiency in this class of high temperature energy conversion is the spectral and angular matching of the radiation properties of an emitter to those of an absorber. Together with the achievements in the field of highperformance narrow bandgap photovoltaic cells, the ability to tailor the radiation properties of thermal emitters and absorbers using nanophotonics facilitates a route to achieving the impressive efficiencies predicted by theoretical studies. In this review, we will discuss the possibilities of emission tailoring by nanophotonics in the light of high temperature thermal-toelectrical energy conversion applications, and give a brief introduction to the field of TPV. We will show how a class of large area 2D metallic photonic crystals can be designed and employed to efficiently control and tailor the spectral and angular emission properties, paving the way towards new and highly efficient thermophotovoltaic systems and enabling other energy conversion schemes based on high-performance high-temperature nanoscale photonic materials.

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Low-power maximum power point tracker with digital control for thermophotovoltaic generators

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics

Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics

Integrated CMOS Energy Harvesting Converter With Digital Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Portable Thermophotovoltaic Power Generator

Recent developments in high-temperature photonic crystals for energy conversion

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