MSc Independent Engineering Scholarship (IES) Proposal
Personal Details
Dissertation Proposal
Background
This project is inspired by the need to utilize semi conductor technologies that have spiraled in the past decade to develop high efficient solar cell materials which are capable of utilizing higher degree spectrum light. The University of (University Name) Infrastructure development permitting the development of systems capable of measuring new solar cell performances has allowed the usage of a single chip with discrete components. The system is applicable in a host of functions including space, terrestrial and recycling of used Silicon wafers to produce solar cells.
The design consists of an easy circuit with an op-amp and a high beta transistor used for cell voltage biasing. When integrated with a micro-processor based control system, the circuit can be utilized to collect data, measure and store data relating to solar cell performance. The system is made up of a microprocessor, D A and AD converters, biasing transistors, op-amps, multiplexers and demultiplexers. The design gives a low power, compact and accurate method for measuring I-IV performance and storing data.
AIMS
Solar cells emerged from the first photovoltaic effect reported by Becquerel in 1839. The development of electrical devices using silicon gained traction in the 1950s. The advancements in technology have made it possible to develop light weight and small devices with planar designs that can be utilized in space and terrestrial applications. The aim of this paper is to develop measurement systems capable of reading and storing data obtained from the use of advanced materials, dopants and surface preparations necessary for increased power requirements and complexity. Solar cells have been used for the past couple of years in space and terrestrial operations, and their use is gaining momentum every day due to the free sources of power such as the sun. The solar cell arrays play a principal role in the provision of power from mere watts to kilowatts range. The ease with which solar cells can be made using recycled industrial byproducts is a main motivation.
OBJECTIVE
The modern day integrated circuits uses silicon wafers in the range of 150-200 mm. With a solar intensity of 100milli watts per cm2, an average silicon cell can generate up to 20mA per cm2. An 8 inch wafer turned into a single solar cell is able to produce 6Amps of photo current. This current is relatively high, and the level of voltage in a DC ammeter is approximated to be 300 mV making up to 70% of the cells voltage. Thus with a 450 Milli-voltage capacity the direct measurement of the short circuit is highly inaccurate if not impossible to measure. In addition, the short circuit current of the solar cell is inefficient to determine the cell’s power delivering capabilities.
The maximum power delivered is dependent on the internal voltage drop as a result of the internal series resistance of the cell. Thus, the aim of this paper is to determine the optimum point of operation on the I-V characteristics of the cells both at low and high current levels. This will be done through the application of a stepped voltage and subsequent measurement of current at each step. The short circuit current can then be determined from the graph of the I-V data at the zero point voltage.
The complete I-V measurement reveal the solar cells open circuit voltage and allows the determination of electrical power output versus operating voltage plot thereby leading to the determination of the operating point for maximum power extraction. It would also help in the determination of operating parameters such as internal series resistance allowing the designer to fine tune the doping profiles and the metallization patterns of the cell for optimum performance.
PLAN OF WORK
The work is expected to progress immediately the proposal is approved. The design and implementation of the project is performed in the laboratory. The project will commence with the setting up of computer systems and the circuitry. There are a number of considerations in relation to the development of a low power light weight and accurate solar cell parameter measurement scheme. The circuit is designed to lower series resistance through current sinks. The circuit is designed simple and small to record data accurately as well as measure a series of multiplexed cells and sensors accurately in the entire I-V curve. The circuit anticipated will have low power and low thermal output. The circuitry will involve analogue and digital conversion and multiplexing and demultiplexing.
The microcontroller set up is the next stage to be executed. This will involve the design of the microprocessors and the code to execute the operations. The EFROM memory is favored to be used by the microprocessor for logic operations and conversion.
Finally, the simulation process will be carried out using the computer set up. An experimental set up of silicon solar cell illuminated with light from the lamp is used. Results will be analyzed using computer programs such as SPICE and electrical and recombination parameters derived.
After simulation to derive viable results, the project will be considered complete and ready for presentation.
CONSTRAINTS
Solar cell assemblies for terrestrial and spacecrafts are tested under laboratory conditions using incandescent tungsten lamps. However, the cooler temperatures of this lamps (2700-3400K) are usually cooler than the sun (6000K) at air mass-zero. In addition, the spectral composition is different from that used in the tungsten lamps which contained large infrared components.
The greatest possible solar simulations and standards are difficult to achieve because they require the use of high altitude air balloon flights. In addition, the absence of space calibrated cells that verify simulation cells is another imminent constraint in our context.
Apart from the above constraints, financial limitations will affect the success of the project to some degree. A budget of less than £150 is limiting the acquisition of advanced instruments to be used in the project.
IDENTIFIABLE RISKS
The project can be hampered by lack of enough resources to obtain high quality equipments. However, there are no significant personal or environmental injury and impacts that the project is anticipated to have.
RESOURCES
Books
Guvench, M. G., Gurcan, C., Durgin, K., & MacDonald, D. (2004). Solar simulator and IV measurement system for large area solar cell testing. In Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright.
Guvench, M. G., Gurcan, C., Durgin, K., & MacDonald, D. (2004). Solar simulator and IV measurement system for large area solar cell testing. In Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright.
Emery, K. A., & Osterwald, C. R. (1986). Solar cell efficiency measurements. Solar Cells, 17(2), 253-274.
Kim, I. S., Kim, M. B., & Youn, M. J. (2006). New maximum power point tracker using sliding-mode observer for estimation of solar array current in the grid-connected photovoltaic system. Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, 53(4), 1027-1035.
Kim, I. S., Kim, M. B., & Youn, M. J. (2006). New maximum power point tracker using sliding-mode observer for estimation of solar array current in the grid-connected photovoltaic system. Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, 53(4), 1027-1035.
Journals
Chan, D. S. H., Phillips, J. R., & Phang, J. C. H. (1986). A comparative study of extraction methods for solar cell model parameters. Solid-State Electronics, 29(3), 329-337.
Law, M., Greene, L. E., Johnson, J. C., Saykally, R., & Yang, P. (2005). Nanowire dye-sensitized solar cells. Nature materials, 4(6), 455-459.
Electronic (Internet)
http://archive.org/details/navalpostgraduateschoollibrary
LAB EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
- Controller components
- Microprocessor NSC800
- NSC810A RAM-I/O-Timer
- MM58167 Real time clock
- IM6402 Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
- Hewlett Packard Digitizing Oscilloscope (Model 54501A) and Tetronix Programmable Digital Multimeter (DM 5120).
- Computer, LCD, I-V measurement software and keyboard
- Four-wire interface
COSTS
GANTT CHART
Gantt chart details
References
ASM International, E. D. F. A. S. I. S. f. T. a. F. A., 2012. ISTFA 2011:Conference Proceedings from the 37th International Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis, November 13017, 2011, San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California, USA.. s.l., ASM International,.
Chavez, M. A. R., 2008. Fabrication and Analysis of Patterned and Planar Cadmium Telluride-based Solar Cells. s.l.:ProQuest.
D. Yogi Goswami, Y. Z., 2009. Proceedings of ISES Solar World Congress 2007:Solar Energy and Human Settlement : September 18-21, 2007, Beijing, China. s.l., Springer,.
Han-Ming Wu, Q. L. C. C. D. H. Y. S. Y. K. R. H. P. S. F. C. K. L. W. W. T. J. A. P. S. K., 2010. China Semiconductor Technology International Conference 2010 (CSTIC 2010). s.l., The Electrochemical Society.
Hough, T. P., 2006. Trends in Solar Energy Research. s.l., Nova Publishers.
Kalyanasundaram, K., 2012. Dye-sensitized solar cells. s.l.:EPFL Press.
Solanki, C. S., 2011. Solar Photovoltaics : Fundamentals, Technologies and Applications. s.l.:PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
SOLANKI, C. S., 2013. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS. s.l.:PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
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