Gallium-Nitride-Based Submodule Integrated Converters for High-Efficiency Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking PV Applications

Omair Khan; Weidong Xiao; Hatem H. Zeineldin

doi:10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888

Gallium-Nitride-Based Submodule Integrated Converters for High-Efficiency Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking PV Applications

Omair Khan, Weidong Xiao, Hatem H. Zeineldin

Electrical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) photovoltaic (PV) systems have drawn increased attention since the inhomogeneous irradiance on PV modules can significantly deteriorate the effectiveness of solar energy harvest. To address the issue, this paper focuses on developing a highly efficient submodule integrated converter (subMIC), which is connected across each submodule of a PV panel. Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors are utilized in the synchronous buck converter topology to achieve high conversion efficiency and reduced size. A converter prototype, which is digitally controlled using a microcontroller for MPPT, is developed and tested, considering various irradiation conditions. The peak efficiency of the proposed GaN-based subMIC is measured to be higher than 99% at 400-kHz switching frequency, whereas the accuracy of MPPT is above 99% considering low-power conditions.

Original language	British English
Article number	7299680
Pages (from-to)	966-975
Number of pages	10
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Volume	63
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888
State	Published - Feb 2016

Keywords

DC/DC power conversion
energy harvesting
photovoltaic power systems

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888

Cite this

@article{547657db8484467daac41203e2567a6e,

title = "Gallium-Nitride-Based Submodule Integrated Converters for High-Efficiency Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking PV Applications",

abstract = "Distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) photovoltaic (PV) systems have drawn increased attention since the inhomogeneous irradiance on PV modules can significantly deteriorate the effectiveness of solar energy harvest. To address the issue, this paper focuses on developing a highly efficient submodule integrated converter (subMIC), which is connected across each submodule of a PV panel. Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors are utilized in the synchronous buck converter topology to achieve high conversion efficiency and reduced size. A converter prototype, which is digitally controlled using a microcontroller for MPPT, is developed and tested, considering various irradiation conditions. The peak efficiency of the proposed GaN-based subMIC is measured to be higher than 99% at 400-kHz switching frequency, whereas the accuracy of MPPT is above 99% considering low-power conditions.",

keywords = "DC/DC power conversion, energy harvesting, photovoltaic power systems",

author = "Omair Khan and Weidong Xiao and Zeineldin, {Hatem H.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 1982-2012 IEEE.",

year = "2016",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888",

language = "British English",

volume = "63",

pages = "966--975",

journal = "IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics",

issn = "0278-0046",

publisher = "IEEE Industrial Electronics Society",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gallium-Nitride-Based Submodule Integrated Converters for High-Efficiency Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking PV Applications

AU - Khan, Omair

AU - Xiao, Weidong

AU - Zeineldin, Hatem H.

PY - 2016/2

Y1 - 2016/2

N2 - Distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) photovoltaic (PV) systems have drawn increased attention since the inhomogeneous irradiance on PV modules can significantly deteriorate the effectiveness of solar energy harvest. To address the issue, this paper focuses on developing a highly efficient submodule integrated converter (subMIC), which is connected across each submodule of a PV panel. Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors are utilized in the synchronous buck converter topology to achieve high conversion efficiency and reduced size. A converter prototype, which is digitally controlled using a microcontroller for MPPT, is developed and tested, considering various irradiation conditions. The peak efficiency of the proposed GaN-based subMIC is measured to be higher than 99% at 400-kHz switching frequency, whereas the accuracy of MPPT is above 99% considering low-power conditions.

AB - Distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) photovoltaic (PV) systems have drawn increased attention since the inhomogeneous irradiance on PV modules can significantly deteriorate the effectiveness of solar energy harvest. To address the issue, this paper focuses on developing a highly efficient submodule integrated converter (subMIC), which is connected across each submodule of a PV panel. Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors are utilized in the synchronous buck converter topology to achieve high conversion efficiency and reduced size. A converter prototype, which is digitally controlled using a microcontroller for MPPT, is developed and tested, considering various irradiation conditions. The peak efficiency of the proposed GaN-based subMIC is measured to be higher than 99% at 400-kHz switching frequency, whereas the accuracy of MPPT is above 99% considering low-power conditions.

KW - DC/DC power conversion

KW - energy harvesting

KW - photovoltaic power systems

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962428242&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888

DO - 10.1109/TIE.2015.2491888

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84962428242

SN - 0278-0046

VL - 63

SP - 966

EP - 975

JO - IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics

JF - IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics

IS - 2

M1 - 7299680

ER -

Gallium-Nitride-Based Submodule Integrated Converters for High-Efficiency Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking PV Applications

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this