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Photovoltaic Sample-and-Hold Circuit Enabling MPPT Indoors for Low-Power Systems

Weddell, A., Merrett, G. and Al-Hashimi, B. (2011) Photovoltaic Sample-and-Hold Circuit Enabling MPPT Indoors for Low-Power Systems. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers . (In Press)

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Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting is commonly used to power autonomous devices, and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is often used to optimize its efficiency. This paper describes an ultra low-power MPPT circuit with a novel sample-and-hold and cold-start arrangement, enabling MPPT across the range of light intensities found indoors, which has not been reported before. The circuit has been validated in practice and found to cold-start and operate from 100 lux (typical of dim indoor lighting) up to 5000 lux with a 55cm2 amorphous silicon PV module. It is more efficient than non-MPPT circuits, which are the state-of-the-art for indoor PV systems. The proposed circuit maximizes the active time of the PV module by carrying out samples only once per minute. The MPPT control arrangement draws a quiescent current draw of only 8uA, and does not require an additional light sensor as has been required by previously-reported low-power MPPT circuits.

Item Type:Article
Creator/Authors:
Alex Weddell
Geoff Merrett
Bashir Al-Hashimi
Keywords:maximum power point tracking, photovoltaics, energy harvesting.
Research Group:Current ECS Groups > Electronic and Software Systems
Old ECS Groups > Electronic Systems and Devices Group
Old ECS Groups > Pervasive System Centre
Date:23 September 2011
Information about this record:
ID Code:22832
Last Modified:23 Sep 2011 10:55
Deposited On:23 Sep 2011 10:55 by Weddell, Alex

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