Chip boosts solar panel efficiency
29 September 2010
Power Electronics / Power Management
STMicroelectronics has unveiled what it claims is the industry’s first IC to combine important power optimisation and power conversion functions for solar generators.
ST’s innovation will allow multipanel arrays, ranging from domestic rooftop-type equipment to larger installations, to deliver more energy at a lower cost per Watt.
The new SPV1020 chip allows maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) to be applied individually for each panel. MPPT automatically adjusts a solar generator’s output circuitry to compensate for power fluctuations resulting from varying solar intensity, shadowing, temperature change, panel mismatch or ageing. Without MPPT, the power from a solar panel can fall by 10% to 20% if even a small percentage of its surface is in shadow. This disproportionate decrease may restrict the choice of site or force the use of a smaller array to avoid shadows. In some cases, it can challenge the viability of the project.
The SPV1020 enables distributed MPPT (DMPPT), which compensates each panel individually, in contrast to a centralised MPPT scheme that applies a ‘best-fit’ compensation to all the panels in the array. DMPPT is the most promising technique to improve the energy productivity of photovoltaic systems because it maximises the power extracted from each panel regardless of adjacent module performance, even if a module has failed.
Implementing DMPPT usually requires a network of discrete components for each panel in an array. The SPV1020 replaces this network with a single chip and also integrates the DC/DC converter to step-up the panel’s low-voltage DC output to a larger DC voltage from which line-quality AC power is produced.
For more information contact Robin Scholes, Avnet Kopp, +27 (0)11 809 6100, robin.scholes@avnet.co.za, www.avnet.co.za
Further reading:
High-precision current transducer
Power Electronics / Power Management
Danisense announces its new high-precision DP12IP current transducer designed for isolated DC and AC current measurement in demanding PCB-mounted power electronics applications.
Read more...
Secure holder for protected 18650 batteries
Power Electronics / Power Management
Designed for protected 18650 batteries up to 70 mm long, the holder offers secure retention for portable, industrial, and embedded applications.
Read more...
More room to scale
Altron Arrow
Power Electronics / Power Management
With the latest STM32H5 lines from STMicroelectronics, you can now scale within the same platform, from a compact 1 Mbyte device to higher-memory MCUs for graphics-rich and feature-heavy designs.
Read more...
Surface mount power amplifier for high-power applications
RF Design
Power Electronics / Power Management
The GNA-63-5W+, from Mini-Circuits, is a GaN MMIC Power Amplifier (PA) designed for demanding RF applications requiring high efficiency, excellent linearity, and a compact footprint.
Read more...
1200 V QSiC modules
Power Electronics / Power Management
SemiQ Inc has launched the QSiC Dual3, a family of 1200 V half-bridge MOSFET modules for motor drives in data centre cooling systems, grid converters in energy storage systems, and industrial drivers.
Read more...
MCOTS transient filter for military applications
RFiber Solutions
Power Electronics / Power Management
SynQor has announced the new MCOTS-F-28-T-HE transient half-brick filter, the latest addition to its MCOTS product family.
Read more...
Expanded range of high-thermal-performance QSiC modules
Power Electronics / Power Management
SemiQ’s half-bridge series for data centre power converters and industrial motor drives features low RDSON SiC MOSFETs and parallel SBD diodes for best-in-class power density and conversion efficiency.
Read more...
Transporting lithium batteries and IoT devices
Power Electronics / Power Management
With billions of rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium cells and batteries powering most of the world’s consumer and industrial electronic devices, shipping them to customers through vast global logistics chains is often an overlooked topic.
Read more...
Setting a new benchmark for high-power DC load testing
Conical Technologies
Test & Measurement Power Electronics / Power Management
The new ITECH IT8900G/L high-speed, high-power DC electronic load offers a powerful combination of speed, scalability, precision and high-power density.
Read more...
Quality batteries are critical for IIoT
Uniross Batteries
Power Electronics / Power Management
Batteries intended for use in industrial operations must indeed offer complete reliability under extreme environmental conditions, resistance to vibration and harsh environments.
Read more...
printer friendly version