2026-09-20T18:26:34Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92676 2023-07-11 col_2142_5131 com_2142_5130

Pilawa-Podgurski, Robert C. N. Hsiao, Felix Zephyr 2016-11-10T17:49:14Z 2016-11-10T17:49:14Z 2016-07-21 2016-08 This thesis examines maximum power point tracking (MPPT) at the photovoltaic (PV) sub-module level, but in the context of large arrays. Central communication carries large overheads, and neighbor-to-neighbor communication can have long propagation times in large arrays, so a communication-less solution was explored. An MPPT algorithm that could be run asynchronously was developed, and simulations confirmed its viability. Simulated tracking efficiencies of 99.977% and above were attained at steady-state. Next, a power electronics hardware prototype was designed to implement the MPPT algorithm. A differential power processing (DPP) architecture was used to achieve high system efficiencies. The efficiency of a single DPP converter reached a peak of 94.0%. In the laboratory tests performed, an increase in PV module power of up to 29.7% was observed using the proposed method when compared to no sub-module MPPT. Additionally, a long-term measurement system for a 12-module PV array was constructed. The system provided a safe, durable, and weatherproof mounting scheme for the power electronics and related circuitry. Furthermore, the setup allowed communication with the power electronics, so sub-module data could be collected and analyzed to determine the performance of the MPPT. Possible future work includes gathering more results, revising the circuit board, and simplifying the measurement system. Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2016-11-09 without embargo terms The student, Felix Hsiao, accepted the attached license on 2016-07-21 at 14:52. The student, Felix Hsiao, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2016-07-21 at 15:34. This Thesis was approved for publication on 2016-07-21 at 16:45. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10057 on 2016-11-09 at 10:26:04 Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-10T17:49:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 HSIAO-THESIS-2016.pdf: 2792015 bytes, checksum: e968e28b97371bacb6003c1c8cc78a8c (MD5) images.zip: 2047600 bytes, checksum: c2ed7db6547510633a93a6c59dae05a1 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4208 bytes, checksum: fd12d9fb53ba4844dfe6c05e8757419e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-21 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92676 en Copyright 2016 Felix Zephyr Hsiao power electronics distributed power electronics photovoltaics photovoltaic systems solar energy maximum power point trackers differential power processing DC-DC converters buck-boost converters wide-bandgap semiconductors Asynchronous differential power processing for true maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic sub-modules text text Electrical & Computer Eng Electrical & Computer Engr University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Thesis M.S.