• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1037-1047
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• 2017

The Differential Power Processing (DPP) converter is a promising multi-module photovoltaic inverter architecture recently proposed for photovoltaic systems. In this paper, a DPP converter architecture, in which each PV-panel has its own DPP converter in shunt, performs distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) control. It maintains a high energy conversion efficiency, even under partial shading conditions. The system architecture only deals with the power differences among the PV panels, which reduces the power capacity of the converters. Therefore, the DPP systems can easily overcome the conventional disadvantages of PCS such as centralized, string, and module integrated converter (MIC) topologies. Among the various types of the DPP systems, the feed-forward method has been selected for both its voltage balancing and power transfer to a modified H-bridge inverter that needs charge balancing of the input capacitors. The modified H-bridge multi-level inverter had some advantages such as a low part count and cost competitiveness when compared to conventional multi-level inverters. Therefore, it is frequently used in photovoltaic (PV) power conditioning system (PCS). However, its simplified switching network draws input current asymmetrically. Therefore, input capacitors in series suffer from a problem due to a charge imbalance. This paper validates the operating principle and feasibility of the proposed topology through the simulation and experimental results. They show that the input-capacitor voltages maintain the voltage balance with the PV MPPT control operating with a 140-W hardware prototype.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.21-33
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• 2012

This paper presents the new maximum power point tracking(MPPT) control of the photovoltaic(PV) module integrated converter(MIC) system considering the shadow influence. The output characteristics of the solar cell is a nonlinear and affected by a temperature, the solar radiation and influence of a shadow. Particularly, MIC system is very sensitive to the shadow influence because the capacity is very small. In order to increase an output and efficiency of the solar power generation, the maximum power point(MPP) obeying control are necessary. Conventional perturbation and observation(PO) and Incremental conductance(IC) are the method finding MPP by the continued self-excitation vibration. The MPPT control is unable to be performed by rapid output change affected by the shadow. To solve this problem, the new control algorithm of the multi-level in which the step value changes by output change is presented. In case there are the solar radiation, a temperature and shadow influence, the presented algorithm treats and compares the conventional control algorithm and output error. In addition, the validity of the algorithm is proved. through the output error response characteristics.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.448-457
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• 2013

This paper proposes a control method under stand-alone operating mode for distributed-module type photovoltaic power conditioners. In conventional schemes, there are some problems of a controller saturation in the DC-link (or load) voltage controller when overly-heavy load, light load, and the generated PV power reduction occurs, as well as when a transition occurs from an overly-loaded to normal conditions. To overcome these problems, the proposed controller method switches the main control target from DC-link voltage to the maximum power point, which is closer to the stable operating point when it returns to normal operating conditions. For the analysis, a state-plane trajectory was given and the circuit analysis by PSIM simulation was done. For the verification, a prototype hardware with 110[W] and 50[W] dual photovoltaic modules has been implemented. From the results, it can be seen that PV power tracking is successfully done with the proposed method even under a stand-alone operation mode.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.130-133
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• 2006

Solar Photovoltaics (SPV) In India has become an important renewable source of energy particularly for rural and remote areas. The vastness of the country and the requirements of electricity in far-flung villages makes SPV very attractive, with inherent technological advantages providing additional boost. This has been recognized very early by Govt. Of India and Ministry of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy (MNES) has been entrusted with promoting SPV usage in the country. Rural electrification through SPV systems is one of the programmes which is expected to provide fillip to PV industry in the country. PV Industry in India is very well established with capability of solar cell fabrication and module fabrication as well as Balance of System design and fabrication. There several R&D groups in the academic institutions who are involved in improving solar cells efficiency, thin film solar cells and PV instrumentation. Thus, India provides a ready market for large scale utilization of solar energy through SPV technology.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.1384-1385
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• 2011

This paper presents the active maximum power point tracking(MPPT) control of the photovoltaic(PV) module integrated converter(MIC) system considering the shadow influence. Conventional perturbation and observation(PO) and incremental conductance(IC) are the method finding MPP by the continued self-excitation vibration. The MPPT control is unable to be performed by rapid output change affected by the shadow. To solve this problem, the active MPPT in which the step value changes by output change is presented. In case there are the solar radiation, a temperature and shadow influence, the presented algorithm treats and compares the conventional control algorithm and output error. In addition, the validity of the algorithm is proved through the output error response characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.619-627
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• 2016

Cells of a PV (photovoltaic) module can suffer defects due to various causes resulting in a loss of power output. As a malfunctioning cell has a higher temperature than adjacent normal cells, it can be easily detected with a thermal infrared sensor. A conventional method of PV cell inspection is to use a hand-held infrared sensor for visual inspection. The main disadvantages of this method, when applied to a large-scale PV power plant, are that it is time-consuming and costly. This paper presents an algorithm for automatically detecting defective PV panels using images captured with a thermal imaging camera from an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). The proposed algorithm uses statistical analysis of thermal intensity (surface temperature) characteristics of each PV module to verify the mean intensity and standard deviation of each panel as parameters for fault diagnosis. One of the characteristics of thermal infrared imaging is that the larger the distance between sensor and target, the lower the measured temperature of the object. Consequently, a global detection rule using the mean intensity of all panels in the fault detection algorithm is not applicable. Therefore, a local detection rule was applied to automatically detect defective panels using the mean intensity and standard deviation range of each panel by array. The performance of the proposed algorithm was tested on three sample images; this verified a detection accuracy of defective panels of 97% or higher. In addition, as the proposed algorithm can adjust the range of threshold values for judging malfunction at the array level, the local detection rule is considered better suited for highly sensitive fault detection compared to a global detection rule. In this study, we used a panel area extraction method that we previously developed; fault detection accuracy would be improved if panel area extraction from images was more precise. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm contributes to the development of a maintenance and repair system for large-scale PV power plants, in combination with a geo-referencing algorithm for accurate determination of panel locations using sensor-based orientation parameters and photogrammetry from ground control points.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2016

This paper proposes an energy storage-assisted, series-connected module-integrated power conversion system that integrates a photovoltaic power conditioner and a charge balancing circuit. In conventional methods, a photovoltaic power conditioner and a cell-balancing circuit are needed for photovoltaic systems with energy storage devices, but they cause a complex configuration and high cost. Moreover, an imbalanced output voltage of the module-integrated converter for PV panels can be a result of partial shading. Partial shading can lead to the fault condition of the boost converter in shaded modules and high voltage stresses on the devices in other modules. To overcome these problems, a bidirectional buck-boost converter with an integrated magnetic device operating for a charge-balancing circuit is proposed. The proposed circuit has multiple secondary rectifiers with inductors sharing a single magnetic core, which works as an inductor for the main bidirectional charger/discharger of the energy storage. The secondary rectifiers operate as a cell-balancing circuit for both energy storage and the series-connected multiple outputs of the module-integrated converter. The operating principle of the cell-balancing power conversion circuit and the power stage design are presented and validated by PSIM simulation for analysis. A hardware prototype with equivalent photovoltaic modules is implemented for verification. The results verify that the modularized photovoltaic power conversion system in the output series with an energy storage successfully works with the proposed low-cost bidirectional buck-boost converter comprising a single magnetic device.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.102-108
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• 2018

A glass-texturing technique was developed for photovoltaic (PV) module cover glass; periodic honeycomb textures were formed by using a conventional lithography technique and diluted hydrogen fluoride etching solutions. The etching conditions were optimized for three different types of textured structures. In contrast to a flat glass substrate, the textured glasses were structured with etched average surface angles of $31-57^{\circ}$, and large aspect ratios of 0.17-0.47; by using a finite difference time-domain simulation, we show that these textured surfaces increase the amount of scattered light and reduce reflectance on the glass surface. In addition, the optical transmittance of the textured glass was markedly improved by up to 95% for wavelengths ranging from 400 to 1100 nm. Furthermore, applying the textured structures to the cover glass of the PV module with heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer crystalline silicon solar cells resulted in improvements in the short-circuit current density and module efficiency from 39 to $40.2mA/cm^2$ and from 21.65% to 22.41%, respectively. Considering these results, the proposed method has the potential to further strengthen the industrial and technical competitiveness of crystalline silicon solar cells.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.144-151
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• 2010

The shadowing effects lead to the serious power losses of the PV module. The shadowing effects are caused by several factors such as leafs, dust, antenna and clouds. The dye-sensitized solar cells are more economical than the conventional silicon solar cell that's why the dye-sensitized solar cells are recently focused on. We carried out research on the efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell depending on the level of shadow changing the formula of the circuit. The research on the efficiency of the large dye-sensitized solar cell depending on the level of shadow focused on commercialization was carried out. As the results, it is known that the series and parallel connection method is the best choice for the least losses of PV module assemblies. It is especially known that one more series connection is the best choice for the least losses about shadowing effects and current losses in the series and parallel connection.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.181-184
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• 2005

Operating conditions of photovoltaic power generator is very sensitive to the PV modules. The PV module's control is an importance issue in the removing DC ripple noise. In this paper, the phase-shifted-carrier technique, which is a new three-step dc-dc power multi-converter schemes, is applied to solar generator system to improve the output current waveform. The novel type of three-step dc-dc converter presented has many features such as the good output waveform, high efficiency, low switching losses, low acoustic noise. The circuit configuration is constructed by the conventional full-bridge type converter circuit using the isolated DC power supply for which the solar cell is very suitable. In the end, a circuit design for understanding three-step dc-dc converter and new solar power system were presented