• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1233-1242
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• 2014

A new inverter topology for single-phase photovoltaic (PV) systems is proposed in this study. The proposed inverter offers a four-level voltage in its output terminals. This feature results in easier filtering in comparison with other conventional two-level or three-level inverters. In addition, the proposed four-level inverter (PFLI) has a transformer-less topology, which decreases the size, weight, and cost of the entire system and increases the overall efficiency of the system. Although the inverter is transformer-less, it produces a negligible leakage ground current (LGC), which makes this inverter suitable for PV grid-connected applications. The performance of the proposed inverter is compared with that of a four-level neutral point clamped inverter (FLNPCI). Theoretical analysis and computer simulations verify that the PFLI topology is superior to FLNPCI in terms of efficiency and suitability for use in PV transformer-less systems.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2004

This paper focuses on the electrical modeling techniques of renewable energy sources and storage devices such as batteries, fuel cells (FCs), photovoltaic (PVs) arrays, ultra-capacitors (UCs), and flywheel energy storage systems (FESS). All of these devices are being investigated recently for their typical storage and supply capabilities for various industrial applications. Hence, these devices must be modeled precisely taking into account the concerned practical issues. An obvious advantage of electrically modeling these renewable energy sources and storage devices is the fact that they can easily be simulated in real-time in any CAD simulation program. This paper reviews several types of suitable models for each of the above-mentioned devices and the most appropriate model amongst them is presented. Furthermore, a few important applications of these devices shall also be highlighted.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2002.07c
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• pp.1555-1558
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• 2002

This paper presents deposition and characterizations of microcrystalline silicon(${\mu}c$-Si:H) films prepared by hot wire chemical vapor deposition at substrate temperature below $300^{\circ}C$. The $SiH_4$ Concentration$[F(SiH_4)/F(SiH_4)+F(H_2)]$ is critical parameter for the formation of Si films with microcrystalline phase. At 6% of silane concentration, deposited intrinsic ${\mu}c$-Si:H films shows sufficiently low dark conductivity and high photo sensitivity for solar cell applications. P-type ${\mu}c$-S:H films deposited by Hot-Wire CVD also shows good electrical properties by varying the rate of $B_2H_6$ to $SiH_4$ gas. The solar cells with structure of Al/nip ${\mu}c$-Si:H/TCO/glass was fabricated with sing1e chamber Hot-Wire CVD. About 3% solar efficiency was obtained and applicability of HWCVD for thin film solar cells was proven in this research.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.182-189
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• 2017

Photovoltaic power generation systems make up a large part of the low carbon energy trend. The purpose of this study is to utilize PVsyst, a commercial forecasting program, to forecast research on the design stages of photovoltaic power generation for wider applications of this system in railroads and to consider prospective issues for photovoltaic power plants that are currently being operated. Given this, we will compare the forecast value of generated photovoltaic power, derived from foreign weather forecast information provided by NASA, along with information from Meteonorm, and the forecast values derived from the KMA weather information. By comparing these values with amounts actually generated by KPX, this research aims to secure propriety rights for wider application of photovoltaic power generation systems in railroads, and to contribute to low carbon energy for the new climate of the future.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2017

Here we report the influence of thermal treatment on the performance of high efficiency polymer solar cells with the bulk heterojunction films of poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b'] dithiophene-alt-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate] (PTB7-Th) and [6,6]-phenyl $C_{71}$ butyric acid methyl ester ($PC_{71}BM$). The crystalline nanostructure of PTB7-Th:$PC_{71}BM$ layers, which were annealed at three different temperatures, was investigated by employing synchrotron radiation grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) technique. Results showed that the device performance was slightly reduced by thermal annealing at $50^{\circ}C$ but became significantly poor by thermal annealing at $100^{\circ}C$. The poor device performance by thermal annealing was attributed to the collapse in the crystalline nanostructure of PTB7-Th in the PTB7-Th:$PC_{71}BM$ layers as evidenced by the GIXD measurements that exhibited huge reduction in the intensity of PTB7-Th (100) peak even at $50^{\circ}C$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.636-640
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• 2012

We modify ZnO nanorods with Zn-porphyrin to obtain the improved characteristics of energy transfer, which is further investigated for the applicability to photovoltaic devices. A nitrogen heterocyclic ligand containing a thiol group is covalently grafted onto the surface of finely structured ZnO nanorods with a length of 50-250 nm and a diameter of 15-20 nm. Zn-porphyrin is then attached to the ligand molecules by the mechanism of metalligand axial coordination. The resulting energy band diagram suggests that the porphyrin-modified ZnO nanorods might provide an efficient pathway for energy transfer upon being applied to photovoltaic devices.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.904-910
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• 2017

This paper presents temperature measurement of solar photovoltaic modules using the custom-made system composed of an infrared temperature sensor and a microcontroller. The obtained measurement results are processed, displayed and stored on a PC using the custom-made virtual instrument. The proposed system overcomes some of the problems related to the contact sensor application, and at the same time offers accurate readings and better flexibility. The proposed system is especially suitable for applications where the cost is a limiting factor in the choice of measuring system. The conducted analysis and the obtained results have shown an excellent accuracy of the proposed system in comparison to a high quality thermal imaging camera used as the reference instrument.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.263-266
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• 2009

In the photovoltaic applications, MPPT(maximum power point tracking) method is essential due to the non-lineality of photovoltaic output characteristics. To ensure stable tracking response, two sensors are required in conventional popular MPPTs. In modularized PV system as an AC module system, the cost of a sensor can have an effect on entire system cost because a power conditioning device is connected in a PV module. Because only a current sensor is required for proposed MPPT, it is helpful in the cost reduction point of view. In this paper, a novel MPPT using current sensor is proposed In the proposed MPPT, the voltage is derived from sensed current value. The proposed method is verified by simulation results.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.45-49
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• 2015

In the past few decade's researchers, scientists, engineers of photovoltaic (PV) industry are working towards low cost high efficiency Si solar cells. Over the last decade the interest in back contact solar cell has been acquiring as well as a gradual introduction to industrial applications is increasing. As an alternative to conventional solar cells with a front and rear contact, the back-contact cells has remained a research topic. The aim of this work is to present a comprehensive summary of results incurred in the back contact back junction solar cells such as interdigitated back-contact (IBC), emitter wrap-through (EWT) and metallization wrap-through (MWT) over the years.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.578-586
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• 2012

In this paper a single-phase Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) inverter for photovoltaic (PV) applications is presented. Based on the presented mathematical analysis, a novel controller is introduced which adjusts the inverter power factor (PF) and manipulates the distribution of the reactive power between the cells to enhance the operating range of the CHB inverter. The adopted control strategy enables tracking of the maximum power point (MPP) of distinct PV strings and allows independent control of the dc-link voltages. The proposed controller also enables the inverter to operate under heavily unbalanced PV conditions. The performance of the CHB inverter and the proposed controllers are evaluated in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment. A seven-level CHB-based grid connected laboratory prototype is also utilized to verify the system performance.