Micro‐scale inductorless maximum power point tracking DC–DC converter. Issue 8 (1st September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grasso, Alfio Dario; Pennisi, Salvatore
• Is Part Of: IET power electronics. Volume 6:Issue 8(2013)
• Page Start: 1634
• Page End: 1639
• Publication Date: 2013-09-01
• Subjects: photovoltaic power systems -- charge pump circuits -- maximum power point trackers; microscale inductorless MPPT dc‐dc converter -- maximum power point tracking -- charge pump -- voltage boost element -- temperature dependence -- MPP voltage -- passive temperature compensation circuit -- commercial off‐the‐shelf components -- full custom integrated‐circuit design -- microscale photovoltaic applications; Power electronics -- Periodicals; 621.31705
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-pel.2012.0553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-4535

Abstract

Abstract : In this study, the authors propose a simple maximum power point tracking (MPPT) DC–DC converter amenable for micro‐scale photovoltaic applications. The solution avoids the use of inductors and exploits a charge pump as a voltage boost element. To take into account the temperature dependence of the MPP voltage, a passive temperature compensation circuit is also included. To validate the idea a prototype was realised with commercial off‐the‐shelf components. A system efficiency better than 83% for output power above 90 mW is obtained. The results show the viability of the proposed approach which could be further improved through a full custom integrated‐circuit design.