A global maximum power point tracking DC-DC converter

This thesis describes the design, and validation of a maximum power point tracking DC-DC converter capable of following the true global maximum power point in the presence of other local maximum. It does this without the use of costly components such as analog-to-digital converters and microprocessors. It substantially increases the efficiency of solar power conversion by allowing solar cells to operate at their ideal operating point regardless of changes in load, and illumination. The converter switches between a dithering algorithm which tracks the local maximum and a global search algorithm for ensuring that the converter is operating at the true global maximum.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Duncan, Joseph, 1981-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Randy Flatness and David J. Perreault.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33152

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/33152