Solar Array Maximum Power Point Tracker

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Spring 2018: Solar Array Maximum Power Point Tracker Sponsor: Michigan State University Solar Car Racing Team Contact: Greg Stark President | MSU Solar Racing Team 428 S Shaw Lane, East Lansing MI 48824 C: (586) 258-9259 | E: [email protected] The Michigan State University Solar Car Racing Team is a student run organization that designs, builds, and races solar powered vehicles. The team participates in a track race called the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) every summer, and a road race called the American Solar Challenge (ASC) every other summer. The only source of power for propulsion of the car is the solar array, so efficiency is the most important factor. A maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is an electronic circuit that is the link between the solar array (power generation) and the battery (power storage). It consists of a DC-DC boost converter to take the lower voltage of the solar array and match the higher voltage of the battery, and a microprocessor controlled tracking algorithm to find the maximum power point by adjusting the voltage slightly. Figure 1 shows a typical IV curve for a solar panel under different illumination levels, and figure 2 shows the basic schematic of a boost converter. As the illumination changes, so does the voltage at which the maximum power point occurs. An MPPT can produce the maximum output power possible regardless of illumination level or temperature. Figure 1: 240W Solar Panel (Source: Sunpower) Figure 2: Boost Converter (Source: TI slva372c) This project will be divided into three stages: Stage 1: Prototype a DC-DC boost converter (20-60V, 6A input, ~100V output). Stage 2: Program a microcontroller (TI MSP430) to track and adjust the powerpoint. Stage 3: Create a PCB combining these two components that meets the design requirements Design Requirements: Efficient (Greater than 95%) Small (Size of a credit card or less) Lightweight (less than 100g) .

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Development of a Racing Strategy for a Solar Car
DEVELOPMENT OF A RACING STRATEGY FOR A SOLAR CAR A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY ETHEM ERSÖZ IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SEPTEMBER 2006 Approval of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Prof. Dr. Canan Özgen Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science Prof. Dr. Kemal İder Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science Asst. Prof. Dr. İlker Tarı Supervisor Examining Committee Members Prof. Dr. Y. Samim Ünlüsoy (METU, ME) Asst. Prof. Dr. İlker Tarı (METU, ME) Asst. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Sert (METU, ME) Asst. Prof. Dr. Derek Baker (METU, ME) Prof. Dr. A. Erman Tekkaya (Atılım Ü., ME) I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Ethem ERSÖZ Signature : iii ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT OF A RACING STRATEGY FOR A SOLAR CAR Ersöz, Ethem M. S., Department of Mechanical Engineering Supervisor : Asst. Prof. Dr. İlker Tarı December 2006, 93 pages The aerodynamical design of a solar race car is presented together with the racing strategy.
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