Organic solar cells have the potential to be portable power sources that are light-weight, flexible, and inexpensive. However, the highest power conversion efficiency for organic solar cells to date is ~8%, and most high-efficiency solar cells have an area of less than 1 cm². This thesis advances the field of organic solar cells by studying the physics and engineering of the devices to understand the reverse saturation current, which is related to efficiency, and the effects of area scaling. The most commonly accepted models to describe the physics of organic photovoltaic devices are reviewed and applied to planar heterojunction solar cells based on pentacene / C60 as a model system. The equivalent circuit model developed for inorganic solar cells is shown to work well to describe the behavior of organic devices and parameterize their current-voltage characteristics with five parameters. Changes in the parameters with different material combinations or device structures are analyzed to better understand the operation of the presented organic solar cells. A one-dimensional diffusion model for the behavior of excitons and treatment of the organic layers as planes is demonstrated to adequately model the external quantum efficiency and photocurrent in pentacene / C60 solar cells. The origin of the open-circuit voltage is studied using cells with different electrodes and different donor materials. While changing the electrodes does not affect open-circuit voltage, it is greatly modified by changes in the donor. Tests with additional semiconductors show the change in open-circuit voltage is not consistent from donor to donor as the acceptor is varied, suggesting a more complex relation than just the difference in energy levels. Study of the temperature dependence of the equivalent circuit parameters shows that the reverse saturation current, which has a significant role in determining the open-circuit voltage, has a thermally activated behavior. From this behavior, the reverse saturation current is related back to charge transfer at the donor / acceptor heterojunction to suggest that both the effective energy barrier presented by the energy levels and the electronic coupling are important in determining the reverse saturation current and open-circuit voltage. This marks a shift from just considering a built-in voltage or the energy levels to also considering the electronic coupling of the donor and acceptor materials. Temperature-dependent performance characteristics are also used to show key differences between organic and inorganic devices. Finally, the effect of area scaling is explored with pentacene / C60 solar cells having areas of 0.11, 7, and 36.4 cm². Analysis with the equivalent circuit model shows that performance decreases as area increases because of an increasing series resistance presented by the transparent electrode. A metal grid, to provide low resistance pathways for current, fabricated on top of the transparent electrode is proposed to reduce the effective resistance. The grid is unique in that it is placed between the electrode and the semiconductor layer and must be passivated to prevent shorts through the thin semiconductor to the back metal electrode. Analysis of the grid predicts greatly reduced series resistance, and experimental results show reduced resistance and improved performance for the 7 cm² and 36.4 cm² devices when including the grid.

In the current global market, there are plenty solutions for the savings of energy in the different areas of consumption in buildings: Green roofs and walls, cool roofs, daylighting, motion sensors, and others but there are very few sources of renewable energy at the reach of a common person in residential (smaller) scale. Photovoltaic systems are the most well-know and reliable process of harvesting energy at this small scale. The relationship between energy demand and energy production when installing a photovoltaics system in a residence is one of the main drivers while making a decision at the time of purchasing a system. However, architectural decisions in early stages may influence, enhance or even decrease the possible energy generation and interior performance, thus influencing the possible return of investment. This study evaluates the possible architectural variations that may be beneficial or disadvantegous at a particular city and other circumstances. From, roof, angle, location, roof articulation, layout articulation , shading devices and others, this paper shows a spectrum of convenient and inconvenient projects due to current conditions like climate, solar radiation, typical construction, electricity rates and government incentives. As a conclusion a hierarchy of architectural elements when being used with photovoltaics is developed to demonstrate that a common user can strategically play with architectural features of his/her house to take the most out of the system.

The objective of the proposed research is to develop low-cost, screen-printed 20% efficient silicon solar cells. In the first part of this thesis, a ~19% efficient, screen-printed cell was fabricated using the commercially-dominant aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) cell structure. Device modeling was then used to determine that increasing the efficiency to 20% required improvements in both back surface passivation and rear reflectance. In the second part of this thesis, a passivated, transparent boron BSF (B-BSF) structure was proposed as a high-throughput method for realizing these improvements. The first step in fabricating the proposed B-BSF cell involved the successful development of a water-based, spin-on solution of boric acid as a low-cost, non-toxic and non-pyrophoric alternative to common boron diffusion sources such as boron tribromide. A review of the literature shows that a common problem with boron diffusion is severe bulk lifetime degradation, with Fe contamination being commonly speculated as the cause. An experimental study was therefore devised in which the impact of boron diffusion and subsequent cell process steps on the bulk lifetime and bulk iron contamination was tracked. From this study, a model for boron diffusion-induced Fe contamination was developed along with methods for gettering Fe from the substrate. A key achievement of this thesis was the discovery of a novel, negatively charged, aluminum-doped spin-on glass (SOG) which can, in a short thermal step, simultaneously getter Fe and provide stable, high-quality passivation of planar, boron-diffused Si surfaces. Since past attempts at achieving low-cost, high-efficiency, boron-diffused cells have suffered from bulk lifetime degradation and difficulties with passivating a boron-diffused Si surface, the Al-doped SOG provides a solution to both challenges. Since a high rear reflectance is important for achieving high-efficiencies, an experimental study of various reflectors was undertaken and a silver colloid material was found which exhibits both high electrical conductivity and Lambertian reflectance >95%. The work on boric acid diffusion, iron gettering, surface passivation and rear reflectors was successfully integrated into a 20.2% efficient, screen-printed, B-BSF cell fabricated on 300 µm thick, p-type float-zone (FZ) Si wafers. Both device theory and modeling was used to show that, due to its well-passivated surfaces, this cell would suffer a large loss in efficiency due to light-induced degradation (LID) if it were fabricated on commercial p-type Czochralski (Cz) Si substrates. Since n-type Si substrates do not suffer from LID, the p-type process was slightly tweaked and applied to n-type FZ wafers, resulting in 20.3% efficient cells on 190 µm thick wafers. Computer modeling shows that both the p-type and n-type cells can maintain efficiencies of 20% for wafers as thin as 100 µm.

D. Tech. Electrical Engineering. / Discusses the objectives of thesis in terms of : 1. To formulate and integrate models for the wind-turbine, induction generator, PV array, battery, supercapacitor, and power electronic converters in a form suitable for studying the dynamic behaviour of the microgrid; 2. To develop an online optimisation algorithm and use it to optimise local control algorithms for PV array, energy storage system, and the doubly fed induction generator. 3. To formulate an efficient power sharing strategy between battery and supercapacitor. 4. To implement an overall control system which sets the power reference for the energy storage system and ensures that the requested power demand is supplied to the grid.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are distributed energy sources that are an environmentally friendly and renewable source of energy. However, solar PV power fluctuates due to variations in radiation and temperature levels. Furthermore, when the solar panel is directly connected to the load, the power that is delivered is not optimal. A maximum peak power point tracker is therefore necessary for maximum efficiency. A complete PV system equipped maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system includes a solar panel, MPPT algorithm, and a DC-DC converter topology. Each subsystem is modeled and simulated in a Matlab/Simulink environment; then the whole PV system is combined with the battery load to assess the overall performance when subjected to varying weather conditions. A PV panel model of moderate complexity based on the Shockley diode equation is used to predict the electrical characteristics of the cell with regard to changes in the atmospheric parameter of irradiance and temperature. In this dissertation, five MPPT algorithms are written in Matlab m-files and investigated via simulations. The standard Perturb and Observe (PO) algorithm along with its two improved versions and the conventional Incremental Conductance (IC) algorithm, also with its two-stage improved version, are assessed under different atmospheric operating conditions. An efficient two-mode MPPT algorithm combining the incremental conductance and the modified constant voltage methods is selected from the five ones as the best model, because it provides the highest tracking efficiencies in both sunny and cloudy weather conditions when compared to other MPPT algorithms. A DC-DC converter topology and interface study between the panel and the battery load is performed. This includes the steady state and dynamic analysis of buck and boost converters and allows the researcher to choose the appropriate chopper for the current PV system. Frequency responses using the state space averaged model are obtained for both converters. They are displayed with the help of Bode and root locus methods based on their respective transfer functions. Following the simulated results displayed in Matlab environment for both choppers, an appropriate converter is selected and implemented in the present PV system. The chosen chopper is then modeled using the Simulink Power Systems toolbox and validates the design specifications. The simulated results of the complete PV system show that the performances of the PV panel using the improved two-stage MPPT algorithm provides better steady state and fast transient characteristics when compared with the conventional incremental conductance method. It yields not only a reduction in convergence time to track the maximum power point MPP, but also a significant reduction in power fluctuations around the MPP when subjected to slow and rapid solar irradiance changes. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The absorption of the sun's radiation and its efficient conversion to useful work by a photovoltaic solar cell is of interest to the community at large. Scientists and engineers are particularly interested in approaches that exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit of photovoltaic solar-energy conversion. The abstract notion of increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells by constructing a three-transition solar cell via an absorber with intermediate levels is well-established. Until now, proposed approaches to realize the three-transition solar cell do not render the efficiency gains that are theorized; therefore, researchers are experimenting to ascertain where the faults lie. In my opinion, it is unclear if the abstract efficiency gains are obtainable. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine whether three-transition absorbers are even incorporated in the existing three-transition solar cell prototypes. I assert that there are material systems derived from the technologically important compound semiconductors and their ternary alloys that more clearly determine the suitability of employing nanostructured absorbers to realize a three-transition solar cell. The author reports on a nanostructured absorber composed of InAs quantum dots completely enveloped in a GaAsSb matrix that is grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The material system, InAs/GaAs$_{0.88}$Sb$_{0.12}$, is identified as an absorber for a three transition solar cell. This material system will more easily determine the suitability of employing nanostructured absorbers because its quantum-dot heterojunctions have negligible valence-band discontinuities, which abate the difficulty of interpreting optical experimental results. A key tool used to identify the GaAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$ ($xapprox 0.12$) is a maximum-power iso-efficiency contour plot. This contour plot is only obtainable by first having analyzed the impact of both finite intermediate-band width and spectral selectivity on the optimized detailed-balance conversion efficiencies of the three-transition solar cell. Obtaining the contour plot is facilitated by employing a rapid and precise method to calculate particle flux (Appendix~ ef{ch:Rapid-Precise}). The author largely determines the electronic structure of the InAs/GaAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$ ($xapprox 0.12$) absorber that is grown by molecular beam epitaxy from optical experimental methods and in particular, from photoluminescent spectroscopy. The interpretation of the experimental photoluminescent spectrum is facilitated by having first studied the theoretical photoluminescent spectra of idealized three-transition absorbers.

The objective of the proposed research is to establish the technology for material growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and fabrication of indium gallium nitride/gallium nitride (InxGa1-xN/GaN) heterojunction solar cells. InxGa1-xN solar cell have the potential to span 90% of the solar spectrum, however there has been no success with high indium (In) incorporation and only limited success with low In incorporation InxGa1-xN. Therefore, this present work focuses on 15 - 30% In incorporation leading to a bandgap value of 2.3 - 2.8 eV. This work will exploit the revision of the indium nitride (InN) bandgap value of 0.68 eV, which expands the range of the optical emission of nitride-based devices from ultraviolet to near infrared regions, by developing transparent InxGa1-xN solar cells outside the visible spectrum. Photovoltaic devices with a bandgap greater than 2.0 eV are attractive because over half the available power in the solar spectrum is above the photon energy of 2.0 eV. The ability of InxGa1-xN materials to optimally span the solar spectrum offers a tantalizing solution for high-efficiency photovoltaics. Using the metal modulated epitaxy (MME) technique in a new, ultra-clean refurbished MBE system, an innovative growth regime is established where In and Ga phase separation is diminished by increasing the growth rate for InxGa1-xN. The MME technique modulates the metal shutters with a fixed duty cycle while maintaining a constant nitrogen flux and proves effective for improving crystal quality and p-type doping. We demonstrate the ability to repeatedly grow high hole concentration Mg-doped GaN films using the MME technique. The highest hole concentration obtained is equal to 4.26 e19 cm-3, resistivity of 0.5 Ω-cm, and mobility of 0.28 cm2/V-s. We have achieved hole concentrations significantly higher than recorded in the literature, proving that our growth parameters and the MME technique is feasible, repeatable, and beneficial. The high hole concentration p-GaN is used as the emitter in our InxGa1-xN solar cell devices.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho trata do estudo de uma técnica de rastreamento de máxima potência (Maximum Power Point Tracking - MPPT) baseado no método de Otimização por Enxame de Partículas (Particle Swarm Optimization - PSO), o qual é aplicado a um sistema fotovoltaico (Photovoltaic -PV) conectado a uma rede elétrica monofásica. A curva característica corrente-tensão dos painéis/arranjos fotovoltaicos têm um comportamento não-linear, e quando estes são submetidos a condições de sombreamento parcial, pode-se ocorrer o surgimento de pontos distintos de máximos locais e global. A maioria das técnicas de MPPT tradicionais não é capaz de encontrar o ponto de máximo global para a extração da máxima potência fornecida pelo sistema PV. Por conseguinte, a fim de contornar este problema, neste trabalho o método de MPPTPSO proposto é utilizado para buscar a operação do sistema no ponto de máximo global, maximizando a extração de energia dos referidos arranjos PV. Simulações e ensaios experimentais com três topologias diferentes de conversores são apresentados para demonstrar a eficácia da proposta, quando esta é comparada com o método tradicional MPPT-PO conhecido como Perturbação e Observação Observe (P&O). / This paper consists of a study of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique based on the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method, which is applied to a single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic system. Since photovoltaic panels have nonlinear voltage-current characteristic curves, when they are submitted to partial shading conditions, it is possible to appear distinct local and global maximum power points. On the other hand, the most traditional MPPT methods are not able to find the maximum global point for extraction the maximum power provided by the PV array. Therefore, in order to overcome this problem, MPPT-PSO based method is used for obtaining the maximum global point, maximizing the power extraction in the photovoltaic arrangements. Numerical simulations and experimental results with three different topologies of converters are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MPPT-PSO technique, when it is compared with the well-known Perturb and Observe (P&O) MPPT-PO technique.

Submitted by Wallace Gabriel de Souza (wgs.gabriel@hotmail.com) on 2018-07-16T16:35:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_wgs.pdf: 3537876 bytes, checksum: 56fef2d280007dba43983b71988d997b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Marlene Zaniboni null (zaniboni@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-07-17T13:07:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_wg_me_bauru.pdf: 3537876 bytes, checksum: 56fef2d280007dba43983b71988d997b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-17T13:07:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_wg_me_bauru.pdf: 3537876 bytes, checksum: 56fef2d280007dba43983b71988d997b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-18 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Esta dissertação apresenta o desenvolvimento e as simulações computacionais de um inversor fotovoltaico de 2,0 kVA para o controle da potência reativa na rede de distribuição, de modo que haja compensação ativa do fator de potência e aumento da qualidade da energia no local da instalação da planta. Para atingir este objetivo, por meio do ambiente de desenvolvimento do MATLAB/Simulink®, o controle da potência ativa foi realizado pelo ajuste do ângulo entre a tensão da rede e a tensão gerada pelo inversor, por meio do equilíbrio do potencial do barramento CC (proveniente do gerador fotovoltaico). A potência reativa, por sua vez, foi ajustada pela amplitude da tensão do ponto de acoplamento de uma carga local. Além disto, utilizaram-se controladores proporcionais-ressonantes nas malhas de tensão e corrente do conversor trifásico, com finalidade de mitigar as correntes harmônicas de cargas não-lineares que podem depreciar o fator de potência. Foi implementado, também, um conversor CC-CC isolado full-bridge do tipo boost com potência nominal de 1,8 kW, responsável por rastrear o ponto de máxima potência dos módulos fotovoltaicos. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a avaliação do desempenho dos controladores e a observação da conservação, pelo inversor, do fator de potência da rede próximo da unidade para situações com variações acentuadas da carga e da irradiação solar, bem como para os casos com a presença de cargas não-lineares no sistema. Com isso, o perfil de tensão entregue à carga é aproximadamente senoidal, com baixa distorção harmônica. / This dissertation presents the development and computational simulations of a 2.0 kVA photovoltaic inverter for the control of the reactive power in the distribution network, so that there is active power factor compensation and an increase in the quality of the energy at the installation site plant. In order to reach this objective, the MATLAB/Simulink® development environment was used to control the active power by adjusting the angle between the grid voltage and the voltage generated by the inverter, by means of the potential balance of the DC (from the photovoltaic generator). The reactive power, in turn, was adjusted by the amplitude of the voltage of the coupling point of a local load. In addition, resonant-proportional controllers were used in the voltage and current loops of the three-phase converter, in order to mitigate the harmonic currents of non-linear loads that may depreciate the power factor. A full-bridge, full-bridge boost converter with nominal power of 1.8 kW was also implemented, responsible for tracking the maximum power point of the photovoltaic modules. The results obtained allowed the evaluation of the performance of the controllers and the observation of the conservation by the inverter of the power factor of the network close to the unit for situations with marked variations of the load and the solar irradiation, as well as for the cases with the presence of loads in the system. Thus, the voltage profile delivered to the load is approximately sinusoidal, with low harmonic distortion. / 2016/03734-3

Orientador: Ennio Peres da Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T09:35:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Matos_MaianaBritode_D.pdf: 3870161 bytes, checksum: e65c9b70a229024faf397df5a0049ec6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Tradicionalmente, a geração de energia elétrica em pequenas comunidades isoladas no Brasil é feita a partir da utilização de conjuntos motores geradores, que exigem uma rotineira manutenção especializada, quase nunca existente nas comunidades; necessitam do suprimento constante de óleo Diesel, que é encarecido pelas longas distâncias que é transportado; além de emitirem gases poluentes e de efeito estufa. Em algumas localidades brasileiras e em diversas partes do mundo, já existem comunidades isoladas das redes de distribuição de eletricidade que são assistidas pela energia solar fotovoltaica e/ou eólica, fontes intermitentes de energia, com armazenamento de energia feito através de baterias. Atualmente, com o desenvolvimento da tecnologia da célula combustível, existe a possibilidade de utilizar o hidrogênio como vetor energético, em substituição às baterias. A originalidade desta tese é a análise conceitual (teórica) da geração de energia através de um sistema híbrido eólico-fotovoltaico com armazenamento por banco de baterias ou hidrogênio na cidade de Fortaleza- CE. A partir das características do sistema proposto no projeto, foi realizado um estudo de caso para um sistema de potência fotovoltaica instalada de 5kWP, potência instalada eólica de 6 kW e célula a combustível de 5 kW, tendo-se estimada a energia elétrica média diária disponibilizada com armazenamento por banco de baterias de 36,4 kWh (131,0 MJ) e para o sistema de hidrogênio de 22,7 kWh (81,7 MJ). Deste modo, pôde-se estimar que aproximadamente 17 famílias poderiam ser atendidas pelo sistema com armazenamento por banco de baterias e 11 famílias com armazenamento pelo sistema de hidrogênio. Por fim, também foi possível calcular que emissões de até 19 toneladas anuais de CO2 poderiam ser evitadas pela substituição dos bancos geradores pelo sistema híbrido eólico-fotovoltaico com armazenamento por banco de baterias e 12 toneladas no caso da produção de hidrogênio e sua reconversão em energia elétrica / Abstract: Traditionally, electricity generation in small isolated communities in Brazil is made from the use of generator engine sets, which require a specialized routine maintenance, almost inexistent in communities; need constant supply of diesel which becomes more expensive by the long distances it is transported; and emit greenhouse gases. In some places in Brazil and in several parts of the world, there are communities isolated from electricity distribution networks that are assisted by solar photovoltaic and / or wind power. However, these are intermittent sources of energy which demand power storage through batteries. Nowadays, with the development of fuel cell technology, there is the possibility of using hydrogen as an energy vector, replacing the batteries. The originality of this thesis is the conceptual analysis (theoretical) of power generation through a wind-solar hybrid system with storage by battery bank or hydrogen in the city of Fortaleza. From the characteristics of the system proposed in the project, we conducted a case study for a power system composed of 5kWp of PV, 6 kW of wind power and a 5 kW fuel cell. It was estimated that the average daily electricity supplied with a storage battery bank is 36.4 kWh (131,0 MJ) and for the hydrogen system 22.7 kWh (81,7 MJ). Thus, it could be estimated that approximately 17 families could be supplied by the system for storage battery bank and 11 families with storage system for hydrogen. Finally, it was also possible to calculate emissions of up to 19 tons of CO2 could be avoided by replacing the generators sets with wind-solar hybrid system and storage battery bank and by 12 tons in the case of hydrogen production and its conversion into electricity / Doutorado / Planejamento de Sistemas Energeticos / Doutora em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos