ECEA 5716 Open-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory

1st course in the Photovoltaic Power Electronics Specialization

Instructor: Robert Erickson,ÌýPhD, Professor

Note:ÌýThis course requires purchase of a parts kit in order to complete assignments. The kit will be used from the first experiment in the 2nd week of classÌýand throughout the course and the following 2 courses of the specialization. Please allow adequate time to receive the kit. It is highly suggested that you receive theÌýparts kit by the end of the first week of the session.

This is a 100% distance course in which students design, construct, and demonstrate an actual hardware stand-alone solar power system at home or other distance location.

Prior knowledge needed:ÌýECEA 5700-5703.

Learning Outcomes

  • Design, construct, and demonstrate an open-loop PV power electronics system in which a dc-dc switching converter interfaces a PV panel to a deep-discharge 12 V battery.
  • Testing and modeling of the PV panel.
  • Design and testing of the dc-dc converter and its magnetics, and use of a modern microcontroller to drive the power MOSFET.

Syllabus

Duration: 2 hours

This module summarizes how this laboratory course will work, and includes a technical overview of the three-course specialization.

Duration: 3 hours

Report 1: Experiment 1 (35% of course grade)

Experiment 1 is a one-week module in which the PV panel is directly connected to the battery to attain a "direct energy transfer" system that charges the battery. You will operate this system and develop a model of your solar panel.

Duration: 3 hours

R​eport 2: Experiment 2 (15% of course grade)

Experiment 2 is a one-week module in which you become familiar with the C2000 Launchpad microcontroller board, set up Code Composer Studio to program the Launchpad, and demonstrate a PWM output with programmed switching frequency and duty cycle.

Duration: 2 hours

R​eport 3: Experiment 3 (50% of course grade)

Experiment 3 is a multi-week project in which you will design, construct, debug, and demonstrate a dc-dc SEPIC that interfaces your PV panel to your battery.

Duration: 3Ìýhours

Continuation of experiment 3.

Duration: 1 hour

This module contains materials for submission of the final project (Exp. 3) for MS-EE degree students. If you've upgraded to the for-credit version of this course, please make sure you review the additional for-credit materials in the Introductory module and anywhere else they may be found.

To learn about ProctorU's exam proctoring, system test links, and privacy policy, visitÌýwww.colorado.edu/ecee/online-masters/current-students/proctoru.

Grading

Assignment
Percentage of Grade
Report for experiment 1: Direct Energy Transfer System35%
Report for experiment 2: Software Tools and Pulse-Width Modulator15%
Report for experiment 3: Open-Loop DC-DC Converter50%

Letter Grade Rubric

Letter GradeÌý
Minimum Percentage
A92%
A-90%
B+88%
B82%
B-80%
C+78%
C72%
C-70%
D+68%
D60%
F0%

Component List

ÌýÌýNote: The BOM includes a 12 V deep-discharge lead-acid battery (12 V, 6 Ah, sealed AGM). The department cannot ship this battery, so you will need to order it directly via the .

Component availability may vary, and functionally equivalent substitute parts may be used.

Hardware (Required)
  • (ECEE E-Store)
  • Basic tools:
    • Soldering iron and solder
    • Diagonal cutters
    • Needle-nose pliers
  • Test equipment:
    • Two-channel oscilloscope
    • DC power supply (0–30 V, 0–5 A, current limiting required)
    • Multimeters (at least 3)
    • Inductance meter or analyzer
    • Network analyzer (Bode plot magnitude and phase). Required in ECEA 5717.
Hardware (Recommended)
  • Digilent Analog Discovery 3 (AD3)
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Software
  • None
Course Syllabi