Bianca
Perez
Growing Entrepreneurially-Minded Researchers REU Optimizing Solar Energy Harvesting: A Compact PCB Design for Testing and Evaluating Solar Cells
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Authors:
Bianca Perez
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About Paper:
This project highlights the importance of integrating energy harvesting technologies at a smaller scale within research environments to test and evaluate different solar cells. The increasing use of solar energy has led to the need for a simple, efficient way of harnessing its power without requiring complex equipment. The solution for this issue lies in a compact printed circuit board (PCB) design incorporating an energy harvesting chip and a buck-boost converter that aims to be user-friendly. It allows users to choose what voltage values to generate and enable according to their needs. This approach provides a platform to test the capabilities of alternative solar cells, such as organic and perovskite solar cells, in a controlled manner. The energy harvesting chip integrated into the PCB efficiently captures ambient energy and converts it into usable electrical power. This allows for targeted testing and optimization of energy conversion efficiency. Complementing the energy harvesting chip, the buck-boost converter plays a crucial role in regulating the harvested energy. It ensures compatibility and efficient energy utilization by stepping up or down the voltage required to power specific devices or systems. This capability enables laboratories to evaluate the effectiveness of different solar cells in delivering the desired power levels and voltage requirements. Researchers can gain valuable insights into their performance by testing and considering various solar cells within laboratory environments. It allows laboratories to explore and compare multiple solar cell technologies, assess their efficiency, and determine their suitability for specific applications.
Source:
Purdue University / 2023
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No topics listed
Co-authors:
Bianca Perez