4 kW Fully Digital Dual Interleaved Boost Converter as MPPT controller for solar panels in solar airship

摘要

Solar panels seem to be a good supplement of a battery as an energy source for an electric drive system in avionic applications. They enable to reduce a weight of battery and a weight of whole aircraft. A big, relatively flat area of wing is favourable for mounting solar cells. Moreover the effect of shadow on solar panels is not important as for example in cars. The strong argument for the use of solar panels is construction of Solar Impulse, Elektra One Solar or QinetiQ Zephyr. A single energy source as a battery is used only in motor glider, where drive system is used only for short time, for example to take off. Furthermore the aircraft for which is designed MPPT controller, will be used as transport vehicle in Africa, where solar radiation is higher and distribution of solar radiation during year is more uniform than in Europe (Fig.1). Unfortunately solar panels cannot be used as a single energy source, because value of solar radiation is strongly variable and related to weather condition and time of day (Fig.2). The second important parameter in aerial applications is efficiency. The solar panels need power electronic controller for working with maximal available power (Fig.3). The authors in this article focus on aspects of construction a light-weight, high efficiency and high reliability MPPT controller for using in electric drive system in aircraft.