Technology Available for Licensing

Case 14725

Per Panel Photovoltaic Energy Extraction with Multilevel Output DC-DC Switched Capacitor Converters

Keywords:

Switched capacitor, module integrated converters, photovoltaic, ripple port inverter

Applications:

Widespread grid generation of PV

Problem:

Electrolytic capacitors and per panel magnetics have limited lifetime and are expensive.

Technology:

This invention proposes per-panel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for widespread solar arrays. A full system approach is presented, utilizing switched capacitor multi-level DC-DC and a central ripple-port inverter to replace the multiple inductors used in current PV technology.

Advantages:

• Substantial cost reduction and prolonged lifetime
• Average total efficiencies of tracking and conversion greater than 93% for a 510 W, 3 panel, DC-DC system.

Inventors:

• Professor Steven B. Leeb (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences)
• John J. Cooley (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences)

Intellectual Property:

US Patent Application Number 13/039382, filed on March 3, 2011

PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US2012/026015, February 22, 2012

Publications:

Applied Power Electronics Conference Proceedings 2011

Please contact: Christopher R. Noble MIT Technology Licensing Officer 1 Cambridge Center, Kendall Square, NE18-501 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142-1601

Email: crn@mit.edu Tel: 617-253-6966 Fax: 617–258-6790 Website: http://tlo.mit.edu