Power Point Tracking for Intermittent Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management devices are not suited for intermittent energy sources, leading to energy wastage and delayed efficiency due to cyclic operation of power point trackers and voltage converters, which are typically exclusive in operation.
Innovation Solution
A power management device with a sensing device that monitors energy harvesting signals, triggering the power point tracker to determine an optimum operational voltage when the energy source exceeds a threshold, allowing simultaneous operation of the voltage converter and power point tracker for efficient energy extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the power point tracker and voltage converter operate cyclically and mutually exclusively, then the device can determine optimum operational voltage periodically, but energy is wasted during intervals when the PPT has not been triggered and response delay occurs for intermittent energy sources
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device continuously monitors the energy harvesting signal and provides feedback to the controller. When the signal exceeds the threshold, the controller immediately triggers the power point tracker, replacing the fixed cyclic operation with a feedback-driven responsive operation that adapts to actual energy source conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static cyclic operation to dynamic responsive operation. The operational mode (PPT or voltage converter) is dynamically switched based on real-time energy harvesting signal levels detected by the sensing device, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to match the intermittent nature of the energy source.
2Loss of time
If the power point tracker operates cyclically at fixed intervals, then the operational sequence is simple to manage, but response delay occurs when energy sources are intermittent and energy is wasted before the next cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device automatically detects when the energy harvesting signal exceeds the threshold and autonomously triggers the power point tracker through the controller, eliminating the need for external intervention or fixed scheduling. The system serves itself by automatically responding to energy source conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device continuously monitors the energy harvesting signal in advance, preparing to trigger the power point tracker as soon as the threshold is reached. This preliminary monitoring ensures immediate response when energy becomes available, eliminating response delays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the voltage converter regulates input voltage continuously, then energy extraction is efficient when energy is available, but the device cannot adapt to varying energy source configurations and optimum voltage changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The power point tracker uses feedback mechanisms to continuously determine the optimum operational voltage based on the actual energy source characteristics. This feedback-driven voltage determination allows the voltage converter to adapt to varying energy source configurations while maintaining efficient energy extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between PPT operation (for determining optimum voltage) and voltage converter operation (for efficient energy extraction). This dynamic coordination allows the system to adapt to changing energy source conditions while maintaining high productivity during energy extraction phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management device is provided that includes a voltage converter, a power point tracker for determining an operational voltage for extracting power and a controller. The device has a sensing device configured for: monitoring an energy harvesting signal, comparing the energy harvesting signal with a first threshold value, and based on the values sometimes generating a trigger signal. The controller performs energy harvesting until a trigger signal is generated by cyclically operating the power point tracker for determining a first and second target voltages performing energy harvesting conditionally based on sensing device signals else operating the voltage converter. The sensing device has a signal output of the first trigger signal and the signal output is electrically connected with a signal input of the power point tracker. The power point tracker is configured for starting a determination of the second target voltage when receiving the first trigger signal.