ECE 632 - Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Instructor
Professor A. Sazonov
Lecture
Wednesdays 11:30 AM – 2:20 PM
Course description
This course is intended for engineering graduates and educates them on the fundamental concepts semiconductor and device technologies for photovoltaics (PV), device design and fabrication processes, PV modules and system electronics, engineering applications, and future directions in PV.
Course outline
- Introduction
-
Photons
and
Solar
Radiation
Review of properties of light and photons; physical source of solar radiation; direct and diffuse radiations; radiation standards for photovoltaic performance evaluation. -
Review
of
Semiconductor
Properties
for
PV
Review of electronic materials; dynamics of electrons and holes; photon absorption; photo-generated carriers; generation and recombination processes; fabrication technologies of bulk semiconductors; thin-film semiconductor deposition for PV; techniques for material evaluation. -
Review
of
Semiconductor
Device
Basics
PN junctions, band-diagrams, light interaction, carrier-transport mechanisms in homo- and hetero- junctions, current-voltage characteristics. -
Photovoltaic
Device
Operation
Operating principles of photovoltaic devices; energy conversion efficiency; spectral response; equivalent circuits; illuminated and dark I-V characteristics; device simulation and performance evaluation. -
Efficiency
Limits
and
Losses
in
Photovoltaic
Devices
Short circuit current-, open circuit voltage-, and fill factor- losses; temperature effects; theoretical efficiency limits; advanced concepts to overcome efficiency limits. -
Photovoltaic
Device
Fabrication
Technologies
Baseline technologies for PV device fabrication; silicon-based, thin-film, and compound semiconductor devices; surface passivation; optical confinement; high-low junctions; industrial processes; spectrally-engineered devices; emerging technologies for advanced PV devices. -
Photovoltaic
Modules
Fabrication of PV modules, design, interconnection, I-V characteristics, temperature effects, mis-match effects. -
Power
Conditioning
for
Photovoltaics
System components, maximum power-point tracking, blocking diodes, inverters circuits, storage, battery types. -
Applications
and
Economics
of
Photovoltaics
Stand-alone and grid-interactive PV systems; Building-integrated PV, cost-analysis, time-value.
Text
There is no official textbook for this course since it touches upon a variety of topics. A comprehensive set of Lecture Notes will be provided.
Recently published review papers in relevant topics provide a good reading. There are also textbooks that may be used as reference; e.g., S.R.Wenham, M.A.Green, M.E.Watt, and R. Corkish, “Applied Photovoltaics 2nd Edition, UNSW, ISBN(073342175X).
Expected Background
Familiarity with semiconductor materials and/or electronic devices. Discuss your background with the instructor.
(send email to instructor for permission number to register for the course)
Marking Scheme
Final Exam: 60%, Projects, design exercises: 40%