POWER MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Graham Town Electronic Engineering Macquarie University.

OVERVIEW
The need for
decreasing reliance on fossil fuels increased reliance on sustainable sources of energy efficiency in energy conversion and use

Sustainable energy systems

source, storage, load, power management

Efficiency in sustainable energy systems

solar cells, wind turbines, batteries, converters

Integrated circuits for

power conversion & management energy harvesting

ENERGY 2010
Fossil fuels (oil, coal) are main source of energy in modern society. Advantages: high energy density (45MJ/kg, approx. twice ethanol) relatively easy to transport safely, easy to use.

ENERGY 2010
CO2 emissions are mainly from burning fossil fuels for:
Electricity generation (coal) Transport (oil)

PROBLEMS WITH FOSSIL FUELS

1.

A finite (non-renewable) resource esp. oil/petroleum

maximum rate of production - peak oil - occurred in 2008 current rate of usage greater than rate of production
at current rates oil will run out around 2050

Campbell, Petroleum and People, Popn and Environ.,24, 193 (2002).

PROBLEMS WITH FOSSIL FUELS

2. CO2 emissions causing environmental change

Global warming caused by greenhouse gases in atmosphere

climate change, extreme weather events, etc.

Ocean acidification caused by absorption of CO2

potential threat to marine food chain
6

ENERGY OPTIONS TO 2050+

1. Reduce fossil fuel usage
i) for the environment, ii) to make resource last longer

To use less energy (esp. for transport, heating/cooling).

reduce population and/or living standards increase energy efficiency

Campbell, Petroleum and People, Popn and Environ.,24, 193 (2002).

ENERGY OPTIONS TO 2050+

2. Replace fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources (i.e. no compromise to the needs of future generations)
Nuclear energy Renewable (naturally replenished) sources of green (unpolluting) energy
solar wind wave & tidal hydropower biomass geothermal

Energy harvesting

International Energy Agency, Key World Energy Statistics, p6 (2009).

PRACTICAL ENERGY MATTERS

Available on demand?
e.g. solar power not available at night, wind power often variable

Storage? (if not available on demand)

e.g. thermal, mechanical, chemical, electrical

Transport? (if source and load not colocated)

e.g. electrical, chemical

Efficient conversion (for storage, transport)

e.g. chemical electrical (e.g. battery) e.g. thermal mechanical (e.g. steam turbine) e.g. mechanical electrical (e.g. wind turbine) e.g. electrical electrical (e.g. DC-AC, DC-DC converters ~95% efficient) conversion efficiency particularly important for harvesting small amounts of energy from the environment (ambient light, vibrations) for mobile devices.

POWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Any electric power system has a source, load, and usually storage Each of the components have a preferred operating point
e.g. maximum power point (V and I for max. power transfer) e.g. charge/discharge rate for max. lifetime

Power management is reqd to maximise system performance, especially in energy harvesting (ambient sources: small, variable)

10

SOLAR CELL ARRAY CHARACTERISTICS

For a given irradiance, the power extracted from a solar cell (or uniform array) depends on the voltage across it, up to a maximum the maximum power point, or MPP

http://www.innovativesolar.com/images/File/BSE_What_is_MPPT.pdf

11

SOLAR CELL ARRAY CHARACTERISTICS

The MPP varies with irradiance, temperature, etc. Arrays of cells are often used to boost voltage or current
BUT shadowing of any cells in array can cause large reduction in avail. power

Need smart and efficient power conversion & combining

Organic (polymer) solar cell array fabricated and characterised by the author at St Andrews University (2009)

12

ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY

Many different technologies available, different characteristics

Longevity of lithiumion as a function of charge and discharge rates. A moderate charge and discharge puts less stress on the battery, resulting in a longer cycle life.

http://www.mpoweruk.com/performance.htm

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

13

GREEN TRANSPORT
This?

.. or this?

http://www.gizmag.com/lexus-hybrid-bicycle-concept/14938/

14

GREEN TRANSPORT

http://www.gizmag.com/lexus-hybrid-bicycle-concept/14938/

15

ENERGY HARVESTING
e.g. wireless switch technology
The effort made in pushing the switch powers a small and efficient wireless transmission system to activate remote equipment

e.g. power generators in your shoes

The act of walking generates electricity by flexing a piezoelectric material embedded in a shoe, e.g. to charge a battery for mobile communication, etc.

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/rollers1.jpg

16

POWER TECHNOLOGY
Will follow same evolutionary path as wireless communication technology (i.e. to smaller, more mobile systems)

17

POWER SUPPLY ON A CHIP

Research sponsored by local company, Sapphicon Semiconductor
Only IC manufacturer in Australia Silicon-on-sapphire CMOS platform
Transparent sapphire substrate low loss, high speed, efficient heat xfer Better than standard CMOS for power management and energy harvesting

18

CONCLUSIONS
We need to change energy usage patterns
develop different sources of energy use available energy more efficiently

Integrated electronics provides reliable, low cost, and compact technology for
efficient energy conversion and utilisation smart management of power systems and the battery on your mobile phone will last longer !

19