A new solar DC optimizer based on advanced GaN devices

太阳能为终端用户提供了一种非常清洁和实用的发电选择。特别是，屋顶光伏电池板作为满足住宅能源需求的一种手段已经被广泛接受。光伏电池板将太阳能转化为电能。然后，电力电子转换器被用来将光伏电池板产生的电能转换为适应各种负载的电力。这些电力电子转换器的一个有效架构是太阳能直流优化器。太阳能直流优化器的主要任务是跟踪光伏电池板的最大功率点。与其他配置相比，该体系结构具有许多优势，例如低成本和高效率。硅(Si)基功率半导体(即MOSFET)通常用于实现现有的太阳能直流优化器。尽管硅开关具有可靠性高、成本低等优点，但它们不能提供高效的超快开关性能和低的导通损耗。下一代功率半导体是基于氮化镓(GaN)技术的，该技术能够提供优异的开关和导电性能。目前，它们的使用受到限制，因为与硅开关相比，它们的成本更高，可靠性更低。在本研究项目中，将设计和开发一种新型的GaN基太阳能直流优化器，该优化器能够在效率和功率密度方面提供更高的性能。

Solar energy offers a very clean and practical option for power generation to end-users. In particular, rooftop Photo-Voltaic (PV) panels have become widely accepted as a means to fulfill residential energy demand. PV panels convert solar energy to electricity. Then, power electronic converters are used to convert the electricity produced by PV panels to compatible power for various loads. An efficient architecture for these power electronic converters is a solar DC optimizer. The main task of solar DC optimizers is to track the maximum power point of PV panels. This architecture offers many advantages over other configurations such as low-cost and high efficiency. Silicon (Si)-based power semiconductors (i.e., MOSFETs) are commonly used in order to implement existing solar DC optimizers. Even though Si switches offer many advantages such as reliability and low cost, they cannot provide efficient ultra-fast switching performance and low conduction losses. Next-generation power semiconductors are based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which is able to offer superior switching and conduction performance. Currently, their usage is limited due to their higher cost and lower reliability compared to Si switches. In this research project, a new GaN-based solar DC optimizer will be designed and developed, which is able to offer higher performance in terms of efficiency and power density.