everything.study
ECE 632

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion

Graduate

Spring 2025

Topics

  • Solar radiation and photovoltaic technologies
  • Semiconductor properties and carrier transport
  • PN-junction electrostatics and current–voltage behaviour
  • Solar-cell operation, efficiency limits and advanced concepts
  • Crystalline-silicon, thin-film and heterojunction fabrication
  • Module interconnection, mismatch, degradation and reliability
  • DC/DC converters and maximum-power-point tracking
  • Inverters, grid connection, harmonics and islanding

Readings

  • The Physics of Solar Cells
    J. Nelson · recommended
    Imperial College Press, 2003; optional supplementary reading.
  • Solar Cells: Operating Principles, Technology, and System Applications
    M. A. Green · recommended
    Prentice-Hall, 1982; optional supplementary reading.
  • Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering
    A. Luque and S. Hegedus (editors) · 2nd · recommended
    Wiley, 2011; optional supplementary reading.
  • Comprehensive lecture notes are provided on LEARN; additional resources are not required.
    unspecified
Spring 2024 · Graduate Course Description: ECE 632 (Spring 2024) 1 / 2

Topics

  • Photons and Solar Radiation Review of properties of photons; wave theory; solar radiation; energy distribution; scattering theory; direct and diffuse radiations; air mass; radiation standards for photovoltaic performance evaluation.
  • Review of Semiconductor Properties for PV Review of semiconductor materials; band theory; dynamics of electrons and holes; photon absorption; carrier generation and recombination processes; fabrication technologies of bulk and thin-film semiconductors for PV; techniques for semiconductor material evaluation.
  • Review of Relevant Device Physics for PV Junction theory , energy band-diagrams, non-equilibrium conditions; carrier-transport mechanisms ; current-voltage characteristics.
  • PV Device Operation & Performance Limits Operating principles of PV devices; energy conversion efficiency; spectral response; equivalent circuits; illuminated and dark I -V characteristics; theoretical efficiency limits ; loss mechanisms; temperature effects; device architectures and performance; advanced concepts for future devices.
  • PV Device Fabrication Technologies Baseline technologies for silicon -based, thin -film, and compound semiconductor devices; surface passivation; optical confinement; high -low junctions; industrial processes; emerging technologies for advanced PV devices.
  • Graduate Course Description: ECE 632 (Spring 2024) 2 / 2
  • PV Module assembly & Interconnection Module design, interconnection schemes, I-V characteristics, temper ature effects, mismatch effects and mitigation methodologies; by-passing circuits; potential-induced degradation; ageing effects
  • Power Conditioning for PV Components for back -end electronics , algorithms for maximum power -point tracking, inverter circuits; storage; blocking diodes; regulators and charge controllers; battery options
  • PV Systems and Grid-Connection System types and operating modes; sizing and design rules; stand-alone systems; building -integrated PV; energy management; fault detection; overvoltage protection; grid-connection; system -grid interface; power quality issues: voltage imbalance, harmonics, islanding; remedial measures.

Readings

  • • Detailed Course Notes will be provided
    unspecified
Spring 2023

Topics

  • Photons and Solar Radiation Review of properties of photons; wave theory; solar radiation; energy distribution; scattering theory; direct and diffuse radiations; air mass; radiation standards for photovoltaic performance evaluation.
  • Review of Semiconductor Properties for PV Review of semiconductor materials; band theory; dynamics of electrons and holes; photon absorption; carrier generation and recombination processes; fabrication technologies of bulk and thin-film semiconductors for PV; techniques for semiconductor material evaluation.
  • Review of Relevant Device Physics for PV Junction theory, energy band-diagrams, non-equilibrium conditions; carrier-transport mechanisms; current-voltage characteristics.
  • PV Device Operation & Performance Limits Operating principles of PV devices; energy conversion efficiency; spectral response; equivalent circuits; illuminated and dark I-V characteristics; theoretical efficiency limits; loss mechanisms; temperature effects; device architectures and performance; advanced concepts for future devices.
  • PV Device Fabrication Technologies Baseline technologies for silicon-based, thin-film, and compound semiconductor devices; surface passivation; optical confinement; high-low junctions; industrial processes; emerging technologies for advanced PV devices.
  • Graduate Course Description: ECE 632 (Spring 2023) 2 / 2
  • PV Module assembly & Interconnection Module design, interconnection schemes, I-V characteristics, temperature effects, mismatch effects and mitigation methodologies; by-passing circuits; potential-induced degradation; ageing effects
  • Power Conditioning for PV Components for back-end electronics, algorithms for maximum power-point tracking, inverter circuits; storage; blocking diodes; regulators and charge controllers; battery options
  • PV Systems and Grid-Connection System types and operating modes; sizing and design rules; stand-alone systems; building-integrated PV; energy management; fault detection; overvoltage protection; grid-connection; system-grid interface; power quality issues: voltage imbalance, harmonics, islanding; remedial measures.

Readings

  •  Detailed Course Notes will be provided
    unspecified
Spring 2021

Topics

  • Photons and Solar Radiation Review of properties of photons; wave theory; solar radiation; energy distribution; scattering theory ; direct and diffuse radiations; air mass; radiation standards for photovoltaic performance evaluation.
  • Review of Semiconductor Properties for PV Review of semiconductor materials; band theory; dynamics of electrons and holes; photon absorption; carrier generation and recombination processes; fabrication technologies of bulk and thin-film semiconductors for PV; techniques for semiconductor material evaluation.
  • Review of Relevant Device Physics for PV Junction theory, energy band-diagrams, non-equilibrium conditions; carrier-transport mechanisms ; current-voltage characteristics.
  • P V Device Operation & Performance Limits Operating principles of PV devices; energy conversion efficiency; spectral response; equivalent circuits; illuminated and dark I-V characteristics; theoretical efficiency limits; loss mechanisms; temperature effects; device architectures and performance; advanced concepts for future devices.
  • PV Device Fabrication Technologies Baseline technologies for silicon-based, thin-film, and compound semiconductor devices; surface passivation; optical confinement; high-low junctions; industrial processes; emerging technologies for advanced PV devices.
  • Graduate Course Description: ECE 632 (Spring 2021) 2 / 2
  • PV Module assembly & Interconnection Module design, interconnection schemes, I-V characteristics, temper ature effects, mismatch e ffects and mitigation methodologies; by-passing circuits; potential-induced degradation; ageing effects
  • Power Conditioning for PV Components for back -end electronics , algorithms for maximum power -point tracking, inverter circuits; storage; blocking diodes; regulators and charge controllers; battery options
  • PV Systems and Grid-Connection System types and operating modes; sizing and design rules; stand-alone systems; building -integrated PV; energy management; fault detection; overvoltage protection ; grid-connection; system -grid interface; power quality issues: voltage imbalance, harmonics, islanding; remedial measures.

Readings

  •  Detailed Course Notes will be provided
    unspecified
Spring 2020

Topics

  • Photons and Solar Radiation Review of properties of photons; wave theory; solar radiation; energy distribution; scattering theory; direct and diffuse radiations; air mass; radiation standards for photovoltaic performance evaluation.
  • Review of Semiconductor Properties for PV Review of semiconductor materials; band theory; dynamics of electrons and holes; photon absorption; carrier generation and recombination processes; fabrication technologies of bulk and thin-film semiconductors for PV; techniques for semiconductor material evaluation.
  • Review of Relevant Device Physics for PV Junction theory , energy band-diagrams, non-equilibrium conditions; carrier-transport mechanisms ; current-voltage characteristics.
  • PV Device Operation & Performance Limits Operating principles of PV devices; energy conversion efficiency; spectral response; equivalent circuits; illuminated and dark I -V characteristics; theoretical efficiency limits ; loss mechanisms; temperature effects; device architectures and performance; advanced concepts for future devices.
  • PV Device Fabrication Technologies Baseline technologies for silicon -based, thin -film, and compound semiconductor devices; surface passivation; optical confinement; high -low junctions; industrial processes; emerging technologies for advanced PV devices.
  • Graduate Course Description: ECE 632 (Spring 2020) 2 / 2
  • PV Module assembly & Interconnection Module design, interconnection schemes, I -V characteristics, temper ature effects, mismatch e ffects and mitigation methodologies; by-passing circuits; potential-induced degradation; ageing effects
  • Power Conditioning for PV Components for back -end electronics , algorithms for maximum power -point tracking, inverter circuits; storage; blocking diodes; regulators and charge controllers; battery options
  • PV Systems and Grid-Connection System types and operating modes; sizing and design rules; stand-alone systems; building-integrated PV; energy management; fault detection; overvoltage protection ; grid-connection; system -grid interface; power quality issues: voltage imbalance, harmonics, islanding; remedial measures.

Readings

  • Applied Photovoltaics
    2nd Ed. · unspecified
  •  Course Notes will be provided
    unspecified
Sources