DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR POWERED NOTEBOOK

SALMAH BINTI MAHFUL

This thesis is submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the

degree of bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Power System)

Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Pahang

NOVEMBER, 2010

“I hereby acknowledge that the scope and quality of this thesis is qualified for the

award of the Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering (Power Systems)”

Signature : …………………………..

Name : RAMDAN BIN RAZALI

Date : 30 NOV 2010

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“All the trademark and copyrights use herein are property of their respective owner.

References of information from other sources are quoted accordingly; otherwise the

information presented in this report is solely work of the author.”

Signature : ...............................................

Author : SALMAH BINTI MAHFUL

Date : 30 NOV 2010

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of ALLAH s.w.t., most gracious, most merciful.

On the completion of this thesis. I wish to great fully acknowledge, by taking

this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Mr. Ramdan

whom giving me kind support, encouragement, guidance and useful suggestion that

proved very useful in my project. He has been the main source of motivation in

pursuing my project ideas. Once again thank all the people who have directly or

indirectly help in my project.

Lastly, I sincerely thank all my friends who have always given their

encouraging support and been a great help all the time at various stage of

development of this project. I would like to extend my appreciate to my parent for

always there for me.

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ABSTRACT

The Notebook powered by it battery is convenience to use where AC outlet is

not available such as in more rural and underdeveloped areas. However,

Notebook can drain it battery with heavy use in just a few hours, leaving the user

searching for power outlet. With development of Solar Powered Notebook, the

sun is the electricity needed to keep the Notebook running for hours longer where

Solar or Photovoltaic (PV) Cells are used to collect solar energy for direct use to

power up the Notebook. The design of the circuit can be summarized into four

distinct circuits that work in tandem to generate the desired output of 20V from a

solar panel input. The first is Boost Converter circuit to take in the input voltage

from the solar panel and step up the voltage to the desired 20V as required by the

Notebook. The second is timer circuit where it utilized the LM555 timer, which

drives the MOSFET that operates as the switch in the Switch-Mode Boost

Converter topology. The third is Active PFC Feedback circuit, this circuit allows

for regulation of the output voltage so that the Boost Converter is only on for as

long as necessary to maintain a voltage of 20V. Finally, there is the Voltage

Clipper Circuit, which is the actual output voltage to the Notebook. This project

suitable for scientists or researchers who work far away from civilization and

power outlet. The Solar Powered Notebook proved to be energy saving because

free energy, environmental benefits which reduce CO2 emissions associated with

global warming and it works where there is no grid available.

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ABSTRAK

Notebook yang menggunakan kuasa bateri memberi manfaat di tempat-

tempat yang jauh dari sumber kuasa a.u seperti di pedalaman dan kawasan-kawasan

yang belum membangun. Walau bagaimanapun, kuasa bateri tidak mampu bertahan

lama sekadar beberapa jam sahaja dengan penggunaan maksimum, menyebabkan

pengguna terdesak untuk mencari sumber kuasa. Dengan projek Solar Powered

Notebook, matahari merupakan tenaga elektrik yang diperlukan bagi menghidupkan

Notebook lebih lama di mana Solar atau Photovoltaic (PV) Cell digunakan untuk

mengumpul tenaga suria untuk digunakan secara terus bagi menghidupkan Notebook.

Projek ini terdiri daripada empat litar yang saling berkait bagi menghasilkan keluaran

20V yang diperlukan oleh Notebook. Litar pertama adalah Boost Converter di mana

ia mengambil voltan masukkan dari solar panel dan meninggikan voltan kepada 20V

yang diperlukan oleh Notebook. Litar kedua ialah litar timer yang menggunakan

LM555 timer, di mana memacu MOSFET berfungsi sebagai suis di dalam Switch

Mode Boost Converter. Litar ketiga pula ialah litar Active PFC feedback, litar ini

membenarkan perubahan voltan keluaran supaya Boost Converter akan berfungsi

apabila diperlukan untuk menetapkan pengeluaran voltan 20V sahaja. Akhir sekali,

litar Voltage Clipper, di mana memberi voltan sebenar kepada Notebook. Projek ini

sangat penting dan sesuai kepada para saintis dan para pengkaji yang menjalankan

tugasan jauh dari bandar atau sumber kuasa. Projek ini terbukti menjimatkan tenaga

elektrik kerana menggunakan tenaga suria serta mengelakkan pencemaran kerana

dapat mengurangkan pengeluaran tenaga CO2 di stesen generator dan projek ini juga

mampu berfungsi ketika jauh dari sumber grid.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLERATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xiii

LIST OF APPENDICES xiv

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview of The Project 1

1.2 Problems Statement 2

1.3 Objectives 2

1.4 Scope of Work 2

1.5 Thesis Outline 3

2.0 LITERATURES REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 4

2.2 Benefit of Photovoltaic Module (Solar Panel) 4

2.3 Type of Photovoltaic Module (Solar Panel) 5

2.4 Solar Power Supply System Using DC-DC Converter 7

2.4.1 Boost Type Bidirectional DC-DC Converter 8

2.4.2 Buck Converter 11

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2.4.2.1 The Downsized Solar PV System 11

2.4.3 Buck-boost Converter 14

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 17

3.2 Block Diagram of the Project 18

3.3 Schematic Diagram of the Project 18

3.3.1 Detail Component Description and Function 20

3.3.1.1 Solar Panel 20

3.3.1.2 Boost Converter Circuit 21

3.3.1.3 Timer Circuit 23

3.3.1.4 Active PFC Feedback Circuit 24

3.3.1.5 Output Voltage Clipper 25

3.4 Design Procedure of Development

of Boost Converter Circuit 26

3.4.1 Power Switch 28

3.4.2 Inductor 29

3.4.3 Diode 29

3.4.4 Capacitor 30

3.5 Driver Circuit 30

3.5.1 555 Pin Function 31

3.5.2 Timer Specification 32

3.5.3 Basic Operation 32

3.6 Boost Converter Design Analysis 33

4.0 RESULTS

4.1 Introduction 37

4.2 OrCAD Simulation Result 37

4.3 Driver Circuit Hardware Test 40

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4.4 Boost Converter Hardware Test 41

4.5 Overall Hardware Design 42

5.0 CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Conclusions 43

5.2 Future Recommendations 44

5.3 Costing & Commercialization 45

REFERENCES 47

x

LIST OF TABLES

NO. TITLE PAGE

3.1 Solar Panel Specification 21

3.2 555 Timer Specification 32

3.3 Boost Converter Specification 34

3.4 The Parameters of Boost Converter Design 36

4.1 Boost Converter Hardware Test Result 41

5.1 List of Components 46

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LIST OF FIGURES

NO. TITLE PAGE

2.1 Monocrystalline Solar Panel 6

2.2 Polycrystalline Solar Panel 6

2.3 Amorphous Solar Panel 7

2.4 Block Diagram of the Solar Power Supply System Using

Boost Converter

9

2.5(a) Block diagram in the charge mode of the solar cell power

supply system η1, and η 2 are the conversion efficiencies

of the unidirectional and the bidirectional converters

9

2.5 (b) Block diagram in the discharge mode I of the solar cell

power supply system

9

2.5 (c) Block diagram in the discharge mode II of the solar cell

power supply system.

10

2.6 Block Diagram of The Proposed Solar PV Energy System

Using Constant Voltage Control (CVC) Method For MPP

12

2.7 Insolation Characteristics of A PV Panel In Relation To

CVC Method

12

2.8 Realization of The Proposed CVC MPPT On a Buck

Converter

13

2.9 Buck-Boost DC-DC converter schematic diagram 14

2.10 (a) The equivalent schematic diagram while switch is on 14

2.10 (b) The equivalent schematic diagram while switch is off 15

3.1 Block Diagram for Solar Powered Notebook 18

3.2 Schematic Design for Solar Powered Notebook 19

3.3 SW 80 mono/R5E Solar Panel 20

3.4 Basic Boost Converter Circuit 23

3.5 Basic LM555 Timer Circuit 24

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3.6 Basic Voltage Clipper Circuit 25

3.7 (a) Boost Converter Circuit Configuration 27

3.7 (b) Circuit when the switch is closed 27

3.7 (c) Circuit when the switch is open 27

3.8 IRFP150N terminal pin configuration 28

3.9 Schottky Diode 29

3.10 LM555 Timer With Pin Configuration 30

3.11 555 astable circuit 33

4.1 Output Voltage of Boost Converter Simulation Using

OrCAD

38

4.2 Output Voltage of Boost Converter & Reset Pin VoltageSimulation Using OrCAD

39

4.3 Switching Output Waveform Pulse 40

4.4 Solar Power Notebook Circuit 42

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

PFC −Power Factor Correction

PV −Photovoltaic

DC/dc −Direct Current

SMPS −Switch-Mode Power Supply

CCM −Continuous Current Mode

GND −Ground

MOSFET −Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor

PWM −Pulse Width Modulation

MPPT −Maximum Power Point Tracker

CVC −Constant Voltage Control

LED −Light Emitting Diode

BIPV −Building Integrated Photovoltaic

AC − Alternating Current

PWM −Pulse Width Modulation

ƒ −Frequency

D −Duty Cycle

L −Inductance

C −Capacitance

R −Resistance

CCM −Continuous Conduction Model

IC −Integrated Circuit

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LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE

A Solar Powered Notebook Project

B Solar Panel Datasheet

C 555 Timer Datasheet

D IRFP150N Datasheet

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This part described introduction an overview of the research work. It will explain

about overview of the project, problems statement, objectives and scope of work that

must be done.

1.1 Overview of The Project

Solar or Photovoltaic (PV) is the one of the renewable energy resources that

recently has become more popular in nowadays technologies. PV has many benefits

especially in environmental, economic and social. In general, a PV system consist of

a PV array which converts sunlight into direct-current (DC) source. There are many

technologies for solar energy application through residential, commercial, industrial,

agricultural and transportation sectors.

But in this project, DC source is used to power up the notebook. With

development of solar powered notebook, the sun is the electricity needed to keep that

notebook running for hours longer after the notebook battery run out. In this project,

Solar or Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to collect solar energy for direct use.

Although there are numerous commercially available DC-to-DC converters available

in market, most are costly. A combination of four simple circuits is combining to

create a cheaper alternative to the commercially available DC-to-DC converters on

the market. This project sure very useful for scientists or researchers who work far

away from civilization and power source.

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1.1 Problems Statement

As mentioned previously, Notebook can drain it battery with heavy use in just a

few hours and power source is not available such as in more rural or undeveloped

area to power the notebook. Therefore, since notebook required DC source, solar

panel is the best solution.

1.3 Objectives

The aims of this project are:

i. To design and implement solar power supply system for the notebook using

solar energy.

ii. To design and implement boost converter based of PWM to boost the supply

voltage from 12VDC from solar panel to 20VDC.

1.4 Scope of Work

In this study, by using solar panel, it will produce 80W 17VDC 5A current

output. In my design scope, the boost converter circuit will take in the 13VDC

voltage and step up the voltage to the desired 20VDC as required by the FujiTsu

Notebook model with the specification is 20VDC 3.25A 65W.

Second focused on the project is expected to deliver the power during the day

time only and when sunlight is available.

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1.5 Thesis Outline

This Development of Solar Powered Notebook thesis is arranged into following

chapter:

Chapter 1 discuss on the background of the project, objectives, scope of the

project, problem statement and also the thesis outline.

Chapter 2 focuses on literature reviews of this project based on journals and

other references.

Chapter 3 main discuss on the system design of the project. Details on the

progress of the project are explained in this chapter.

Chapter 4 presents the results of the project. The discussion focused on the

result based on the experiment and performance of Development of Solar

Powered Notebook.

Chapter 5 concludes overall about the project. Obstacle faces and future

recommendation are also discussed in this chapter.

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

Power electronics is one of the broadest growth areas in electrical

technology. Today, electronic energy processing circuits are needed for every

computer system, every digital product, industrial systems of all types,

automobiles, home appliances, lamps and lighting equipment, motor controllers,

and just about every possible application of electricity (A.H.M.Yatim, 2006).

T his chapter are the reviews about the study that have been done before developed

the Solar Powered Notebook. Some of the systems look alike with the Solar Power

Notebook project. Other, they are the study about the main components used.

2.2 Benefits of Photovoltaic Module (Solar Panel)

These days, energy crises are growing and all those countries which are

blessed with sunlight can use solar energy for their household items and businesses.

Solar energy is helping a lot of countries that have started developing solar polar for

their convenience to save themselves from pollution. Investing in solar power will

not be a wrong decision and it will be bringing a lot of fruitful results for stabilizing

the economy of a country. The other benefits can be concluded below: [1]

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i. Solar electricity can supplement or provide all your electrical

consumption.

ii. Additional solar modules can be added later as demand or budget grows.

iii. Solar electricity is generated without emitting greenhouse gases .

iv. Solar panels or modules are silent, without any moving parts.

v. Solar modules can be integrated into the building in the form of

windows, walls and roof tiles and known as Building Integrated PV

(BIPV).

vi. A solar module should last for at least 20–30 years.

2.3 Types of Photovoltaic Module (Solar Panel)

Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the production of

solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced dramatically in recent years.

Practically there are three basic types of PV solar panels; which is

Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline and Amorphous. The consumer can choose the

types of PV based on their need and availability. For this project,

Monocrystalline PV solar panel is chosen.

i. Monocrystalline cells are cut from a single crystal of silicon. They are basically a

slice of crystal. This makes them very smooth in texture and can see the thickness of

the slice. Monocrystalline cells are the most efficient, but also the most expensive to

produce. They are completely rigid and must be mounted in a rigid frame for

protection. Figure 2.1 below show Monocrystalline cells solar panel.

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Figure 2.1 Monocrystalline Solar Panel

ii. Polycrystalline (or Multicrystalline) cells as show in figure 2.2 are made from a slice

cut from a block of silicon, but whereas Monocrystalline cells are from a single

crystal, these cells consist of a large number of crystals. This gives them a speckled

reflective appearance but, once again you can you see the thickness of the slice.

Photovoltaic solar panels made from these types of cell are slightly less efficient but

also slightly cheaper than Monocrystalline cells. They also need to be mounted in a

rigid frame.

Figure 2.2 Polycrystalline Solar Panel

iii. Finally, Amorphous cells are manufactured by placing a thin film of Amorphous

(non crystalline) silicon onto a wide range of surfaces. These create the least

efficient type of Photovoltaic solar panels but also the cheapest. Due to the

Amorphous nature of the thin layer it is flexible, and if manufactured on a flexible

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surface, the whole Photovoltaic solar panel can be flexible. One problem with

Amorphous cells, however, is that their power output reduces over time, particularly

during the first few months, after which time they are basically stable. The quoted

output of an Amorphous panel should be that produced after this period. Figure 2.3

below show Amorphous cells solar panel.

Figure 2.3 Amorphous Solar Panel

2.4 Solar Power Supply System Using DC-DC Converter

The solar cell is now being used as power sources for radio relay stations,

light houses, agricultural systems, microwave communication systems, and so forth.

In such solar cell power supply systems, it often requires that the maximum power

point of the solar array is tracked, in spite of the variations in the load and the

sunlight intensity, to make the most efficient use of the solar array and the storage

battery [2]-[6].

A MPPT is a power electronic DC/DC converter inserted between the PV

module and load to achieve optimum matching. By using an intelligent algorithm, it

ensures that the PV module always operates at its maximum power point. Several

MPPT algorithms have been proposed in different literatures like Perturb & Observe

(P&O), Incremental Conductance, Constant Voltage, Constant Current and fuzzy

based algorithms [7]. These techniques differ in many aspects like complexity,

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convergence speed, hardware implementation, sensors required, cost, range of

effectiveness and need for parameterization. The P&O and Incremental Conductance

algorithms are more common due to effectiveness of extracting maximum power

from the panel, ease of hardware implementation, and less sensor requirement and

consequently relative low cost [5]. But is has problem of oscillation around the

MPP, due to this there is considerable loss of power. Also the response of P&O

algorithms is slow under fast changing environmental condition. Different converter

topologies like buck, boost, buck-boost and cuk converters are implemented for

MPPT design. Boost converter can track MPP with maximum efficiency and can

work for wide range of input voltage [5]. However, other advantages like less

component needed for hardware implementation and cost, makes this topology a

better choice than the buck or buck-boost for MPPT system design.

2.4.1 Boost Type Bidirectional DC-DC Converter [2]

In this solar cell power supply system, the boost type bidirectional converter

as a charger/discharger and the simple control circuit with a small monitor solar cell

are used in order to track the maximum power point of the solar array. The key

point to note is that in the system each converter processes the solar array output

power in parallel, and that the short-circuit current of the monitor solar cell is made

use of as a reference to detect the maximum power point.

The block diagram of the solar cell power supply system is shown in figure

2.4. In this system, the traditional unidirectional converter is used as a stabilizer and

the bidirectional converter as a maximum power tracker. The operation of this

system is divided broadly into two modes, which are called the charge and discharge

modes. Figure 2.5(a) shows the block diagram in the charge mode of the system,

and the discharge mode is divided further into two submodes as represented by the

block diagrams of figure 2.5(b) and (c). Now we will give the consideration to these

three modes; the charge mode, and the discharge modes I and II.

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Figure 2.4 Block Diagram of the Solar Power Supply System Using BoostConverter

(a)

(b)

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(c)

Figure 2.5 (a) Block diagram in the charge mode of the solar cell power supply

system η1, and η 2 are the conversion efficiencies of the unidirectional and the

bidirectional converters (b) Block diagram in the discharge mode I of the solar cell

power supply system. (c) Block diagram in the discharge mode II of the solar cell

power supply system.

First, when the light intensity Ee is sufficiently high, the solar array output

power Ps, is large and, in this case, the bidirectional converter operates in the charge

mode, as illustrated in figure 2.5(a). In this mode, some amount of the power Ps is

transferred to the load only through the unidirectional converter and the excess

power of Ps is sent to and stored in the storage battery only through the bidirectional

converter. Thus the solar array output power Ps is processed by each converter in

parallel.

Next, when the light intensity Ee is so low that the solar array output power Ps

is less than the load power Po, the bidirectional converter operates in the discharge

mode and the storage battery takes over the load power in part as illustrated in figure

2.5 (b). The solar array output power Po is sent to the load through the unidirectional

converter alone but the power -PB from the storage battery is processed by both of

the bidirectional and the unidirectional converters in series.