Review of Power Device for Solar-Powered Aircraft Applications

ABSTRACT This paper reviews various power device components of solar-powered aircraft such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, maximum power point tracker (MPPT) and rechargeable batteries. The various power device components were highlighted, and the ones applicable to aircraft were analyzed, based on criteria as efficiency for photovoltaic cells; energy densities about rechargeable batteries; and maximum power point tracker on quick response to achieve maximum power point on I-V curve. Emerging technologies like photovoltaic cells, thin film cell, organic photovoltaic cell, multi-junction cell and silicon quantum dot cell, with the future potential of high efficiencies that can be used in solar-powered aircraft, were all examined. Regarding battery technology, Lithium-air battery (Li-air) was reported as having great opportunities for high energy densities capable of improving the efficiency of the solar-powered aircraft, for the greater prospect of the aviation industry. The design of efficient power device for solar-powered aircraft application is proposed. Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar cells were used because of its high energy conversion efficiency of 30 to 40%. A smart and intelligent MPPT Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is chosen because of its efficiency in partial shading and fast response and speed. The Li-air rechargeable battery is proposed because of its theoretical energy density of 11680 Wh/Kg.

摘要 本文综述了太阳能飞机的各类功率器件组件，涵盖光伏（photovoltaic, PV）电池、最大功率点跟踪器（maximum power point tracker, MPPT）与可充电电池。文中重点阐述了各类功率器件组件，并基于光伏电池的转换效率、可充电电池的能量密度、以及MPPT需具备快速响应能力以实现I-V曲线上的最大功率点这三项标准，分析了适配航空应用的功率器件。本文还对可应用于太阳能飞机的各类新兴光伏技术进行了调研，包括薄膜光伏电池、有机光伏电池、多结电池与硅量子点电池，这些技术均具备未来应用于太阳能飞机并实现高转换效率的潜力。在电池技术领域，锂空气电池（Lithium-air battery, Li-air）被认为拥有极高的能量密度潜力，可有效提升太阳能飞机的运行效率，为航空工业带来更广阔的发展前景。本文提出了一种面向太阳能飞机应用的高效功率器件设计方案：采用砷化镓（Gallium Arsenide, GaAs）太阳能电池，因其具备30%~40%的高光电转换效率；选用基于人工神经网络（Artificial Neural Network, ANN）的智能型MPPT控制器，因其在部分遮阴工况下具备优异的跟踪效率且响应速度快；同时选用锂空气可充电电池，因其理论能量密度可达11680 Wh/Kg。