Briefing 2024

Our motivation

Driving decarbonization and digitalization. Together.

Semiconductors are crucial to solve the energy challenges of our time and shape the digital transformation. This is why Infineon is committed to actively driving decarbonization and digitalization.

As a global semiconductor leader in power systems and loT, we enable game-changing solutions for green and efficient energy, clean and safe mobility, as well as smart and secure loT. We make life easier, safer and greener. Together with our customers and partners. For a better tomorrow.

Our challenge

THE FOCUS OF THIS YEAR’S CHALLENGE IS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PV OPTIMIZER.

Why are we looking for a PV optimizer?

  • Solar panels operate in the environment under ever changing conditions.

  • Environmental factors such as cloud shadows and other obstacles can lead to a difference in sunlight intensity reaching the solar panel and the ambient temperature of the solar panel which changes the characteristic of solar cells.

  • Therefor I-V curves of PV systems under certain conditions have distinct shapes to PV systems under different operating conditions.

Current voltage characteristic

  • The current voltage characteristic changes depending on the temperature.

  • The changed current voltage characteristic leads to a changed power voltage characteristic.

  • There you can see, the higher the temperature the lower the voltage and the lower the power output.

  • For a higher power output under varying conditions we can use a solar optimizer.

Solar optimizer

  • A solar optimizer is a device that is designed to maximize the performance of a solar panel, especially when individual panels are connected in a series or parallel configuration.

  • For a single solar cell, a solar optimizer can help improve the efficiency of the cell by ensuring that it is operating at its maximum power point (MPP).

  • The MPP is the point at which the cell generates the most power for a given amount of sunlight.

  • A solar optimizer typically uses advanced algorithms to track the voltage and current of the solar cell and adjusts the voltage to ensure that the cell is operating at its MPP.

  • This can be especially important in situations where the solar cell is exposed to varying levels of sunlight, such as during cloudy or partially shaded conditions.

  • By optimizing the performance of the solar cell, a solar optimizer can help improve the overall efficiency and output of a solar system, reducing energy costs and improving environmental sustainability.

PV optimizer 200W

PV optimizer 200W schematics

Power profile data:

  • Vin= 15-60V

  • Vout= 0-60V

  • Pout= 200W

  • fsw = 200kHz

Microcontroller:

Abbreviations:

  • ADC: Analog to Digital Converter

  • PWM generation: Puls Width Modulation is a method of controlling the average power or amplitude delivered by an electrical signal.

  • MPPT calculation: Maximum Power Point Tracking calculation

The XMC1302-Q40 with 200k flash

The XMC1302-Q040X0200 AB is a 32-bit microcontroller with ARM® Cortex®-M0 with focus on low-cost embedded control applications.

  • 200KB Flash, 16KB RAM

  • Supply voltage range: 1.8 - 5.5V

  • MATH co-processor for CORDIC & HW Divide

  • 8 x 16-bit special purpose timers, dead time generation

  • Hall Sensor & Encoder I/F

  • LED brightness & color control module (BCCU)

  • 12 channel 12-bit ADC, 2 x parallel sampling

  • 3 x Comparators

  • 2 channel USIC (configurable to SPI, UART, IIC, IIS)

  • Peripherals Clock: 64 [MHZ]

  • Temperature Sensor

  • Pseudo Random Number Gererator

  • Real Time Clock

  • Watch Dog Timer

  • PG-VQFN-40

  • Temperature range: -40 - 105°C

  • Analog comparators with only 3 mv input offset voltage and a propagation delay of 30 ns

PV optimizer: Four-switch buck-boost converter

The four-switch buck-boost converter is a type of DC-DC converter that can step up or step down the input voltage. It uses four switches to control the flow of current through the inductor and capacitor, which allows it to convert the voltage in either direction.

The content of our challenge

Develop a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm to optimize the power output!

You will get:

Your task:

  • Create a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm.

  • Develop a MPPT control structure to be integrated into the existing SW framework.

    • Firmware implementation

    • Testing

    • Documentation

  • Optional: Use boost circuit to keep highside constant on to lower the materials count.

You are fitting best to the challenge, if you are:

  • A startup or service company in the area of embedded software development, interested in or with experience on solar power.

  • A university team of interested students and professors with microcontroller programming skills.

  • A maker with microcontroller focus and programming experience.

Timeline

#IMM2024 Online Kick-off (March 14, 2024)

#IMM2024 ONLINE KICK-OFF PRESENTATION

 

Your contact persons

Andreas Mühlberger, Strategic Partner Management, Infineon Technologies Austria AG

Ronald Stärz, Head of System Engineering, Infineon Technologies Austria AG

René Fabien de Montmorency, Innovationmanagment, Infineon Technologies Austria AG

 

Please, send the applications to industrymeetsmakers@infineon.com

About us

Infineon Technologies Austria AG

Infineon Technologies plays a key role in shaping a better future with microelectronics that link the real and the digital world.

Our semiconductors aim at sustainability and decarbonization and enable efficient energy management, smart mobility, as well as secure, seamless communications in an increasingly connected world.

With 5,461 employees from around 79 countries, including 2,387 in research and development, in the financial year 2022 the company achieved a turnover of € 5.2 billion. An R&D expense rate of € 585 million makes Infineon Austria one of the strongest industrial research companies in Austria.

More details about Infineon Technologies Austria AG