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A digital model for simulating active electronics in photovoltaic systems
Alberts, Thijs (2025) A digital model for simulating active electronics in photovoltaic systems.
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| Abstract: | As the demand for clean and renewable energy sources increases, photovoltaic (PV) systems, particularly in dynamic environments like solar-powered vehicles, are becoming increasingly critical to the energy infrastructure. This work presents the design, development, and validation of a Digital Twin (DT) model framework for active electronics in PV systems. This model aims to provide insights into the power output of these PV systems under changing circumstances, like temporary partial shading or irradiation changes. With these insights, algorithms and panel layouts can be compared and optimized for specific circumstances. A modular, Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) approach is used to construct a highly configurable digital model that replicates both the electrical characteristics of solar cells as well as the behavior of control algorithms running on the active hardware driving the PV panels. This simulator enables detailed loss analysis due to algorithmic inefficiencies or due to bypass diode grouping losses. A digital twin architecture is demonstrated where a physical twin is developed, representing a full PV system with PV cells, bypass diodes, and an own developed Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) representing the active hardware. This physical twin is digitally mirrored in a digital twin using the digital model designed in this work. This digital twin architecture allows the digital model to be characterized and validated. Lastly, three practical scenarios are introduced and executed, showing the added benefit of such a comprehensive architecture. These scenarios show one of many examples a PV system might encounter in dynamic environments. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | Benchmark, Almelo, The Netherlands |
| Faculty: | EEMCS: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science |
| Subject: | 50 technical science in general, 53 electrotechnology, 54 computer science |
| Programme: | Embedded Systems MSc (60331) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106729 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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