Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Darmouth College

Robert Pilawa-Podgurski

Marin Soljacic

John Dimitris Joannopoulos

David J Perreault

Klavs F Jensen

Steven G Johnson

Charles Roger Sullivan

Peter H Fisher

Ivan Celanovic

Peter Bermel

Michael Ghebrebrhan

Walker Chan

Adrian Y X Yeng

Christopher Marton

Mohammad Araghchini

Alexander Latham

High power output may be obtained from a photovoltaic (PV) system by controlling each photovoltaic cell of a solar array individually to operate at its maximum power point. Each cell may have associated power electronics and control circuitry that may be integrated together on a chip which may be advantageously implemented in CMOS, enabling reductions in cost and size. A perturb and observe algorithm may be used to find the maximum power point by measuring the power produced at different operating points, and modifying the operating point in the direction of increased power production. In one aspect, performance of a perturb and observe algorithm may be improved in the presence of noise.

Power processing methods and apparatus for photovoltaic systems

Inventive systems and methods for the generation of energy using thermophotovoltaic cells are described. Also described are systems and methods for selectively emitting electromagnetic radiation from an emitter for use in thermophotovoltaic energy generation systems. In at least some of the inventive energy generation systems and methods, a voltage applied to the thermophotovoltaic cell (e.g., to enhance the power produced by the cell) can be adjusted to enhance system performance. Certain embodiments of the systems and methods described herein can be used to generate energy relatively efficiently.

Thermophotovoltaic energy generation

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Robert Pilawa-Podgurski