Effects of DSSC configuration on power conversion efficiency

Author

Newell, David ; Duffy, Maeve ; Twohig, Richard

Author_Institution

Power Electron. Res. Centre, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

fYear

2014

fDate

16-20 March 2014

Firstpage

3155

Lastpage

3159

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to outline the effects of dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) configuration on useable output power provided through low-power, step-up DC-DC converters. It is shown that by connecting DSSCs in series rather than in parallel, higher power conversion efficiency is achieved due to increased cell voltage, and this in turn results in higher power delivery. Limitations to varying cell configuration are discussed and low input voltage DC-DC topologies are examined to demonstrate the range of solutions available for DSSC sources. It is shown that up to 6% improvement in system efficiency is achieved for a series vs. parallel cell connection.

Keywords

DC-DC power convertors; dye-sensitised solar cells; DC-DC topologies; DSSC configuration; dye-sensitised solar cell; low input voltage topologies; parallel cell connection; power conversion efficiency; power delivery; series cell connection; step-up DC-DC converters; Decision support systems; Photovoltaic cells; Power generation; Resistance; Sensors; Wireless communication; Wireless sensor networks;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), 2014 Twenty-Ninth Annual IEEE

Conference_Location

Fort Worth, TX

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/APEC.2014.6803756

Filename

6803756