Condition monitoring (CM) has already been proven to be a cost effective means of enhancing reliability and improving customer service in power equipment, such as transformers and rotating electrical machinery. CM for power semiconductor devices in power electronic converters is at a more embryonic stage; however, as progress is made in understanding semiconductor device failure modes, appropriate sensor technologies, and signal processing techniques, this situation will rapidly improve. This technical review is carried out with the aim of describing the current state of the art in CM research for power electronics. Reliability models for power electronics, including dominant failure mechanisms of devices are described first. This is followed by a description of recently proposed CM techniques. The benefits and limitations of these techniques are then discussed. It is intended that this review will provide the basis for future developments in power electronics CM.

Condition Monitoring for Device Reliability in Power Electronic Converters: A Review

Solar cells that operate efficiently under indoor lighting are of great practical interest as they can serve as electric power sources for portable electronics and devices for wireless sensor networks or the Internet of Things. Here, we demonstrate a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) that achieves very high power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) under ambient light conditions. Our photosystem combines two judiciously designed sensitizers, coded D35 and XY1, with the copper complex Cu(II/I)(tmby) as a redox shuttle (tmby, 4,4′,6,6′-tetramethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), and features a high open-circuit photovoltage of 1.1 V. The DSC achieves an external quantum efficiency for photocurrent generation that exceeds 90% across the whole visible domain from 400 to 650 nm, and achieves power outputs of 15.6 and 88.5 μW cm–2 at 200 and 1,000 lux, respectively, under illumination from a model Osram 930 warm-white fluorescent light tube. This translates into a PCE of 28.9%. A dye-sensitized solar cell that has been designed for efficient operation under indoor lighting could offer a convenient means for powering the Internet of Things.

/pdf/dye-sensitized-solar-cells-for-efficient-power-generation-3uu4lit13i.pdf

Dye-sensitized solar cells for efficient power generation under ambient lighting

In this paper, various ambient energy-harvesting technologies (solar, thermal, wireless, and piezoelectric) are reviewed in detail and their applicability in the development of self-sustaining wireless platforms is discussed. Specifically, far-field low-power-density energy-harvesting technology is thoroughly investigated and a benchmarking prototype of an embedded microcontroller-enabled sensor platform has been successfully powered by an ambient ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) digital TV signal (512-566 MHz) where a broadcasting antenna is 6.3 km away from the proposed wireless energy-harvesting device. A high-efficiency dual-band ambient energy harvester at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz and an energy harvester for on-body application at 460 MHz are also presented to verify the capabilities of ambient UHF/RF energy harvesting as an enabling technology for Internet of Things and smart skins applications.

http://users.ece.gatech.edu/etentze/Procs14_Sangkil.pdf

Ambient RF Energy-Harvesting Technologies for Self-Sustainable Standalone Wireless Sensor Platforms

In this paper, various ambient energy-harvesting technologies (solar, thermal, wireless, and piezoelectric) are reviewed in detail and their applicability in the development of self-sustaining wireless platforms is discussed. Specifically, far- field low-power-density energy-harvesting technology is thor- oughly investigated and a benchmarking prototype of an embedded microcontroller-enabled sensor platform has been successfully powered by an ambient ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) digital TV signal (512-566 MHz) where a broadcasting antenna is 6.3 km away from the proposed wireless energy-harvesting device. A high-efficiency dual-band ambient energy harvester at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz and an energy harvester for on-body application at 460 MHz are also presented to verify the capa- bilities of ambient UHF/RF energy harvesting as an enabling technology for Internet of Things and smart skins applications.

Ambient RF Energy-Harvesting Technologies for Self-Sustainable Standalone Wireless Sensor Platforms This paper presents various ambient energy-harvesting technologies and investigates their applicability in the development of self-sustaining wireless platforms.

This paper discusses distributed generation which is emerging as a new paradigm to produce on-site highly reliable and good quality electrical power. Thus, the DG systems are presented as a suitable form to offer highly reliable electrical power supply. The concept is particularly interesting when different kinds of energy resources are available, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, fuel cells (FCs), or wind turbines.

Distributed Generation: Toward a New Energy Paradigm

For many years, wireless RF power transmission has been investigated as a viable method of power delivery in a wide array of applications, from high-power space solar power satellites to low-power wireless sensors. However, until recently, efficient application at the low sub-milliwatt power levels has not been realized due to limitations in available control circuitry. This paper presents a “smart” microcontroller-based power management system with online power stage efficiency optimization and maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The system is experimentally evaluated using a new, more accurate four-quadrant rectenna model and circuit realization that enables rigorous testing of the power management system for a wide range of rectenna arrays and power characteristics. Hardware results are presented with online optimization over a converter input power range from 10 μW to 1 mW. Results are also shown based on the application of harvesting RF power from a nearby cellular tower, where the power management system collects up to seven times more energy when compared to a direct battery connection.

Power Management System for Online Low Power RF Energy Harvesting Optimization

This paper discusses harvesting of low-power density incident plane waves for electronic devices in environments where it is difficult or impossible to change batteries and where the exact locations of the energy sources are not known. As the incident power densities vary over time and space, distributed arrays of antennas with optimized power-management circuits are introduced to increase harvested power and efficiency. Scaling in array size, power, dc load, frequency, and gain is discussed through three example arrays: a dual industrial-scientific-medical band Yagi-Uda array with a low-power startup circuit; a narrowband 1.96-GHz dual-polarized patch rectenna array with a reconfigurable dc output network designed for harvesting base-station power; and a broadband dual-polarized 2-18-GHz array with multi-tone performance. The efficiency of rectification and power management is investigated for incident power densities in the 1-100-μW/cm2 range.

Scalable RF Energy Harvesting

Recent work has shown the feasibility of integrating nonparametric frequency-domain system identification functionality into digital controllers for switched-mode pulse-width modulated (PWM) dc-dc power converters. The resulting discrete-time frequency response can be used for design, diagnostic, or self-tuning purposes. The success of these applications depends on the fidelity of the identified frequency responses and the degree to which the process is automated, as well as the costs, in terms of gate count, time duration of identification, and effect on output voltage, incurred to obtain these benefits. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating fully automated frequency response measurement capabilities in digital PWM controllers at relatively low additional cost. In particular, it is shown that relatively accurate and smooth frequency response data can be obtained using a Verilog-coded implementation with low tens of thousands of logic gates and about 10 kB of memory. The identification process can be accomplished in several hundred milliseconds and the output voltage can be kept within specified bounds during the entire process. Experimental results are provided for four different PWM dc-dc converters, including a synchronous buck with two different filter capacitors, a boost operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM), and a boost operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM).

Integration of Frequency Response Measurement Capabilities in Digital Controllers for DC–DC Converters

This paper presents a low-power (~10 muW) 2.45-GHz wireless sensor platform consisting of a three-axis accelerometer, thermometer and skin conductivity sensor. The sensor is powered wirelessly from a distance of around 3-4 m with narrowband 2.45-GHz dual-polarized low power density radiation of around 100 muW/cm2. Efficient power management enables the powering function to be independent of the wireless transmission and sensor data gathering. The sensor platform does not require battery replacements, and is intended for low-maintenance assistive technology, elder-care and medical applications.

http://ecee.colorado.edu/microwave/docs/publications/2007/EuMC07-JasonThurein.pdf

Wirelessly-Powered Wireless Sensor Platform

Spacecraft power systems and other mission- critical applications require robust power delivery systems. This paper focuses on two aspects of power converter health monitoring: detecting and analyzing loss-related and frequency response-related changes. Two hardware-efficient algorithms are discussed that can be implemented without any additional sensing points other than those required for operation of the converter and with minimal additional digital hardware. It is shown that available converter operating information can be processed to detect a significant (e.g. 2x) change in the power MOSFET RON- In addition, a system identification-based approach with an additional digital pre-fllter is used to extract an accurate and useful frequency response of the converter despite large quantization noise caused by a low-resolution A/D converter. It is shown that this information can be used to accurately monitor the stability margins of the converter. The techniques are verified experimentally on a 90 W 50 V-15 V forward converter with FPGA control.

A. Dolgov

Papers

Power Management System for Online Low Power RF Energy Harvesting Optimization

Scalable RF Energy Harvesting

Integration of Frequency Response Measurement Capabilities in Digital Controllers for DC–DC Converters

Wirelessly-Powered Wireless Sensor Platform

Online Health Monitoring in Digitally Controlled Power Converters