ECEA 5717 Closed-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory
2nd course in the Photovoltaic Power Electronics Specialization
Instructor: Robert Erickson, PhD, Professor
This is a 100% distance course in which students design, construct, and demonstrate a stand-alone solar power system at home.
Note: This course requires purchase of a parts kit in order to complete assignments. Please allow adequate time to receive the kit. It is highly suggested that you receive the parts kit by the end of the first week of the session.
Prior knowledge needed: ECEA 5700-5703 and ECEA 5716 (same as ECEA 5005).
Learning Outcomes
- Focuses on analysis, modeling, design and testing of electrical energy processing systems in a practical laboratory setting.
- Studies power electronics converters for efficient utilization of available energy sources, including solar panels and utility.
- Experimental projects involve design, fabrication and testing of a solar power system.
Syllabus
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 3 hours
Duration: 5 hours
Duration: 4 hours
Duration: 3 hours
Grading
Experiment | Percentage of Grade |
| Experiment 1: Direct Energy Transfer System | 14% |
| Experiment 2: Software Tools and Pulse-Width Modulator | 5% |
| Experiment 3: Open-Loop DC-DC Converter | 18% |
| Experiment 4: Converter AC Modeling and Measurements | 16% |
| Experiment 5: Digital Voltage Regulator | 22% |
| Experiment 6: Maximum Power Point Tracking | 13% |
| Experiment 7: Battery Charge Management | 12% |
Letter Grade Rubric
Letter Grade | Minimum Percentage |
| A | 92% |
| A- | 90% |
| B+ | 88% |
| B | 82% |
| B- | 80% |
| C+ | 78% |
| C | 72% |
| C- | 70% |
| D+ | 68% |
| D | 60% |
| F | 0% |
Component List
Note: The BOM includes a 12 V deep-discharge lead-acid battery (12 V, 6 Ah, sealed AGM). The department cannot ship this battery, so you will need to order it directly via the Battery purchase link.
Component availability may vary, and functionally equivalent substitute parts may be used.
Hardware (Required)
- Parts Kit Order Form(ECEE E-Store)
- Basic tools:
- Soldering iron and solder
- Diagonal cutters
- Needle-nose pliers
- Test equipment:
- Two-channel oscilloscope
- DC power supply (0–30 V, 0–5 A, current limiting required)
- Multimeters (at least 3)
- Inductance meter or analyzer
- Network analyzer (Bode plot magnitude and phase). Required in ECEA 5717.
Hardware (Recommended)
- Digilent Analog Discovery 3 (AD3)
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Software
- None
Course Syllabi
- ECEA 5716 Open-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory (1 credit) - Same as ECEA 5005
- ECEA 5717 Closed-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory (1 credit) - Same as ECEA 5006
- ECEA 5718 Photovoltaic Power Electronics Battery Management Laboratory (1 credit)