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Published on: March 8, 2020
A fiber Bragg grating--bimetal temperature sensor for solar panel inverters
Mohd Afiq Ismail1, Nizam Tamchek, Muhammad Rosdi Abu Hassan
1Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. afiq.ismail@siswa.um.edu.my
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 14, 2011
Summary
A new fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensor enhances Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) monitoring in solar inverters. This FBG-bimetal sensor offers high sensitivity for real-time IGBT temperature tracking.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy Systems
Background:
- Accurate temperature monitoring of Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) is critical for the reliability and efficiency of solar panel inverters.
- Traditional temperature sensors may face limitations in harsh operating environments or require complex integration.
- Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) offer a robust and remote sensing solution with high sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, characterize, and implement an FBG-based temperature sensor specifically for IGBTs in solar panel inverters.
- To enhance the sensitivity of the FBG sensor by bonding it to a bimetallic strip with a higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
- To develop an empirical model accounting for both temperature and strain effects on the sensor.
Main Methods:
- An FBG sensor was bonded to the higher CTE side of a bimetallic strip to amplify thermal response.
- The sensor's performance was characterized across a temperature range of 26 °C to 90 °C.
- An empirical model was developed to correlate wavelength shift with temperature and strain.
- The sensor was integrated and tested within a functional solar panel inverter system.
Main Results:
- A linear relationship was observed between temperature increases and FBG wavelength shifts.
- The sensor exhibited distinct sensitivity regions, with the highest sensitivity of 14 pm/°C recorded between 41 °C and 90 °C.
- The developed empirical model accurately predicted sensor behavior.
- Real-time monitoring of IGBT temperature in a solar panel inverter was successfully demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The FBG-bimetal temperature sensor is a viable and effective solution for real-time IGBT temperature monitoring in solar panel inverters.
- The sensor design enhances sensitivity, providing accurate temperature data crucial for inverter performance and longevity.
- The developed empirical model contributes to a more precise understanding and application of FBG sensors in power electronics.
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