Optimal Photovoltaic Array Configuration Under Gaussian Laser Beam Condition for Wireless Power Transmission

Abstract

The high-intensity laser power beaming (HILPB) system is one of the most promising systems in the long-range wireless power transfer field. In the HILPB system, the conversion efficiency at the photovoltaic (PV) receiver will limit the performance of an implemented system. One of the major factors that contribute to the reduction of PV power is Gaussian laser beam. Different PV configurations can be used to reduce the losses caused by Gaussian laser beam. In this paper, an optimal PV array configuration search mechanism for arbitrarily sized PV arrays to enhance the PV power under Gaussian laser beam condition is proposed. In order to do so, the irradiance profile of the Gaussian laser beam is mathematically modeled, which plays an important role in modeling the PV arrays and designing the optimal configuration research algorithms. The corresponding optimal configuration research algorithms for different PV array architectures are proposed so as to maximize the PV array output power under Gaussian laser beam condition. All the possible optimal solutions for different architectures are compared with each other to find out which one maximizes output power by means of simulations and experiments. The experimental and simulation results are shown to verify the proposed search mechanism.