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SUMMARY:Towards efficient solid state energy conversion : from photonic cr
 ystals to power electronics
DTSTART:20100326T090000
DTSTAMP:20260408T195841Z
UID:6ed6b9bcc3452526b0e527c75dd893d00880748bbfe4aa4f95d74320
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Dr Ivan Celanovic\, Sc. D.\, MIT\, USA\nRising energy demand o
 f our civilization coupled with bounded fossil fuel supply and \nlooming p
 otentially devastating global climate change calls for radically different
  approaches \nto energy generation\, conversion\, distribution and utiliza
 tion. How can our ever growing \nthirst for energy be met without irrevers
 ibly and potentially catastrophically harming our \nplanet?  We believe th
 at new and radically different approaches to materials\, devices\, \nsyste
 ms\, and intelligent controls and communications can provide key solutions
  in our quest \nfor energy efficient and sustainable societies.\n\nIn this
  talk we will address several complementary energy conversion technologies
 \, ranging \nfrom new nano-materials\, MEMs based energy conversion device
 s\, to integrated power \nelectronics systems\, and electronic design auto
 mation tools\, that are promising to \nsignificantly improve solid state e
 nergy conversion efficiencies.  First\, we will explore \ninteresting new 
 properties of thermal radiation at nanoscales\, and show how a class of \n
 meta-materials called photonic crystals can dramatically enhance conversio
 n efficiency of \nlight and heat into electricity.  We will show that by t
 ailoring photonic densities of states—\nthus changing thermal emission a
 nd absorption properties—one can design ultra-efficient \nsolar-thermoph
 otovotaic (STPV) system\, the most energy dense MEMs based micro-\ngenerat
 or\, and the most efficient radio-isotope power source for deep space miss
 ions.  In \naddition\, we will explore the vast possibilities to improve b
 oth solar-PV system and design \nefficiencies by new and advanced power el
 ectronics digital control design.  Finally\, we will \nintroduce a real-ti
 me simulation platform for the next generation of power electronics \nsyst
 ems (for photovoltaics\, wind turbines\, hybrid and electric vehicles\, in
 dustrial automation\, \netc.) based on our custom designed multi-core proc
 essor architecture that enables “virtual-\nreality simulation” of thes
 e switched hybrid systems.  With simulation time and latency of 1 \nmicros
 econd\, this processor platform is almost two orders of magnitude faster t
 han state of \nthe art systems. 
LOCATION:BM 5202 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==BM%205202
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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