Towards efficient solid state energy conversion : from photonic crystals to power electronics
Event details
| Date | 26.03.2010 |
| Hour | 09:00 |
| Speaker | Dr Ivan Celanovic, Sc. D., MIT, USA |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Rising energy demand of our civilization coupled with bounded fossil fuel supply and
looming potentially devastating global climate change calls for radically different approaches
to energy generation, conversion, distribution and utilization. How can our ever growing
thirst for energy be met without irreversibly and potentially catastrophically harming our
planet? We believe that new and radically different approaches to materials, devices,
systems, and intelligent controls and communications can provide key solutions in our quest
for energy efficient and sustainable societies.
In this talk we will address several complementary energy conversion technologies, ranging
from new nano-materials, MEMs based energy conversion devices, to integrated power
electronics systems, and electronic design automation tools, that are promising to
significantly improve solid state energy conversion efficiencies. First, we will explore
interesting new properties of thermal radiation at nanoscales, and show how a class of
meta-materials called photonic crystals can dramatically enhance conversion efficiency of
light and heat into electricity. We will show that by tailoring photonic densities of states—
thus changing thermal emission and absorption properties—one can design ultra-efficient
solar-thermophotovotaic (STPV) system, the most energy dense MEMs based micro-
generator, and the most efficient radio-isotope power source for deep space missions. In
addition, we will explore the vast possibilities to improve both solar-PV system and design
efficiencies by new and advanced power electronics digital control design. Finally, we will
introduce a real-time simulation platform for the next generation of power electronics
systems (for photovoltaics, wind turbines, hybrid and electric vehicles, industrial automation,
etc.) based on our custom designed multi-core processor architecture that enables “virtual-
reality simulation” of these switched hybrid systems. With simulation time and latency of 1
microsecond, this processor platform is almost two orders of magnitude faster than state of
the art systems.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Contact
- Jürgen Brugger