| View System Block Diagram |
Wind GeneratorInputs: Wind powerOutputs: Power ( DC voltage and current) |
Solar Cell or Solar Cell ArrayInputs: Solar powerOutputs: Power (DC voltage and current) |
Switching Subsystem RegulatorInputs: a) Solar cell and wind generator voltagesb) PWM signal from microprocessor Outputs: Regulated Battery Voltage The switching regulator uses the PWM signal from the microprocessor to determine how much of the wind generator and solar panel power to use. The PWM signal causes transistors in the switching regulator to turn on and off, varying the amount of power used from the solar panels and wind generators. The switching regulator then combines the appropriate amounts of wind generator and solar panel voltages into one signal which is output as a regulated battery voltage. |
Battery ArrayInput: Switching Subsystem Regulator OutputOutput: Load Voltage and Current a) Power supplied by the wind generator and/or solar panels b) Back-up power The battery array functions as a battery backup. In the event that no power is being received from the switching regulator due to a lack of sufficient power coming from the solar panels and wind generator, the battery array will supply the necessary power to the load. During times when the system is receiving sufficient power from solar and wind energy, the battery is in a charging mode, storing energy for use later. |
Voltage RegulatorInput: Load Voltage and Currenta) Power supplied by the wind generator and/or solar panels b) Back-up power Output: Regulated Load Voltage The voltage regulator functions rather simply. It regulates the incoming battery voltage or switching regulator voltage into a usable load voltage. |
LoadInput: Regulated Load VoltageOutput: Usable power The load uses the regulated load voltage in a DC device. |
MicroprocessorInputs: Voltages and currents taken from the following outputs, applied to a voltage divider, and then input to 4 channels of the A/D converter multiplexera) Solar panels b) Wind generators c) Battery Array output d) Voltage Regulator output Outputs: Control and Display Signals a) PWM control to Switching Subsystem Regulator b) LCD display signals c) LED display signals The microprocessor acts as a control device. It periodically checks the outputs of various subsystems and adjusts the amount of power supplied by the wind generator and solar panels. This is accomplished by applying a PWM signal to the transistors in the switching regulator or sending signals to the LED's to indicate to the user that undesirable conditions exist. |
LED'sInput: Display signal from microprocessorOutput: Warning indicators The LED's act as indicators for the user that certain undesirable conditions exist. These conditions would include the case of insufficient voltage being supplied to the battery to charge it or the circuit is being overloaded (i.e. drawing excessive current). The LED's will also be used to indicate modes of operation. These modes are 1) running strictly on wind power, 2) running strictly on solar power, 3) running on a mixture of both, or 4) running on battery power, which would indicate no power from wind or solar. |
LCD'sInput: Display signal from microprocessorOutput: Numerical display The LCD's, like the LED's, help the user to monitor the system. The LCD's would work in conjunction with the LED's to monitor undesirable conditions. If the LED for insufficient battery charging voltage was on, the user could look at the appropriate LCD to see what voltage exists at the battery. Likewise if the LED for circuit overload was lit the user could see just how much over-current was being drawn. Two other LCD's would be used to display the amount of current and voltage being supplied by the wind generator and solar panels. |