System Components

The following section offers an in-depth look at various essential electrical components used in the project's design. Throughout the course of the project, the team will enhance and reiterate the initial prototypes, ensuring that each iteration aligns with our evolving system requirements and contributes to improved overall system performance. As the project continues, this page will be regularly updated to reflect any circuit modifications, improvements, and any integration of new components, all contributing to the successful realization of the team's main objectives.


AC/DC Rectifier: An AC to DC rectifier is crucial to the system to convert generated AC voltage to DC, as the competition requires the voltage to be DC at the PCC and various system components require DC. The team acquired one design  that is off-the-shelf, an IC that utilizes six diodes [Figure 1]. The team has been actively using a home-made circuit that also utilized six diodes for rectification [Figure 2].


DC/DC Boost Converter: A DC/DC boost converter is used to ensure a steady and usable voltage for all system components. The boost converter [Figure 3] features an 8A, 100 μH toroidal inductor, IRFZ44N MOSFET, and a 47 μF capacitor for voltage smoothing. By adjusting the MOSFET's duty cycle, the output voltage can be controlled to meet different system voltage requirements.​


DC/DC Buck Converter: The buck converter is used to reduce the voltage to a suitable level for the Arduino which handles the system controls. To prevent overloading the Arduino microcontroller, an off-the-shelf buck converter was chosen for its ability to provide a constant output voltage without additional control. The buck converter operates in parallel with the boost converter.​

[Figure 1: IXYS DPF30U200FC Rectifier]

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[Figure 3: DC Boost Converter Prototype]

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[Figure 4: DC Buck Converter Module]​

[Figure 2: Team Made 3-Phase Rectifier]​

System Controls: An Arduino Uno R3 is used for various controls such as turbine functions including pitching and braking. The Arduino Uno R3 also has a low operating voltage with an absolute minimum of 5V. In addition to controlling motors and actuators, the microcontroller manages the closed-loop control system of the DC/DC boost converter, which offers automatic regulation of the output voltage.​

Closed-Loop Control: The DC/DC Boost Converter utilizes a closed-loop control system to regulate the output voltage at 20V by adjusting the MOSFET’s duty cycle through a PWM signal from the Arduino microcontroller. The output voltage is measured using a voltage divider, while the current is measured by an ACS712 hall effect sensor. The duty cycle is adjusted based on the error between the target voltage and the measured voltage, using a duty cycle range between 0% and 85% to ensure stable operation. ​







[Figure 4: DC Boost Converter, Closed-Loop Control]​