In the master's thesis, a platform is presented that enables temperature stabilization when performing characterization of solar cells. The active element used to regulate the temperature is the Peltier element. Simulations made with the Spice model show the effects of different ways of controlling the element. The findings are then applied in the design of the controller.
The controller has a maximum voltage output of 60 V and current of 6 A. The built-in microcontroller stabilizes the temperature with a PID controller. With the Ziegler-Nichols method and open-loop response, the parameters of the PID controller are adjusted to the mechanical characteristics of the cooling/heating surface. The graphical interface of the computer program, created in the LabVIEW environment, allows the user to change the settings of the microcontroller and monitor platform status. The result is a platform that allows temperature control with fluctuations of less than ±0.2°C and a stable response to change in reference.
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