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A High Efficiency Boost Converter with MPPT Scheme for Low Voltage Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting

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Abstract

Using thermoelectric elements to harvest energy from heat has been of great interest during the last decade. This paper presents a direct current–direct current (DC-DC) boost converter with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) scheme for low input voltage thermoelectric energy harvesting applications. Zero current switch technique is applied in the proposed MPPT scheme. Theoretical analysis on the converter circuits is explored to derive the equations for parameters needed in the design of the boost converter. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical analysis and equations. A prototype of the designed converter is built using discrete components and a low-power microcontroller. The results show that the designed converter can achieve a high efficiency at low input voltage. The experimental efficiency of the designed converter is compared with a commercial converter solution. It is shown that the designed converter has a higher efficiency than the commercial solution in the considered voltage range.

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Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was supported by a Grant from the China Science Foundation (Project No. 51575463) and a grant from the Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. ITS/248/14FP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace Engineering, **amen University, **amen, Fujian, China

    Mingjie Guan, Kunpeng Wang & Qingyuan Zhu

  2. Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong, China

    Wei-Hsin Liao

Authors
  1. Mingjie Guan
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  2. Kunpeng Wang
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  3. Qingyuan Zhu
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  4. Wei-Hsin Liao
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Correspondence to Wei-Hsin Liao.

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Guan, M., Wang, K., Zhu, Q. et al. A High Efficiency Boost Converter with MPPT Scheme for Low Voltage Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting. J. Electron. Mater. 45, 5514–5520 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-016-4765-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-016-4765-1

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