Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters

Flávio Morais, Pedro Carvalhaes-Dias, Luís Duarte, Anderson Spengler, Kleber de Paiva, Thiago Martins, Andreu Cabot and José Siqueira Dias
Additional contact information
Flávio Morais: Faculty of Science and Engineering, São Paulo State University Júlio de Mesquita, Tupã, SP 17602-496, Brazil
Pedro Carvalhaes-Dias: Department of Electrical Engineering—DAELE, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Cornélio Procópio, PR 86300-000, Brazil
Luís Duarte: Department of Electrical Engineering—DAELE, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Cornélio Procópio, PR 86300-000, Brazil
Anderson Spengler: Department of Mobility Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC 89219-600, Brazil
Kleber de Paiva: Department of Mobility Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC 89219-600, Brazil
Thiago Martins: Department of Mobility Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC 89219-600, Brazil
Andreu Cabot: Catalonia Institute for Energy Research—IREC, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
José Siqueira Dias: Department of Semiconductors, Instrumentation and Photonics—DSIF/FEEC, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-852, Brazil

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: Solar radiation and human activity generate ubiquitous temperature gradients that could be harvested by thermoelectric generators (TEGs). However, most of these temperature gradients are in the range of very few degrees and, while TEGs are able to harvest them, the resulting output voltages are extremely small (a few hundreds of mV), and DC–DC converters are necessary to boost them to usable levels. Impedance matching between TEGs and DC–DC converter plays a fundamental role in the energy harvesting efficiency. Therefore, it is essential to determine the output power of the system in different configurations, in order to decide on the optimum TEG connection. Here, we present an electronic circuit to measure the maximum power that can be harvested with low-voltage TEGs connected to a DC–DC converter. The developed circuit is an electronic controlled load that drains the maximum current from the output of the DC–DC converter while maintaining its output voltage at the maximum allowed value. Using a mechanical set-up able to apply precise low temperature gradients between the hot and cold side of the TEGs, experimental data using different configurations of TEGs are obtained. The measured results show that, for ultra-low voltages, the TEG ensemble’s output impedance plays an important role not only in the amount of the energy scavenged, but also in the onset temperature of the energy harvesting.

Keywords: energy harvesting; thermoelectric generators; energy measurement; series and parallel TEGs ensemble; ultra-low voltage DC–DC converters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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