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

Morais, Flávio; Carvalhaes-Dias, Pedro; Duarte, Luís; Spengler, Anderson; de Paiva, Kleber; Martins, Thiago; Cabot, Andreu; Siqueira Dias, José

doi:10.3390/en13092297

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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

^4,5

and

José Siqueira Dias

^6,*

Faculty of Science and Engineering, São Paulo State University Júlio de Mesquita, Tupã, SP 17602-496, Brazil

Department of Electrical Engineering—DAELE, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Cornélio Procópio, PR 86300-000, Brazil

Department of Mobility Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC 89219-600, Brazil

⁴

Catalonia Institute for Energy Research—IREC, 08930 Barcelona, Spain

⁵

Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies—ICREA, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

⁶

Department of Semiconductors, Instrumentation and Photonics—DSIF/FEEC, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-852, Brazil

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Energies 2020, 13(9), 2297; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092297

Received: 27 March 2020 / Revised: 27 April 2020 / Accepted: 28 April 2020 / Published: 6 May 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Thermoelectric Generators)

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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. View Full-Text

Keywords: energy harvesting; thermoelectric generators; energy measurement; series and parallel TEGs ensemble; ultra-low voltage DC–DC converters

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MDPI and ACS Style

Morais, F.; Carvalhaes-Dias, P.; Duarte, L.; Spengler, A.; de Paiva, K.; Martins, T.; Cabot, A.; Siqueira Dias, J. Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters. Energies 2020, 13, 2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092297

AMA Style

Morais F, Carvalhaes-Dias P, Duarte L, Spengler A, de Paiva K, Martins T, Cabot A, Siqueira Dias J. Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters. Energies. 2020; 13(9):2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092297

Chicago/Turabian Style

Morais, Flávio, Pedro Carvalhaes-Dias, Luís Duarte, Anderson Spengler, Kleber de Paiva, Thiago Martins, Andreu Cabot, and José Siqueira Dias. 2020. "Optimization of the TEGs Configuration (Series/Parallel) in Energy Harvesting Systems with Low-Voltage Thermoelectric Generators Connected to Ultra-Low Voltage DC–DC Converters" Energies 13, no. 9: 2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092297

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

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