Publication detail

Low Input Voltage DC-DC Converter for Energy Harvesting using Iron-Constantan Thermoelectric Cells

VOREL, P. MARTIŠ, J. MACÍK, T.

Original Title

Low Input Voltage DC-DC Converter for Energy Harvesting using Iron-Constantan Thermoelectric Cells

Type

conference paper

Language

English

Original Abstract

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) was constructed using a classical iron-constantan thermoelectric cells and a simple direct flame heating with an ethanol burner. Although modern TEGs based on bismuth-tellurium cells provide much higher voltage and efficiency, they are very sensitive to over-heating and cannot be used in applications with high temperature of the cell hot side ca. 400 – 500 °C at the simple direct flame heating. A series connection of 20 iron-constantan cells was used and the maximum provided no-load voltage is ca. 0.5 V at the average temperature difference between the hot and cold sides approx. 460°C. To increase the cell durability the burner is controlled to achieve a lower voltage (lower temperature) and the buck DC-DC converter self-startup at the no-load voltage of ca. 0.3 V is enabled. The construction of the whole TEG is described, the boost converter design with respect to its efficiency is proposed considering a very low input voltage and power. The solution of starting the converter at low input voltage without an additional supply source is presented. Efficiency map measurement is included.

Keywords

TEG, energy harvesting, iron-constantan, thermoelectric cell, DC-DC boost converter, self-startup, low input voltage.

Authors

VOREL, P.; MARTIŠ, J.; MACÍK, T.

Released

25. 9. 2023

Publisher

Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice

Location

Nový Smokovec, Slovakia

ISBN

979-8-3503-2275-0

Book

2023 International Conference on Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (EDPE)

ISBN

2770-7652

Periodical

2023 International Conference on Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (EDPE)

State

Slovak Republic

Pages from

1

Pages to

7

Pages count

7

URL

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/10273860/proceeding

BibTex

@inproceedings{BUT185321,
  author="Pavel {Vorel} and Jan {Martiš} and Tomáš {Macík}",
  title="Low Input Voltage DC-DC Converter for Energy Harvesting using Iron-Constantan Thermoelectric Cells",
  booktitle="2023 International Conference on Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (EDPE)",
  year="2023",
  journal="2023 International Conference on Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (EDPE)",
  pages="1--7",
  publisher="Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice",
  address="Nový Smokovec, Slovakia",
  isbn="979-8-3503-2275-0",
  issn="2770-7652",
  url="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/10273860/proceeding"
}