Evaluating a Switched Capacitor-Boost Converter (SC-BC) for energy harvesting in a Peltier-cells thermoelectric system

Abstract

This paper describes a new circuit to harvest energy from a Peltier elements system using a Switched Capacitors-Boost Converter (SC-BC). The Peltier system produces a high-impedance, low output voltage (4-15 V), that has to be elevetaed, about one order of magnitude (40-150 V) to supply certain applications. Full converter description and operation both, at open-loop and closed-loop using Sliding-mode control (SMC) are aboarded in this work. Experimental and simulated results of a 40W prototype will be given in the paper.