Performance evaluation of non-isolated high step-up DC-DC converter for thermoelectric energy harvesting system using MPPT control techniques

Abstract

In the present scenario, electricity generation from waste heat has become an attractive option in both research and industrial sectors. Conventional waste heat recovering techniques mostly use ThermoElectric Generators (TEG), for conversion of heat energy into electrical energy. In this paper a non-isolated high step-up DC-DC power converter with switched capacitor cells is proposed for the ThermoElectric power generation systems. The non-isolated high step-up DC-DC converter has the advantage of good output regulation and switched capacitor converter provides a high voltage gain. Hence, the proposed converter has high voltage gain and excellent voltage regulation. Additionally, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) using the Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (INC) techniques are used to track maximum power from the TEG. This paper presents the design and simulation of the proposed converter with tracking controller using PSIM.