A Novel MPPT Control Method of Thermoelectric Power Generation with Single Sensor

• Main Authors: Tadashi Sakaguchi, Toshihiko Ishiyama, Tsuyoshi Hanamoto, Koji Kimura, Hiroaki Yamada, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-04-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: thermoelectric power generation; MPPT; state space averaging method; boost chopper; discontinuous current mode
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/3/2/545

This paper proposes a novel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control method of thermoelectric power generation for the constant load. This paper reveals the characteristics and the internal resistance of thermoelectric power module (TM). Analyzing the thermoelectric power generation system with boost chopper by state space averaging method, the output voltage and current of TM are estimated by with only single current sensor. The proposed method can seek without calculating the output power of TM in this proposed method. The basic principle of the proposed MPPT control method is discussed, and then confirmed by digital computer simulation using PSIM. Simulation results demonstrate that the output voltage can track the maximum power point voltage by the proposed MPPT control method. The generated power of the TM is 0.36 W when the temperature difference is 35 °C. This is well accorded with the V-P characteristics.