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Comparison of 3 Self-Starting Step-Up DC:DC Converter Topologies for Harvesting Energy from Low-Voltage and Low-Power Microbial Fuel Cells
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| Author(s) |
Nicolas DEGRENNE, Bruno ALLARD, Francois BURET, Florent MOREL |
| Abstract |
This paper describes and evaluates 3 original step-up converter architectures able to harvest energy from low-voltage and low-power generators. Design and sizing are made according to specifications issued from the stringent characteristics of microbial fuel cells. The maximum harvested power is10mW under input voltage Vin=0.3V (33mA input current). The considered converters include self-oscillating circuits for autonomous operation. The 2 first topologies are respectively adapted fromboost and flyback topologies. The 3rd topology uses a Greinacher voltage-lift circuit. Energy istransferred to the load both directly (forward transfer) and indirectly (flyback transfer). PSPICEsimulations enable evaluation and comparison of the 3 topologies in term of efficiency, robustness,step-up ratio, control and cost. Best efficiency of 80.6\% is achieved by the boost-derived circuit whichalso enables a feedback action to harvest energy at maximum power point. |
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| Filename: | 0323-epe2011-full-14051617.pdf |
| Filesize: | 1.263 MB |
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| Type |
Members Only |
| Date |
Last modified 2012-01-26 by System |
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