Design of a microcontroller based DC-DC boost converter for a TEG system

• Main Authors: De Nieva, John Oliver C., Gonzales, Raphael Carlo C., Lee, Andrew Anthony L., Nicomedes, Angelo D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Electronic controllers; DC-to-DC converters; Electric current converters; Electrical and Electronics; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11500
• Institution: De La Salle University

The goal of this paper is to design a microcontroller based DC-DC boost converter that is able to adapt to low to high input voltage from renewable energy sources such as TEGs. The boost converter is designed to step up the voltage from the TEG to a constant value selectable by the user. The output voltage can be adjusted through the buttons, or through a potentiometer. The output voltage is fed back to the microcontroller which in turn provides and adjusts the pulse-width-modulation signal accordingly to keep the output voltage constant. The system uses a start-up battery for it to be able to start boosting operation with voltages as low as 0.7V. Afterwards, the start-up battery is electrically removed from the system. The chosen TEG modules are used to harness exhaust heat from the engine exhaust pipe of the scooter. A steel attachment to the exhaust pipe is attached to the hot side of the TEG, while an aluminum heat sink is attached to the cold side. The harnessed power is fed into the DC-DC converter system to be able to produce a regulated voltage to charge selected devices. Tests were carried out to show the performance of the DC-DC converter system by itself. Simulation of the system with the TEG was also conducted before the attachment to the scooter. Finally, actual driving with the system attached to the scooter was done.