Design and development of DC to DC voltage booster to integrate with PbTe/TAGS-85 based thermoelectric power generators

Abstract

Thermoelectric power generators (TEGs) based on Seebeck effect convert waste heat into electricity. However, the practical applications of such TEGs are limited by their low output DC voltage (10–300 mV). Therefore, a self powered DC-DC voltage booster circuit is highly essential to integrate with TEGs for commercial use. In this work, we demonstrate a DC-DC voltage booster circuit to amplify the output voltage delivered by a PbTe/TAGS-85 based TEG which consists of 4 p-n couples alternately connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. Design of the DC to DC booster circuit includes an oscillator and amplifier. Open circuit voltage of ∼325 mV generated by the TEG for a hot side temperature (Th) of 500 °C and a temperature difference (ΔT) of 410 °C was amplified by the booster circuit to 10 V. The designed DC-DC booster circuit exhibit the boosting efficiency of ∼50%.