Considerations on the use of a MPPT circuit for a thermoelectric generator

This paper presents some considerations on the use of a Maximum Power Point Tracking circuit for a thermoelectric generator. The authors present experimental results obtained with a thermoelectric generator that comprises an array of thermoelectric generation modules used then to model and simulate a circuit that extracts the maximum output electric power for a low temperature difference range. The circuit that assures an interface between thermoelectric generator and a DC load is a boost switched mode power supply. This paper do not cover the stabilization of the output voltage or current of the power supply, but emphasize on the match between output resistance of the TEG array and the input of the switched mode power supply. The paper presents also a set of simulation results that shown the operation mode of the proposed circuit.