Output Characteristics of Energy Harvesting Using Multiple Energy Sources

This paper describes the output characteristics of energy harvesting using multiple energy sources with the aim of increasing the output power. There are two ways of using multiple energy sources in energy harvesting. The first one is to use different types of energy sources that generate power independently. In the second case, one energy source assists the other to improve its output power. In this study, we examined the second type with a case of thermoelectric generation where the output power was increased by air blowing or the cooling water. The experimental results showed that the air current increased the output of thermoelectric generation by 27%, and the cooling water increased by 45%. Therefore, Utilizing multiple types of energy sources can lead to increase in the output power of energy harvesting.