INC-MPPT Algorithm for Maximizing Energy Conversion Efficiency of Thermoelectric Generating System

Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) is one of the renewable energy sources that can generate electrical power from waste heat energy from geothermal, solar or industrial plants. To maximizing the output power of a TEG system, the internal resistance of the TEG module must be matched with the load resistance. In this paper, TEG system has been simulated and implemented with a DC-to-DC boost converter including the maximum power point tracker (MPPT) control algorithms to maximize the energy conversion efficiency. Incremental Conductance (INC-MPPT) has been simulated with the MATLAB-Simulink and implemented with Arduino microcontroller and tested at different operating conditions. Simulation and experimental results showed that the experimental TEG system and simulation model have maximized the electrical output power of the TEG module with good accuracy and faster response to track the MPP at rapid changes of temperature on both sides of the module. The experimental results show that the harvested power duplicated by more than six times using the INC-MPPT algorithm applied in comparing with the connection without MPPT at the same operating condition.