ICT2014 Abstracts

We have analyzed the effect of switch on-resistance on the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) performance of the boost converter connected to thermoelectric generators. The output power and input power are completely identical when the shunt switch resistance is zero. However, the difference in the maximum duty ratio between the output and input power becomes considerable even for the small incremental value of the shunt resistance. We have provided a design strategy for MPPT controllers through the study of the impact of on-resistance both on the input and output power maximum points. For an MPPT controller composed of a boost converter with a practical non-ideal switch, the recommended method is as follows: (1) minimize the on-resistance as much as possible, (2) track the output power peak point node instead of the input power, (3) and control the ratio of switch resistance and load resistance to be as high as possible to maximize the power transfer efficiency.