A novel self-starting ultra low-power and low-voltage two-stage DC-DC boost converter for microbial energy harvesting

Abstract

This paper presents a novel self-starting low-voltage step-up DC-DC converter for energy harvesting from ultra-Iow power and low-voltage energy sources. The proposed structure consists of two stages: the first stage is an autonomous oscillator, which provides the self-start-up capability with low-input voltages, and the second stage is a controllable reverse conventional buck-boost converter. The converter is simulated using ORCAD 16.5 and also its laboratory prototype is fabricated. Simulation results and experimental tests confirm that this converter is able to harvest ultra-low powers as small as 40J.lW from a microbial fuel cell, while feeding a 510 kO load with a DC voltage over 2.7V.

An Experimental Study on Step-Up DC–DC Converters for Organic Photovoltaic Cells

“…Other authors use well-known power electronics topologies to adapt the conversion to ultra-low power applications. The work reported in [9] presents an interesting approach to this ultra-low power, with an energy harvesting source based on a microbial fuel cell. The PCB prototyped converter is a buck-boost capable of delivering an experimental output voltage above 2.7 V for a 510 kΩ load (14 µW output).…”

A New Method for a Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting System Using a Backtracking Search Algorithm-Based PI Voltage Controller

“…The DC-DC converters are called boost, buck, and buck-boost. The principle of such a converter is that the output voltage magnitude increases or decreases compared to the input voltage magnitude from ambient sources [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Operated under an open loop condition, the DC-DC converter displays poor voltage regulation and insufficient active response, and such converter is used as a closed loop feedback control system for output voltage regulation.…”