Design of piezoelectric transformer-based DC/DC converter to improve power by using heat transfer equipment

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new design of a piezoelectric transformer (PT) for low-profile DC/DC converter applications, which increases the output power by using heat transfer equipment. We examined several parameters, which allow us to produce a piezoelectric transformer with optimal efficiency. Instead of looking at the typically optimal loading condition of the PT, we consider the influence of the temperature rise on losses. When the vibration velocity is too large, the piezoelectric transformer generates heat unstably until it cracks. By maintaining the vibration mode and limiting the heat produced by the PT, this design can enhance the power capacities of the PT and thus increase the output power of the DC/DC converter. A finite element analysis (FEA) approach with COMSOL Multiphysics was made to predict PT's working temperature. A theoreticalphenomenological model was also developed to explain the relationship between the equivalent losses resistances and the input voltage at different temperatures. It will be shown that the vibration velocity as well as the heat generation increases the losses. A large vibration velocity and generated heat may cause the temperature feedback loop to enter into an unstable state. We began by modeling a piezoelectric transformer in a DC/DC converter configuration in order to determine the design constraints and variables such as the maximum mechanical current, the temperature distribution, the PT geometrical configuration and the energy balance. In our design, the PT power capacity increases 3 times (i.e. from 4.54 W to 13.29 W) at specific temperature and the effects of the different cooling methods of the system were verified. The study comprises of a theoretical part and experimental proof-of-concept demonstration of the proposed design method.

Discussion on Piezoelectric Power Generation System

“…The synchronous charge collecting technology [18], [19], which synchronizes the charge collecting period with the vibration period of piezoelectric vibrator, can reduce the damping brought by inverse piezoelectric effect and promote the efficiency of piezoelectric power generation equipment by 4~9 times. It is verified by experiment that the output power of AC-DC-DC converter is almost 3 times greater than AC-DC converter [20].…”