Design of Improved Controller for Thermoelectric Generator used in Distributed Generation.

MOLINA M.G.; JUANICO; RINALDE G F; TAGLIALAVORE, E.; GORTARI, S.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2010 vol. 35 p. 5968 - 5973

0360-3199

This paper investigates the application of thermal generation based on solid-state devices such as thermoelectric generators (TEGs) as a novel technological alternative of distributedgeneration (DG). The full detailed modeling and the dynamic simulation of a three-phasegrid-connected TEG used as a dispersed generator is studied. Moreover, a new controlscheme of the TEG is proposed, which consists of a multi-level hierarchical structure andincorporates a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) for better use of the thermalresource. In addition, reactive power compensation of the electric grid is included, operating simultaneously and independently of the active power generation. Validation of models and control schemes is performed by using the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Moreover, a small-scale TEG