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Backpack Energy Harvesting System With Maximum Power Point Tracking Capability | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Backpack Energy Harvesting System With Maximum Power Point Tracking Capability


Abstract:

A backpack energy harvester converts mechanical energy associated with the oscillation of the backpack during human walking, into electric energy. It can be a very promis...Show More

Abstract:

A backpack energy harvester converts mechanical energy associated with the oscillation of the backpack during human walking, into electric energy. It can be a very promising solution for supplying portable devices, especially in outdoor activities, disaster relief, and military applications. In this article, a backpack energy harvesting system that is able to self-adapt its operating condition to maximize the extracted power while supplying a dc load is presented and studied, analytically and experimentally. It is based on a mechanical motion rectifier that converts the up-and-down oscillation of the backpack into a unidirectional rotation of a dc generator. The generator output voltage is regulated by a power electronic interface implementing a maximum power point tracking technique to maximize the extracted power. Experimental results confirm the tracking ability of the proposed system and show the advantages with respect to other wearable energy harvesting systems published in the literature.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics ( Volume: 69, Issue: 1, January 2022)
Page(s): 506 - 516
Date of Publication: 28 January 2021

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I. Introduction

In Recent years, a great attention has been devoted to wearable electronic devices for healthcare, fitness, and military applications [1], [2]. A key challenge for their practical usability is represented by the energy supply. To overcome the drawbacks of primary batteries, many papers were published on wearable harvesting systems based on piezoelectric, thermoelectric, photovoltaic, or electromagnetic transducers [3], [4]. For example, thermal harvesting units embedded in T-shirts and watches were proposed in [5], photovoltaic (PV) cells covered jackets in [6], shoes and knee braces equipped with harvesters in [7] and [8], and backpack energy harvesters in [9]–[13]. The latter have proved particularly suitable for outdoor activities and military applications [14], [15].

References

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