The demand to integrate more features has significantly increased the complexity and power consumption of smart portable devices. Therefore extending the battery life-time has become a major challenge and new approaches are required to decrease the power consumed from the source. Traditionally the focus has been on reducing the dynamic power consumption of the digital circuits used in these devices. However as process technologies scale, reducing the dynamic power has become less effective due to the increased impact of the leakage power. Alternatively, a more effective approach to minimize the power consumption is to continuously optimize the ratio of the dynamic and leakage power while delivering the required performance. This works presents a novel power-aware system for dynamic minimum power point tracking of digital loads in portable applications. The system integrates a dc-dc converter power-stage and the supplied digital circuit. The integrated dc-dc converter IC utilizes a mixed-signal current program mode (CPM) controller to regulate the supply voltage of the digital load IC. This embedded converter inherently measures the power consumption of the load in real-time, eliminating the need for additional power sensing circuitry. Based on the information available in the CPM controller, a minimum power point tracking (MiPPT) controller sets the supply and threshold voltages for the digital load to minimize its power consumption while maintaining a target frequency. The 10MHz mixed-signal CPM controlled dc-dc converter and the digital load are fabricated in 0.13µm IBM technology. Experimental results verify that the introduced system results in up to 30% lower power consumption from the battery source.

The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DER)s has prompted interest in the expansion of DC power systems. The technological limitations that hinder the expansion of DC power systems are the absence of DC circuit breakers and high step-up/high step-down DC converters for interconnecting DC systems. This thesis presents a transformerless high step-up DC-DC converter intended for use as an interconnect between DC systems. The converter is required to operate at medium to high voltage (>1kV) and provide high voltage gain (>5). This work details the steady state operation and dynamic model of the proposed converter. The component ratings are identified and converter design limitations are investigated. A 100V:1kV/4kW prototype is produced to verify the analytic steady state model and measure efficiency. An experimental efficiency of 90% was achieved at a step-up ratio of 1:10, however efficiency at low power is limited due to the need to circulate power.

The demand to integrate more features has significantly increased the complexity and power consumption of smart portable devices. Therefore extending the battery life-time has become a major challenge and new approaches are required to decrease the power consumed from the source. Traditionally the focus has been on reducing the dynamic power consumption of the digital circuits used in these devices. However as process technologies scale, reducing the dynamic power has become less effective due to the increased impact of the leakage power. Alternatively, a more effective approach to minimize the power consumption is to continuously optimize the ratio of the dynamic and leakage power while delivering the required performance. This works presents a novel power-aware system for dynamic minimum power point tracking of digital loads in portable applications. The system integrates a dc-dc converter power-stage and the supplied digital circuit. The integrated dc-dc converter IC utilizes a mixed-signal current program mode (CPM) controller to regulate the supply voltage of the digital load IC. This embedded converter inherently measures the power consumption of the load in real-time, eliminating the need for additional power sensing circuitry. Based on the information available in the CPM controller, a minimum power point tracking (MiPPT) controller sets the supply and threshold voltages for the digital load to minimize its power consumption while maintaining a target frequency. The 10MHz mixed-signal CPM controlled dc-dc converter and the digital load are fabricated in 0.13µm IBM technology. Experimental results verify that the introduced system results in up to 30% lower power consumption from the battery source.

The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DER)s has prompted interest in the expansion of DC power systems. The technological limitations that hinder the expansion of DC power systems are the absence of DC circuit breakers and high step-up/high step-down DC converters for interconnecting DC systems. This thesis presents a transformerless high step-up DC-DC converter intended for use as an interconnect between DC systems. The converter is required to operate at medium to high voltage (>1kV) and provide high voltage gain (>5). This work details the steady state operation and dynamic model of the proposed converter. The component ratings are identified and converter design limitations are investigated. A 100V:1kV/4kW prototype is produced to verify the analytic steady state model and measure efficiency. An experimental efficiency of 90% was achieved at a step-up ratio of 1:10, however efficiency at low power is limited due to the need to circulate power.

The great innovations of the last century have ushered continuous progress in many areas of technology, especially in the form of miniaturization of electronic circuits. This progress shows a trend towards consistent decreases in power requirements due to miniaturization. According to the ITRS and industry leaders, such as Intel, the challenge of managing and providing power efficiency still persist as scaling down of devices continues. A variety of power sources can be used in order to provide power to low power applications. Few of these sources have favorable characteristics and can be designed to deliver maximum power such as the novel mini notched turbine used as a source in this work. The MiNT is a novel device that can be used as a feasible energy source when integrated into a system and evaluated for power delivery as investigated in this work. As part of this system, a maximum power point tracking system provides an applicable solution for capturing enhanced power delivery for an energy harvesting system. However, power efficiency and physical size are adversely affected by the characteristics and environment of many energy harvesting systems and must also be addressed. To address these issues, an analysis of mini notched turbine, a RF rectenna, and an enhanced maximum power point tracking system is presented and verified using simulations and measurements. Furthermore, mini notched energy harvesting system, RF rectenna energy harvesting system, and enhanced maximum power point tracking system are developed and experimental data analyzed. The enhanced maximum power point tracking system uses a resistor emulation technique and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to improve the power efficiency and reduce the physical size. This new innovative design improves the efficiency of optimized power management circuitry up to 7% compared to conventional power management circuits over a wide range of input power and range of emulated resistances, allowing more power to be harvested from small energy harvesting sources and delivering it to the load such as smart sensors. In addition, this is the first IC design to be implemented and tested for the patented mini notched turbine (MiNT) energy harvesting device. Another advantage of the enhanced power management system designed in this work is that the proposed approach can be utilized for extremely small energy sources and because of that the proposed work is valid for low emulated resistances. and systems with low load resistance Overall, through the successful completion of this work, various energy harvesting systems can have the ability to provide enhanced power management as the IC industry continues to progress toward miniaturization of devices and systems.

The purpose of this research is to design and integrate a symbiotic notched-turbine energy generator for implantation as a cross-coupled system capable of continuously and perpetually powering an electronic implantable medical device (IMD), which is a device designed to operate inside the body of a higher mammal to enhance, correct or provide the body with a function that has deviated from the norm or has stopped altogether. The list of IMDs available for implantation keeps growing every year, one of the newest being the VBLOC, produced by EnteroMedics®, and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 15th, 2015[1], [2] to treat obesity in the United States, in lieu of the more dangerous and costly bariatric surgery widely used to treat the same condition. Some of the more traditional IMDs, such as the cardiac defibrillator, pacemaker, and insulin pumps require the use of a battery system for their operation. The powering of IMDs is a topic of growing importance and as such, the energy released by the hydrodynamic action of the cardiovascular system of a higher mammal is presented in this work as a source of energy that can be converted into electricity by use of a microturbine, loaded with magnetic rings that induce a time-varying magnetic field onto a set of insulated coils through the process of electromagnetic induction (EMI) in accordance with Faraday’s Law. This work goes beyond mere power production and focuses on the process required to integrate this power source with an IMD when it is coupled to the cardiovascular system for drawing hydro-mechanical power for conversion to electricity and to the IMD of choice to xii deliver the conditioned power, thus replicating a symbiotic process. The harvested energy in the form of a time-varying tri-phase sine wave is therefore rectified, conditioned and made available for use to the IMD. The proposed 3-phase generator has a volume of 1.02 cm3 and has the potential to be implemented as a dual or quad system that doubles or quadruples the single generator power capabilities accordingly. The rectifying and conditioning circuits may be housed in a hermetically sealed container, covered with a biocompatible material such as, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or titanium, which can afford the best implantation properties such as non-absorbability, durability, hardness, and biocompatibility [4]. Additionally, the prevention of blood clotting is of paramount importance in any IMD, which can be helped, for example by treating its surface with Tethered-Liquid Perfluorocarbons (TLP) to prevent biofilm formation of the blood that typically leads to infections and clotting[5].

A presente tese busca desenvolver uma metodologia para o gerenciamento e controle de uma geração distribuída que utiliza como fonte principal células a combustível do tipo PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane). A finalidade do trabalho consiste em analisar, controlar e gerenciar a operação da célula a combustível (CaC) nas operações ilhada e conectada em relação à rede de distribuição. Nos primeiros capítulos do texto é elaborada uma revisão acerca do princípio de funcionamento e do modelo da CaC. Após este estágio inicial, são analisadas e modeladas as estruturas dos estágios CC e CA que compõem a geração distribuída. Para o modo conectado é desenvolvida uma estratégia para o controle da tensão do link CC que, a partir da regulação da corrente do estágio CA, permite o gerenciamento da potência fornecida pela CaC. Sequencialmente ao texto e com a adição do estágio de armazenamento de energia, é apresentada uma proposta que vincula a dinâmica da CaC com a estrutura de gerenciamento do estágio CC e CA. Esse fato garante que a alteração do ponto de operação da CaC seja descrito conforme uma dinâmica predeterminada, garantindo assim que transitórios não sejam absorvidos pela CaC. Como parte final da tese, é desenvolvida uma estratégia para a inicialização da CaC, a qual associa o próprio comportamento da célula e o estágio de armazenamento de energia. Os resultados apresentados ao longo do texto mostram que as estruturas propostas tornam a CaC menos sensível a transitórios de carga, além de serem capazes de deslocar (gerenciar) o ponto de operação da célula. Ao final de cada capítulo, são apresentados resultados experimentais e de simulações que auxiliam o entendimento e suportam as propostas do trabalho. / This thesis proposes a methodology for management and control of distributed generation with a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) as the main source. Additionally, the analysis of performance is used when the PEM fuel cell operates in two different operation modes, i.e. in grid-connected and stand-alone modes. In the first chapters, a review of main features and a mathematical model of fuel cells are presented. Sequentially, the theoretical models of the DC- and AC-power converters are analyzed. For grid-connected operation mode, a strategy based on the DC-link voltage control is proposed via current regulation of the AC stage affording thus the management of the power produced by the fuel cell. Additionally, with the use of the storage devices, a proposal that associates the dynamics of the PEM fuel cell with the DC and AC stages is shown. This fact ensures that the movement of the fuel cell operating point is described within a predetermined dynamic, ensuring that transients are not absorbed by the fuel cell. Finally, a strategy for the startup of fuel cell in association with the energy storage stage is developed. The results show that the proposed structures makes the cell less sensitive to the load transient, in order to move (manage) the fuel cell operating point. At the end of each chapter, experimental and simulation results are presented to support the proposed approach.

Submitted by Morgana Silva (morgana_linhares@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-07-27T17:34:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3128757 bytes, checksum: 134acd3484b6279cdfe685eaa97006e0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T17:34:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3128757 bytes, checksum: 134acd3484b6279cdfe685eaa97006e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-30 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / This paper proposes an alternative control strategy for feedback state space of a CC-CC converter, applied for regulation of photovoltaic (PV) systems. The control technique depends on state space equations of the photovoltaic generator connected to the inverter. The controller gains are projected through the construction of a characteristic polynomial, which considers the terms of controllability and uses the formulation of Ackermann. The proposed method is initially tested by computer simulation using Matlab/Simulink environment. We present experimental results using the photovoltaic panel with the push-pull that prove the satisfactory performance of the proposed control. / Este trabalho propõe uma estratégia alternativa de controle por realimentação de espaço de estados de um conversor CC-CC, aplicado para fins de regulação de sistemas fotovoltaicos (PV). A técnica de controle depende de equações de espaço de estados do gerador fotovoltaico ligado ao conversor. Os ganhos do controlador são projetados por meio da construção de um polinômio característico, que considera as condições de controlabilidade e utiliza a formulação de Ackermann. O método proposto é inicialmente testado por simulação computacional, utilizando o ambiente Matlab/Simulink. São apresentados resultados experimentais utilizando o painel fotovoltaico junto com o push-pull que comprovam o desempenho satisfatório do controle proposto.

Esta dissertação aborda aspectos gerais relativos à utilização de um conversor CC-CC que opera conectado à rede de distribuição e que emprega como fonte primária células a combustível. Neste trabalho, a modelagem matemática em espaços de estados (pequenos sinais e média) dos conversores Boost e Boost Interleaved com Multiplicador de Tensão (IBVM), assim como as arquiteturas de controle utilizadas em modo tensão, corrente média e corrente de pico são comparadas para determinar qual delas apresenta melhor desempenho. Devido ao fato das células a combustível apresentarem tensão terminal baixa e corrente terminal elevada, há a necessidade de utilizar conversores eletrônicos com alto ganho para equalizar a tensão produzida pela fonte com o nível de tensão presente na rede de distribuição. Tendo isso em vista, este trabalho mostra uma análise do ganho estático de tensão do conversor Boost e IBVM considerando os efeitos das resistências parasitas dos componentes utilizados e da carga conectada nos terminais de saída do conversor. Como resultado da modelagem matemática do ganho, é mostrado um conjunto de equações que definem o valor mínimo de resistência do semicondutor de potência, indutor, capacitor do multiplicador de tensão e a máxima carga que os conversores Boost e Boost Interleaved com Multiplicador de Tensão podem suprir. Por fim, os resultados experimentais são apresentados com o intuito de validar os resultados teóricos e de simulação obtidos. / This thesis addresses general aspects concerning the application of DC-DC converters applied to a grid connected Fuel Cell system. It is discussed in this thesis the averaged and small signals space state modeling of the Boost and Interleaved Boost with Voltage Multiplier (IBVM) converter, it is also mentioned the control architectures in voltage mode, average current mode and peak current mode. The voltage and average current mode control architectures are simulated and implemented in hardware in order to be compared. Due to the fact that Fuel Cells present low terminal voltage and high current, it is needed to use high gain DC-DC converters with the aim connect the system to the grid. This thesis also presents an approach in the analysis of DC-DC converter static voltage gain considering the effect of the parasitic resistances and the load connected to the converter terminals. As a result of the gain analysis, it is presented a set of equation, from which is possible to determine the maximum value of the parasitic resistances for the switch, inductor and capacitor of the voltage multiplier. It is also calculated the maximum value of load connected to the Boost and Interleaved Boost with Voltage Multiplier converters with the aim to present the designed voltage gain. Additionally, by the maximum load value calculated it is possible to determine the maximum power that the converter will be capable to process, considering a specific point of operation. Finally, the designed DC-DC converter is implemented with the aim to validate the theoretical and simulation results.

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