Thermoelectric energy harvesting system for wearable electronics

This study investigates energy harvesting from the human wrist by converting body heat into electricity using thermoelectric modules. It involves developing a DC-DC Proportional Integrator (PI) or Proportional Integrator Derivative (PID) buck-boost circuit in MATLAB SIMULINK to amplify the voltage obtained from the thermoelectric generator (TEG). The designed DC-DC converter is then fabricated on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Experimental results show that the initial output voltage of approximately 300mV from body heat can be boosted up to 2.9V, sufficient to power an LED. This research highlights the potential of energy scavenging systems to power small autonomous electronic devices, reducing battery dependency and providing long-term, portable, and clean energy solutions. Additionally, the study compares wrist-based energy harvesting with other methods, explores future prospects, and examines the applications of harvesting energy from the human body, emphasizing the importance of self-powered systems like solar, wind, and fuel cells.