A Systematic Review and Analysis of MPPT Techniques for TEG Systems Under Nonuniform Temperature Distribution

As a waste heat recovery power generation technology, the thermoelectric generation (TEG) system is popular and promising for its high reliability and environmental benefits. However, because of its low conversion efficiency, it has not been in large-scale use. To raise the efficiency of the TEG system, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are effective ways to gain the maximum power of the TEG system. But in practical engineering scene, TEG usually works under nonuniform temperature distribution (NTD) conditions; this will bring some difficulties on MPPT controlling, such as local maximum power point (LMPP) and oscillations around the maximum power point (MPP). For this reason, many intelligent MPPT algorithms have been emerged to solve aforementioned problems. In this article, the mathematical model and NTD condition will be introduced. Then, the latest research on classical and intelligent MPPT technologies will be reviewed, which includes a comparison of complexity, economy, efficiency, adaptive ability, and other aspects of these methods, in which researchers can obtain information in related fields.