This Master thesis deals with the analysis, simulation
and step-by-step design, implementation
and experimental testing processes of a
tapped inductor power electronics converter,
associated with the energy harvesting process
of a Dielectic ElectroActive Polymer (DEAP)
generator. In order to enhance the operational
voltage range of the converter, while
sustaining a high degree of energy efficiency,
the ‘gate balancing core’ technique has been
employed to serialize a number of switches.
Numerous experiments on the serialization of
switches as well on the converter operation are
conducted in the laboratoy of AAU and in this
thesis they are presented and discussed.