Boosting 1-2 volts to 220?

[Artlav]

Are there any practical ways of getting mains-style 220V AC from a source giving between 1 and 2 volts?
The source can provide hundreds of amps, the output power level needs to be around 10 to 50W.

Only non-exotic idea i have is to use some sort of low power boost/charge pump IC to provide higher voltage to power the logic and MOSFET gates, then build a more or less the usual inverter.

 

[tpetar]

Use transformer. But on transformer primar you need lots of current. Core 30mm x 25mm 56W, Sec 220V at 200mA EI type of iron core. Primar 12 turns of thicker wire, secundar 1397 turns 0,31mm.

 

[Artlav]

Got a proof of concept, with a laying-around 6+6 by 170 transformer.
Logic&gates driven at 12V only consume 20mA of current, while switching target 2V into the transformer, giving 60V across a 10W load.

Are there any expected problems in this kind of design, besides thick wires?

 

[tpetar]

Input voltage is between 1V and 2V or 12V ?

 

[Artlav]

Input voltage is between 1V and 2V or 12V ?

Between 1V and 2V.
I was just testing if separate supplies would work, using parts from a 12V inverter.

 

[BradtheRad]

You're asking for a step-up on the order of a few hundred times. This might be best covered in more than one stage. It might work well if you raise the incoming supply to 12V, then use your inverter to step up to AC mains.

To carry 50W from a 2V battery means 25A draw. You would switch that amount through either a coil or transformer. Care will be needed in regard to generating high-V spikes.

 

[mtwieg]

Sure it can be done, there are lots of SMPS controllers which can operate as low as 0.8V in. You can use one to make a low-power auxiliary supply voltage, maybe 5-15V, which can then be used to power a separate high power converter. Doing the step up in two stages is probably a good idea. Maybe you can convert to 12V, then use a car inverter from there to make things simple.

The most difficult part will probably be the first high power conversion stage. You'll need inductors and FETs with very low ESR, like in the milliohm range.