An Investigation of Energy Harvesting Using Electrostrictive Polymers

2005 ◽  
Vol 889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailiang Ren ◽  
Yiming Liu ◽  
Heath F Hofmann ◽  
Qiming Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Unique Property ◽  
Elastic Energy Density ◽  
Ac Field

ABSTRACTOwing to their low acoustic impedance, high elastic energy density, and relatively high electromechanical conversion efficiency, the electroactive polymers have begun to show the potential for energy harvesting or mechanical to electrical energy conversion. In addition, due to the electromechanical coupling in these materials the electric and mechanical properties of these polymers will depend on the imposed electrical and mechanical conditions. This paper discusses how to utilizing this unique property to maximum the energy conversion efficiency and the harvested electrical energy density in the electrostrictive polymers. As an example, we demonstrate that when a properly phased and externally applied electric AC field is superimposed on the mechanical cycle, an output electrical energy density of 39mJ/cm3 and mechanical-to-electrical conversion efficiency of about 10% can be obtained from the electrostrictive P(VDF-TrFE) based polymers.

scholarly journals Dielectric elastomer generator with diaphragm configuration

2018 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 01032
Author(s):  
Zhen-Qiang Song ◽  
Sriyuttakrai Sathin ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Kazuhiro Ohyama ◽  
ShiJie Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Constant Voltage ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
65 J ◽  
Low Efficiency

The dielectric elastomer generator (VHB 4905, 3M) with diaphragm configuration was investigated with the constant-voltage harvesting scheme in order to investigate its energy harvesting ability. The maximum energy density and energy conversion efficiency is measured to be 65 J/kg and 5.7%, respectively. The relatively low efficiency indicates that higher energy conversion efficiency is impeded by the viscosity of the acrylic elastomer, suggesting that higher conversion efficiency with new low-viscosity elastomer should be available.

scholarly journals Analysis and optimal design of a vibration isolation system combined with electromagnetic energy harvester

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (16) ◽  
pp. 2382-2395
Author(s):  
Uchenna Diala ◽  
SM Mahdi Mofidian ◽  
Zi-Qiang Lang ◽  
Hamzeh Bardaweel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Vibration Isolation ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Isolation System ◽  
Magnetic Components ◽  
Energy Harvesting System ◽  
Response Function Method ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

This work investigates a vibration isolation energy harvesting system and studies its design to achieve an optimal performance. The system uses a combination of elastic and magnetic components to facilitate its dual functionality. A prototype of the vibration isolation energy harvesting device is fabricated and examined experimentally. A mathematical model is developed using first principle and analyzed using the output frequency response function method. Results from model analysis show an excellent agreement with experiment. Since any vibration isolation energy harvesting system is required to perform two functions simultaneously, optimization of the system is carried out to maximize energy conversion efficiency without jeopardizing the system’s vibration isolation performance. To the knowledge of the authors, this work is the first effort to tackle the issue of simultaneous vibration isolation energy harvesting using an analytical approach. Explicit analytical relationships describing the vibration isolation energy harvesting system transmissibility and energy conversion efficiency are developed. Results exhibit a maximum attainable energy conversion efficiency in the order of 1%. Results suggest that for low acceleration levels, lower damping values are favorable and yield higher conversion efficiencies and improved vibration isolation characteristics. At higher acceleration, there is a trade-off where lower damping values worsen vibration isolation but yield higher conversion efficiencies.

Superior electrostrictive strain achieved under low electric fields in relaxor ferroelectric polymers

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 5201-5208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhicheng Zhang ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Shaobo Tan ◽  
Qing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Relaxor Ferroelectric ◽  
Ferroelectric Polymers ◽  
Elastic Energy Density ◽  
Electromechanical Responses ◽  
Electromechanical Performance

A relaxor ferroelectric polymer exhibits record electromechanical performance, including the largest electrostrain of −13.4%, the highest elastic energy density of 3.1 J cm−3 and the best energy conversion efficiency of 0.5, among the known ferroelectric polymers. Notably, the excellent electromechanical responses are realized under much lower fields than those of ferroelectric polymers.

Highly efficient functional GexPb1−xTe based thermoelectric alloys

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (37) ◽  
pp. 20120-20126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaniv Gelbstein ◽  
Joseph Davidow
Keyword(s):  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Thermoelectric Materials ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Efficient Implementation ◽  
Thermoelectric Devices

Methods for enhancement of the direct thermal to electrical energy conversion efficiency, upon development of advanced thermoelectric materials, are constantly investigated mainly for an efficient implementation of thermoelectric devices in automotive vehicles, for utilizing the waste heat generated in such engines into useful electrical power and thereby reduction of the fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels.

Strategies for extending charge separation in colloidal nanostructured quantum dot materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (42) ◽  
pp. 23283-23300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Partha Maity ◽  
Hirendra N. Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cell ◽  
Quantum Dot ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Charge Separation ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Colloidal Nanocrystals

Different processes are involved in a quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSC). This article reviews the probable ways to extend charge separation in colloidal nanocrystals for the elevation of solar to electrical energy conversion efficiency in QDSCs.

scholarly journals Design and dynamic analysis of integrated architecture for vibration energy harvesting including piezoelectric frame and mechanical amplifier

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangjian Duan ◽  
Dongxing Cao ◽  
Xiaoguang Li ◽  
Yongjun Shen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Variable Cross ◽  
Mechanical Amplification

AbstractVibration energy harvesters (VEHs) can transform ambient vibration energy to electricity and have been widely investigated as promising self-powered devices for wireless sensor networks, wearable sensors, and applications of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). However, the ambient vibration is always too weak to hinder the high energy conversion efficiency. In this paper, the integrated frame composed of piezoelectric beams and mechanical amplifiers is proposed to improve the energy conversion efficiency of a VEH. First, the initial structures of a piezoelectric frame (PF) and an amplification frame (AF) are designed. The dynamic model is then established to analyze the influence of key structural parameters on the mechanical amplification factor. Finite element simulation is conducted to study the energy harvesting performance, where the stiffness characteristics and power output in the cases of series and parallel load resistance are discussed in detail. Furthermore, piezoelectric beams with variable cross-sections are introduced to optimize and improve the energy harvesting efficiency. Advantages of the PF with the AF are illustrated by comparison with conventional piezoelectric cantilever beams. The results show that the proposed integrated VEH has a good mechanical amplification capability and is more suitable for low-frequency vibration conditions.

2D WS2 Embedded PVDF Nanocomposites for Photosensitive Piezoelectric Nanogenerators with a Colossal Energy Conversion Efficiency ~ 25.6%

Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didhiti Bhattacharya ◽  
Sayan Bayan ◽  
Rajib K Mitra ◽  
Samit K Ray
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Piezoelectric Nanogenerators

Benefited with the advantage of low cost, light weight and mechanical flexibility, piezoelectric nanogenerators have potential for applications in renewable energy harvesting from various unexplored sources. Here we report the...

scholarly journals Optimizing energy harvesting performance of silicone elastomers by molecular grafting of azobenzene to the macromolecular network

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (31) ◽  
pp. 19088-19094
Author(s):  
Min Gong ◽  
Feilong Song ◽  
Hejian Li ◽  
Xiang Lin ◽  
Jiaping Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Silicone Rubber ◽  
Polymer Network ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Silicone Elastomers ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Macromolecular Network

Homogeneous silicone rubber was prepared for DEG applications by molecular grafting of azobenzene to the polymer network. The energy conversion efficiency of the composite was optimized to 5.01%, increased by 150% compared to the matrix.

Electromechanical Coupling and Energy Conversion in a PZT-Coated Acoustic Black Hole Beam

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (08) ◽  
pp. 2050095
Author(s):  
Linli Zhang ◽  
Gaetan Kerschen ◽  
Li Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Bending Waves ◽  
Proper Design ◽  
Full Coupling ◽  
Effective Wave

The phenomenon of acoustic black hole (ABH) exhibits unique and appealing features when bending waves propagate along a structure with a tailored power-law thickness profile. The ABH-induced wave retarding and energy focussing are conducive to effective wave manipulation and energy harvesting. Using a PZT-coated ABH beam as a benchmark, this paper investigates the electromechanical coupling between the PZT patches and the host beam and explores the resultant energy conversion efficiency for potential energy-harvesting (EH) applications. An improved semi-analytical model, considering the full coupling among various electromechanical components in the system, is proposed based on Timoshenko deformation assumption and validated through comparisons with FEM and experimental results. Numerical analyses are then conducted to show typical ABH-specific features as well as the influence of the PZT layout on the electromechanical coupling of the system and the corresponding EH efficiency. Results show that ABH effects entail effective and broadband EH upon proper design of the system with due consideration of the PZT layout in relation to the wavelength and frequency range. Some design guidelines on the installation of PZTs are provided in view of maximization of the ABH benefits and the energy-harvesting performance.

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