On high-performance rotational energy harvesting with a novel cam-like dielectric elastomer generator
On high-performance rotational energy harvesting with a novel cam-like dielectric elastomer generator
Rotational energy is a type of common energy source that can be harvested for supplying low-powered electronic devices. This paper proposes and investigates a novel cam-like dielectric elastomer generator (CDEG) for high-performance rotational energy harvesting. A mushroom-head clamp is designed to form a type of advanced conical dielectric elastomer membranes (DEMs). Moreover, a type of multi-protrusion cam mechanism is designed in the CDEG to effectively convert any external rotational excitation into a linear reciprocating motion, which can be further converted into electricity through the DEMs. First, the operating principle of the system under external rotational excitation is analyzed theoretically by deducing the deformation condition of the DEMs and the electrical output of the system. Second, the prototype is fabricated, and the rotational-to-linear motion conversion rule of its cam-like mechanism and the DEM capacitance calculation approach are validated. The experimental results show that adequate charging time and discharging time of the DEMs, which can be realized through the proposed cam-like mechanisms, are beneficial to the energy harvesting (EH) performance of the system. Third, with the validated theoretical model, numerical simulations are conducted to further study the system dynamics and the influences of important system parameters on the EH performance to provide a guideline for system improvement. Finally, the genetic algorithm is adopted to obtain the optimal system parameters and the corresponding electrical output of the proposed CDEG, demonstrating its superior output power at ultralow rotational frequencies compared with other typical rotational energy harvesters in the literature.
cam-like mechanism, dielectric elastomer generator, rotational energy harvesting, rotational-to-linear conversion, theoretical model
1317-1334
Fang, Shi Tong
b02a1ef7-09e1-427c-ba97-7b2b587b9cee
Wang, Shuai Bo
99f6e774-76fa-4f7a-b1a6-815536fe0617
Zhang, Guo Qing
bea2854d-4bcc-43dc-8306-21f9e0fa3046
Wang, Chen
e58fe9ef-a100-4155-bc8e-0c1f1cc3e39a
Xu, Jun Chen
10027386-9276-4b0f-83f8-861df735a99b
Wang, Zhou Zhou
7a0f7b3b-3b9a-4fa9-bd55-b2dc94f81edc
Feng, AiJie
01caebf8-cdba-426e-bbd9-e46ff0eec8d3
Qiao, ZiJian
40f0d125-87e1-483e-a969-d5c39b891cc6
Yurchenko, Daniil
51a2896b-281e-4977-bb72-5f96e891fbf8
Lai, ZhiHui
9fcd6327-20df-4a45-a632-f21e678cc0e8
20 April 2023
Fang, Shi Tong
b02a1ef7-09e1-427c-ba97-7b2b587b9cee
Wang, Shuai Bo
99f6e774-76fa-4f7a-b1a6-815536fe0617
Zhang, Guo Qing
bea2854d-4bcc-43dc-8306-21f9e0fa3046
Wang, Chen
e58fe9ef-a100-4155-bc8e-0c1f1cc3e39a
Xu, Jun Chen
10027386-9276-4b0f-83f8-861df735a99b
Wang, Zhou Zhou
7a0f7b3b-3b9a-4fa9-bd55-b2dc94f81edc
Feng, AiJie
01caebf8-cdba-426e-bbd9-e46ff0eec8d3
Qiao, ZiJian
40f0d125-87e1-483e-a969-d5c39b891cc6
Yurchenko, Daniil
51a2896b-281e-4977-bb72-5f96e891fbf8
Lai, ZhiHui
9fcd6327-20df-4a45-a632-f21e678cc0e8
Fang, Shi Tong, Wang, Shuai Bo, Zhang, Guo Qing, Wang, Chen, Xu, Jun Chen, Wang, Zhou Zhou, Feng, AiJie, Qiao, ZiJian, Yurchenko, Daniil and Lai, ZhiHui
(2023)
On high-performance rotational energy harvesting with a novel cam-like dielectric elastomer generator.
Science China Technological Sciences, 66 (5), .
(doi:10.1007/s11431-022-2367-9).
Abstract
Rotational energy is a type of common energy source that can be harvested for supplying low-powered electronic devices. This paper proposes and investigates a novel cam-like dielectric elastomer generator (CDEG) for high-performance rotational energy harvesting. A mushroom-head clamp is designed to form a type of advanced conical dielectric elastomer membranes (DEMs). Moreover, a type of multi-protrusion cam mechanism is designed in the CDEG to effectively convert any external rotational excitation into a linear reciprocating motion, which can be further converted into electricity through the DEMs. First, the operating principle of the system under external rotational excitation is analyzed theoretically by deducing the deformation condition of the DEMs and the electrical output of the system. Second, the prototype is fabricated, and the rotational-to-linear motion conversion rule of its cam-like mechanism and the DEM capacitance calculation approach are validated. The experimental results show that adequate charging time and discharging time of the DEMs, which can be realized through the proposed cam-like mechanisms, are beneficial to the energy harvesting (EH) performance of the system. Third, with the validated theoretical model, numerical simulations are conducted to further study the system dynamics and the influences of important system parameters on the EH performance to provide a guideline for system improvement. Finally, the genetic algorithm is adopted to obtain the optimal system parameters and the corresponding electrical output of the proposed CDEG, demonstrating its superior output power at ultralow rotational frequencies compared with other typical rotational energy harvesters in the literature.
Text
Final_Version_revision
Text
ON high performance_Lai
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 1 March 2023
Published date: 20 April 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52205114, 51905349, U2013603), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant Nos. 2022A1515010126, 2023A1515012921, 2020A1515011509), Excellent Science and Technology Creative Talent Training Program of Shenzhen, China (Grant No. RCBS20221008093252089), and Shenzhen Natural Science Fund (the Stable Support Plan Program 20220809181431001).
Keywords:
cam-like mechanism, dielectric elastomer generator, rotational energy harvesting, rotational-to-linear conversion, theoretical model
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 484892
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/484892
ISSN: 1674-7321
PURE UUID: 592fb463-786e-4f22-9b23-d26bf2720ed8
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 24 Nov 2023 17:30
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 02:12
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Shi Tong Fang
Author:
Shuai Bo Wang
Author:
Guo Qing Zhang
Author:
Chen Wang
Author:
Jun Chen Xu
Author:
Zhou Zhou Wang
Author:
AiJie Feng
Author:
ZiJian Qiao
Author:
Daniil Yurchenko
Author:
ZhiHui Lai
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics