User:A1674122

project team

Academic Supevisors

Dr. Said Al-Sarawi

Dr. Damith Ranasinghe

team members

ZEYU WANG
RAN YE

Acknowledgement

This work is supported by the Department of State Development: Collaboration Path- ways Program - South Australia Government (CPP 39).

Introduction

the development of a permanent power source for self-sustainable wireless sensor networks is essential in order to reduce the maintenance costs and increase the operational time of sensor nodes. Accordingly,over the past decade researchers have actively studied various energy harvesters that generate power form sources such as ambient light, heat, motion, electromagnetic waves and other unused sources of energy. One energy harvester driven by ambient vibrations has attracted special attention because it can easily gain energy form sources of movement such as human physical motion. This project states a liquid-based electrostatic energy harvester that converts the mechanical energy of human-motion-induced vibrations to electrical energy.

Aims

This paper presents a kinetic energy electrostatic harvester with electret as voltage source and liquid-based structure, which converts the mechanical energy in a low working frequency vibration to electrical energy. Moreover, it addresses the discharge issue of electret to improving charge storage stability of electrets in liquid-based environment. Extending from the theoretical research, the prototype of energy harvester is fabricated in proposed structure and is tested its performance in desirable low frequency range. In addition, the high efficiency circuit is necessary in energy conversion that is as important as the capacitor part.

Motivation and Significance

Energy harvesting technologies present a developing self-sustainable power source to replace conventional batteries in portable and low consumable application such as autonomous wireless sensor nodes, low power consumption electronic devices, and implantable medical equipment. As an emerging inexhaustible power source, there is significant developing potential in energy harvesting from ambient energy sources. It is different from piezoelectric harvesters and electromagnetic harvesters, which are mostly designed in a resonant mode and are driven in a relatively high frequency range. For instance, the spring structures are used in energy harvester should overcome their natural frequency to excite the system operation. Therefore, it is difficult to use in a low frequency range. Additionally, the electrets discharge reason limit their usage when it contacts with liquid. The polymer barrier layer is proposed to solve its discharge issue.

Comparing to conventional energy source, energy harvester provides sustainable and clean energy source. Comparing to piezoelectric energy harvester and electromagnetic energy harvester, electrostatic energy harvester has high output voltages; their components are built in low-cost parts, is easy to adjust the coupling coefficient and reaches high coupling coefficients, and increases capacitances through the reduction of size. These advantages are significant in small-scale energy harvester and in low frequency range operation.

The energy harvester needs an initial voltage. The conventional power supply is external power source such as battery and DC power supply, which are inconvenient in portable application, and it will affect the volume of entire energy harvester. And at the same time, the electret replaces these conventional power supply as initial voltage is a crucial part of this energy harvester.

background

Initially, the principle of energy harvester is capacitor. The components of liquid-based energy harvester are composed of two electrodes, which is top and bottom metal plates; a cavity is to store liquid; a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film layer is coated on the bottom of cavity. A barrier layer is used to solve electret discharge issue. The electret is used to provide the initial voltage for energy harvester. And the conducting liquid plays a role in changing the way that the arrangement mode of inner capacitors.

the structure of capacitor

In this capacitor, the electret and the covered film are considered as insulating layer. Through changing the liquid state, the inside structure of capacitor is changed when there is an external vibration. When the liquid occasionally contacts with the top insulating layer, the capacitance becomes large due to the air gap is eliminated. To be detailed, the inside structure of capacitor is changed from series capacitance to parallel capacitance. The value of capacitance is expressed as:

Capacitance initial is the minimum capacitance, capacitance excited is the maximum capacitance. ε1 is the permittivity of PTFE electret, ε2 is the permittivity of air, ε_3 is the permittivity of Cellulose Acetate tape. The d1 is the thickness of PTFE, d2 is the thickness of air gap, d3 is the height of liquid, d4 is the thickness of Cellulose Acetate tape. S is the overlay area of the top and bottom plates, Sliquid is the contact area of the conducting liquid and the insulating layer.

As this formula expressed, the electrical energy generation is determined by the capacitance ratio, the maximum capacitance and the electret voltage. As an important part of energy harvester, the electret is the core component of electrostatic energy harvester. It is a dielectric material, which has dipole polarisation or a permanent electric charge. It is similar like magnets that are dipoles. Many materials can be made into electret, most of them are made from synthetic polymers. It can be considered as stable direct current voltage source because there is a huge voltage potential in electret, which is an ideal alternative to DC voltage. However, the potential of electret is difficult to measure precisely at current stage, and it will decrease a lot in large time. The structure of energy harvester, the permittivity of insulating material and the voltage potential of electret are the most important three factors which affect the energy generation. Therefore, this paper will put emphasis on these three factors.

Theory

Firstly, comparing to the mechanical motion, the demand of this project is the feature of unpredictable vibrations and in a relatively low frequency range. The piezoelectric devices and electromagnetic devices has high destination for frequency. Therefore, the electrostatic is suitable for meeting this requirement. At the same time, the unpredictable vibration dimension need to be considered. Even though the capacitance can be changed with varying the distance between two plates from relative motion of plates, the weakness is obvious in unpredictable dimensional vibration in random directions. Therefore, the liquid-based electrostatic energy harvester is adopted to solve above problem and improve sensitivity of device.

The structure of energy harvester is a capacitor in factor. According to the capacitance determination equation, C= εS/4πkd, which ε stands for permittivity, S stands for the area over the top and bottom plates, k stands for electrostatic force constant and the d stands for the distance between the top and bottom plates. Therefore, the capacitance can be changed by altering the permittivity of capacitor material, controlling the areas over two plates and adjusting the distance between two plates. This is the fundamental used in this paper to construct the energy harvester.

Moreover, according to the capacitance definition equation, C= (Q)/(U), which Q stands for the quantity of electric charge in plate and U stands for voltage between two plates. Therefore, with the changing of capacitance, and the quantity of electric charge in plate is constant, the voltage between two plates will be changed. Consequently, there is an alternative voltage generated over these two plates, which becomes a power supply to generate power to drive circuit. Hence, it is very important to find an effective way to change the capacitance significantly. The ratio of maximum over minimum is the key factor to affect the output energy power. The larger ratio is, the more power is generated, with the initial voltage unchanging.

The approach that putting sensitive conductive liquid in capacitor is effective to change the distance between two electrode plates. Furthermore, it can change the inner structure in the capacitor. Apart from the distance, the contacting area of the liquid and top plate is changed as well, obviously, the capacitor is changed from in series to in parallel. It can bring a larger capacitance when the conductive liquid moves from horizontal direction to vertical direction contacting with the top plates.

(a) the initial state of capacitor (b) the excited state of capacitor

Besides the distance between two plates and contacting area of inner structure, the relative permittivity of material of each component is important as well. The components involve in this capacitor respectively are electret and insulating layer. The relative permittivity of material should be as larger as possible. The standard of choosing the material of insulating layer and side wall, there are some characteristic should be taken into consideration, such as, friction coefficient, adhesiveness, electrical insulating property, toxicity, corrosion resistance. In particularly, the low friction coefficient and low adhesiveness is essential for the sensitivity of capacitor and that is one of key factors to ensure feasibility of capacitor in low frequency range.

Secondly, the electret is used in this project to replace traditional voltage source. Electret cannot be removed from current like battery, however, it can provide a stable voltage, and it is therefore a good dc voltage source. In order to improve the portability of energy harvester, the simpler structure is necessary. The initial voltage could be provided by electret instead of external power supply.

The electret is made from some insulating material. It is like magnets to some extent and it has a permanent electric charge and can generate electrostatic field. However, there is an issue about the utility of electret that is the static electricity over the surface will discharge and result in the disappearance of surface potential at the same time. To be detailed, when the conducting liquid contacts directly with electret, it can discharge and cause the lifespan of energy harvester shorten significantly. Therefore, the polymer barrier layer is deposited between conducting liquid and electret surface can effectively protect the discharge conduction, and increase the lifespan to guarantee the charge storage stability and the performance of energy harvester.

Because of the uncertainty and uncontrollability during the charging process of the electret, the characteristic of electret cannot be specified. Under this situation, the outcome of experimental is instable. Therefore, the effect of instability should be taken into consideration.

Finally, the choice of conductive liquid is gallium (Ga). It is one kind of liquid metal that the melting point is under 29.8℃, the others are mercury that is the only liquid metal under room temperature and pressure and caesium that the melting point is under 28.4℃. even though the melting point of gallium is highest among these metals, the mercury and caesium are both toxic. Therefore, the gallium is the safest choice.

Theory

In this paper, through different ways to assist develop the energy harvester, the theoretical approach of capacitor, the investigation of each component of material, the charging method of electret, design software and the stepper motor will be stated below.

The theoretical approach of capacitor

The energy harvester has many aspects of characteristic perform, and the varying processing of inner capacitor is complex. Therefore, the process is simplified to calculate the consequences. When the capacitor moves by external motions, the permittivity distribution varies within the capacitive structure cause a large capacitance variation, the large capacitance variation is considered as the capacitance ratio which is equal to maximum capacitance over minimum capacitance (C_ratio=C_max/C_min ). The capacitance ratio concept is more than important in energy harvesting because it can be used in analysing varying charge volume, and in generated electrical energy. The energy power of capacitor commonly is E=1/2 CV^2. Because of varying capacitance, the output power of energy harvester is ∆E=1/2 (C_ratio-1) C_max V^2 in discharge process. To assume the operation frequency is 1 Hz, there are 3.31µw output power generated in one cycle.

The investigation of each component of material

The material of components is as well as important in design. Because the different material has different characteristic and different state of art, the material chosen needs to consider the cost and to guarantee the perform of capacitor. There are four kinds of material is chosen in this capacitor, namely, cellulose acetate tape, PTFE and Copper (Cu). The PTFE is material of the cavity, cellulose acetate tape is used as polymer barrier, PTFE is the material for electret, and the Cu is considered as the metal plates to the electrode.

PTFE commonly referred to as non-stick coating or easy to clean material. This material has the acid alkali resistance of various organic solvent resistance characteristics, almost insoluble in all solvents. At the same time, PTFE has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, low coefficient of friction of it, so can make lubrication, also become the ideal of easy to clean the pipe inner coating.

It has excellent chemical stability, corrosion resistance, corrosion resistance in the world today is one of the best materials. In addition, PTFE has high sealing lubrication is not sticky electric insulation, good anti-aging ability and excellent heat resistance.

Cellulose acetate is a kind of man-made substance which is derived from an organic compound in nature named cellulose. It is recognised as the most common organic compound. And cellulose is a biodegradable and renewable substance. It is a cheap source and commonly is used in many manufacturing fields. The material is used in this paper is cellulose acetate tape, which is a production made from cellulose. The permittivity of cellulose is 3.6-7.0, the breakdown voltage of it is extremely high, and the thickness of tape is around 40 microns. Consequently, it is an easy-obtained insulating material with an ideal thickness.

Therefore, cellulose acetate constitutes as the polymer barrier layer to significantly improve charge storage stability of electrets when conducting liquid directly contacts with electret interface.

Gallium (Ga) is a kind of liquid metal and non- toxic, which is considered as an ideal conductive material but the melting point of gallium is 29.8℃. thinking of the safety, gallium is chosen as the conductive material instead of mercury.

gallium (Ga)

electrets from the state of the art

The charging method of electret

Corona charging method is one of the most widely used method in making electret. It has the advantage that the charging voltages are controllable in corona charging process. In addition, the surface charge electret can be easily obtained in room temperature.

Schematic diagram of corona charging

Corona polar method is that the needle electrode which is added with high voltage discharges the corona. A large number of charged ions produced by corona discharge are driven to the anode at high speed under the applied electric field. The sample near the anode will be charged by charged ions and charged by the method. When the surface of the sample when accumulated to a layer of charged ions, the charged ions and the surface of the sample will undergo charge and energy transfer. Under certain conditions, the charge exchange between charged ions and sample surfaces achieves dynamic equilibrium. However, after this method of charging, the surface charge of the electret exhibits a bell-shaped distribution that the central surface potential of the electret is significantly higher than the surrounding surface potential.

Results

When there is no barrier layer for electret, the output voltage of energy harvester is extremely instable, it can achieve maximum voltage which is 5V from time to time. And due to the discharge issue of electret, it is apparent that the attenuation of output voltage starting to test. the electret can operate just for a while. Even though the output voltage is good, this method cannot be adopted. Therefore, the discharge issue is an obstacle that the energy harvester is in practice.

the energy harvester with stepper motor

Therefore, the cellulose acetate tape is put on the electret as the insulating layer to protect the electret from discharging. Firstly, the energy harvester is mounted on the stepper motor to test it under 10 Hz which is the highest frequency of our requirement. Under the opened-circuit, the energy harvester is directly connected with oscilloscope. The energy harvester moves in tilting direction. The maximum forward output voltage, which is shown, is 40mV, ant the maximum output backward voltage is -40mV. Ideally, the maximum forward output voltage should equal to the maximum backward output voltage. However,

the output voltage of energy harvester by stepper motor in 1Hz

the output voltage of energy harvester by stepper motor in 3Hz

the output voltage of energy harvester by stepper motor in 5Hz

the output voltage of energy harvester by stepper motor in 6Hz

the output voltage of energy harvester by stepper motor in 10Hz

Under a random vibration with hand-shaking, the maximum output voltage can achieve 1.9V which is the highest output voltage that can be generated by this energy harvester with barrier layer. However, with the uncertainty of hand-shaking, the output voltage is instable. And I still want to figure out how I can keep generating and the reason that the output voltage is different.

the output voltage of energy harvester by hand-shaking in high speed

the output voltage of energy harvester by hand-shaking in slow speed

Therefore, in another condition, under the random vibration with slower hand-shaking, and try to control the range of vibration, there is a lower output voltage. The reason that the output voltage is inconsistent, because there are many factors so that it cannot be quantized, and be measured.

Conclusion

In this paper, a liquid-based electrostatic energy harvester with electret in low frequency and movement in random directions is designed and investigated. Under various environments of non-periodic ambient motion. The designed electrostatic energy harvester produces a capacitance variation ratio of 41.25, and the maximum power is calculated theoretically of 3.31µw. The output voltage is 40mV when energy harvester is mounted on stepper motor, the output voltage is 500mV with lower speed and the maximum output voltage can achieve 1.9V with high speed hand shaking. in addition, the cellulose acetate barrier layer is presented in this paper to address the discharge issue of electret which affects the performance significantly in liquid-based electret kinetic energy harvester and makes it stably operates. The electret energy harvester can achieve a good performance and show promising future as a sustainable energy generation for portable devices.

Project management

Work Breakdown

The content of project consists of two parts which one is capacitor prototype and another is circuit structure. The key task in first stage is to analyse and device the capacitor prototype and circuit structure. However, the function of circuit is to transfer and store the outcome power of capacitor in circuit. In addition, the energy stored in circuit can be considered as an energy supplier. The output power of capacitor is essential data for circuit design. Therefore, the analysis of capacitor is important fundamental for further studying.

Timeline

The original plan is designed to manage time plan, and control and limit the process of project. However, there is some difference in project execution and original plan, because the new knowledge gap generated or the new challenge occurred. When these difficulties met in process, the original plan might need to be delayed or changed to meet new requirements.

Gantt chart for time management

Task allocation

The energy harvester is allocated into two parts which one is capacitor and another charge pump. These two parts is importantly equally. I am responsible for capacitor part which need to analyse and design capacitor, to build and test a prototype to compare to presented electromagnetic energy harvester. and my team mate is responsible for charge pump circuit.

Risk management

Most of this process is no especially risk. However, the conducting liquid chosen in this project is DMF. DMF has Health hazard which has invasive ways: inhalation, eat, percutaneous absorption. It has Acute toxicity, DMF is Inhaled 30 ~ 60 PPM, gastrointestinal symptoms, liver meritorious service is abnormal, there are jaundice, uric bravery former increases, proteinuria; Inhaled 10 ~ 20 PPM (sometimes 30 PPM), headache, loss of appetite, nausea, hepatic function and electrocardiogram (ecg) is normal; Inhaled 49 mg/m3 x 5.1 ~ 3 years, god failure syndrome, low blood pressure, liver function change. In addition, its dangerous characteristic: flammable, high heat, open flame or contact with oxidant, has caused the risk of burning explosion. It can react with sulfuric acid, fuming nitric acid fierce, even an explosion. And halide severe reactions can occur (such as carbon tetrachloride). Therefore, it should take the right protective measures. if it leaks few: with sand or other incombustible material adsorption or absorption. It can also use a lot of water to rinse, wash water diluted into the wastewater system. Additionally, eye protection: wear chemical safety goggles; Body protection: wear chemical protective clothing; Hand protection: wear rubber gloves; Other: no smoking on site. Take shower and change clothes after work.

Management Strategy

The management strategies used in whole process of project is the project scope management which is used to define, to validate and to control the project, the project time management which is used to plan and manage the project schedule, the risk management which is to protect the safety of facilities and personnel and the project communication management which is vital in group communication and to promote effectively operation of project.

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