Methods to improve harvested energy and conversion efficiency of viscoelastic dielectric elastomer generators

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (18) ◽  
pp. 184102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyou Zhou ◽  
Liying Jiang ◽  
Roger E. Khayat
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer

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 Optimizing the Energy Harvesting Cycle of a Dissipative Dielectric Elastomer Generator for Performance Improvement

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Fan ◽  
Hualing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Enhancement Effect ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Optimal Transfer ◽  
Conversion Performance ◽  
Good Agreement

This paper optimizes the energy harvesting cycle of dissipative dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) to explore possible approaches for improving the energy harvesting performance. By utilizing the developed theoretical framework, the dissipative performance of the DEG with a constant voltage cycle is analyzed, which shows good agreement with the existing experimental data. On this basis, we design a novel energy harvesting cycle and a corresponding energy harvesting circuit in which a transfer capacitor is utilized to store the charge transferred from the DEG. Then, the energy conversion performance of the DEG with the novel energy harvesting cycle is investigated. The results indicate that both the energy density and conversion efficiency are improved by choosing a high voltage during the discharging process and that as the R-C time constant increases, the enhancement effect of the voltage increases and then approaches to the saturation. In addition, there is an optimal transfer capacitor that can maximize energy density or conversion efficiency, and the optimal transfer capacitor increases with the increase in the R-C time constant. These results and methods are expected to guide the optimal design and assessment of DEGs.

The effect of nonlinear material viscosity on the energy harvesting performance of dielectric elastomer generators

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029-1038
Author(s):  
Yuanping Li ◽  
Jianyou Zhou ◽  
Liying Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Viscosity Model ◽  
Nonlinear Material ◽  
Simulation Results

Dielectric elastomer generators are capable of converting mechanical energy from a variety of sources into electrical energy. The energy harvesting performance depends on the interplay between electromechanical coupling, material viscosity, and multiple failure modes. Experiments also suggest that the material viscosity of dielectric elastomers is deformation-dependent, which makes the prediction of the performance of dielectric elastomer generators more challenging. By adopting the coupled field theory, finite-deformation viscoelasticity theory, and the theory for polymer dynamics, this work investigates the harvested energy and conversion efficiency of dielectric elastomer generators from theoretical perspective. By comparing the simulation results from the nonlinear viscosity model to the experimental data and the simulation results from the linear viscosity model, we further examine the possible factors that may strongly influence the performance of dielectric elastomer generators. It is found that dielectric elastomer generators exhibit higher harvested energy when nonlinear material viscosity is considered. Moreover, by selecting a higher voltage of the power supply for the generator, the conversion efficiency of dielectric elastomer generators can be greatly improved. The theoretical framework in this study is expected to offer some new insights into optimizing the design of dielectric elastomer generators and thus improving their performance.

Dielectric Elastomer Generator with Improved Energy Density and Conversion Efficiency Based on Polyurethane Composites

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 5237-5243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoling Yin ◽  
Yu Yang ◽  
Feilong Song ◽  
Christophe Renard ◽  
Zhi-Min Dang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Polyurethane Composites

scholarly journals Deep Insight into the Influences of the Intrinsic Properties of Dielectric Elastomer on the Energy-Harvesting Performance of the Dielectric Elastomer Generator

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 4202
Author(s):  
Yingjie Jiang ◽  
Yujia Li ◽  
Haibo Yang ◽  
Nanying Ning ◽  
Ming Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Breakdown Field ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
High Permittivity ◽  
The Relationship

The dielectric elastomer (DE) generator (DEG), which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, has attracted considerable attention in the last decade. Currently, the energy-harvesting performances of the DEG still require improvement. One major reason is that the mechanical and electrical properties of DE materials are not well coordinated. To provide guidance for producing high-performance DE materials for the DEG, the relationship between the intrinsic properties of DE materials and the energy-harvesting performances of the DEG must be revealed. In this study, a simplified but validated electromechanical model based on an actual circuit is developed to study the relationship between the intrinsic properties of DE materials and the energy-harvesting performance. Experimental verification of the model is performed, and the results indicate the validity of the proposed model, which can well predict the energy-harvesting performances. The influences of six intrinsic properties of DE materials on energy-harvesting performances is systematically studied. The results indicate that a high breakdown field strength, low conductivity and high elasticity of DE materials are the prerequisites for obtaining high energy density and conversion efficiency. DE materials with high elongation at break, high permittivity and moderate modulus can further improve the energy density and conversion efficiency of the DEG. The ratio of permittivity and the modulus of the DE should be tailored to be moderate to optimize conversion efficiency (η) of the DEG because using DE with high permittivity but extremely low modulus may lead to a reduction in η due to the occurrence of premature “loss of tension”.

scholarly journals Electromechanical conversion efficiency for dielectric elastomer generator in different energy harvesting cycles

AIP Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 115117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Bo Cao ◽  
Shi-Ju E ◽  
Zhuang Guo ◽  
Zhao Gao ◽  
Han-Pin Luo
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Electromechanical Conversion
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