Array floating ball type wave energy capturing device based on friction nanogenerator principle

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of friction power generation and wave energy conversion, in particular to an array floating ball type wave energy capturing device based on the friction nanometer power generation principle. The device comprises a gravity center stabilizing body and multiple groups of power generation modules arranged on the outer side of the gravity center stabilizing body in a circumferential direction; the power generation module comprises a shell, a swing rod, a support, a floating ball and a friction nanometer power generation unit, wherein the shell is connected with the gravity center stabilizing body, the friction nanometer power generation unit is arranged in the interior of the shell, the support is arranged on the outer side of the shell, the swing rod is hinged on the support, the upper end of the swing rod is connected with the friction nanometer power generation unit, the lower end of the swing rod is connected with the floating ball, the floating ball continuously floats up and down with water waves, drives the swing rod to swing up and down, and thus triggers the friction nanometer power generation unit to generate power. The application has the advantages of simple principle and structure, general parts, convenient manufacturing, small size, high efficiency, easy maintenance and low cost, long-time output stability and high practicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of triboelectric power generation and wave energy conversion technology, and in particular to an array of floating ball wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nano-power generation. Background Technology

[0002] Energy shortages and environmental pollution have become widespread concerns in the international community. Developing and utilizing renewable energy is crucial for achieving sustainable economic and social development. Hydro wave energy, as one of the world's richest renewable energy sources, has attracted widespread attention from countries around the world. Currently, most hydro wave energy harvesting still relies on traditional electromagnetic generators (EMGs), which suffer from drawbacks such as large weight, bulky size, high cost, and unsuitability for low-frequency energy harvesting. There is an urgent need for a matching technology suitable for marine environments that is small, efficient, easy to maintain, and low-cost to effectively harvest the high-entropy energy of the ocean.

[0003] The emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), based on the coupling of triboelectric and electrostatic induction effects, has attracted widespread attention from researchers worldwide. They possess unique advantages in water wave energy harvesting due to their lightweight, low cost, diverse structures, wide range of material choices, and even extremely high efficiency at low frequencies. To date, many researchers have developed and designed devices suitable for capturing water wave energy using the principles of triboelectric nanogenerators. However, these devices suffer from problems such as complex structures, high assembly precision requirements, poor output stability under long-term operating conditions, and insufficient practicality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an array-float wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators, thereby solving the problems of existing water wave energy capture devices, such as complex structure, high assembly precision requirements, poor output stability under long-term working conditions, and insufficient practicality.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides an array of floating ball wave energy capture devices based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators, characterized in that it includes a center-of-gravity stabilizer and multiple sets of power generation modules arranged circumferentially on the outside of the center-of-gravity stabilizer.

[0007] The power generation module includes a shell, a swing rod, a bracket, a float, and a triboelectric nano-power generation unit. The shell is connected to the center of gravity stabilizer, the triboelectric nano-power generation unit is located inside the shell, the bracket is located on the outside of the shell, the swing rod is hinged to the bracket, the upper end of the swing rod is connected to the triboelectric nano-power generation unit, and the lower end is connected to the float. The float floats up and down with the water waves, causing the swing rod to swing up and down, thereby triggering the triboelectric nano-power generation unit to generate electricity.

[0008] The triboelectric nanogenerator unit includes a triboelectric cylinder and a brush disposed inside the triboelectric cylinder. The triboelectric cylinder includes a support film, a copper electrode, and a PTFE film arranged sequentially from the outside to the inside. The support film is connected to the inner wall of the outer shell, the PTFE film is in frictional contact with the brush, and the upper end of the brush is connected to the swing rod. The swing rod drives the brush to continuously rub against the PTFE film, thereby generating an alternating current.

[0009] Three copper electrodes are sequentially and spaced apart along the height direction on the inner side of the support membrane. The copper electrodes are cylindrical structures. A wire is led out from the two copper electrodes located at the top and bottom, and another wire is led out from the copper electrode located in the middle.

[0010] The brush is a cylindrical nylon brush.

[0011] The supporting film is a PET film.

[0012] The outer shell is a cylindrical structure with a closed bottom made of PVC material.

[0013] The bracket is provided with a support hinge, the middle part of the swing rod is hinged to the support hinge, the upper end of the swing rod is hinged to one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is fixedly connected to the brush.

[0014] The center of gravity stabilizer includes a center of gravity cone and an annular float fitted on the center of gravity cone, wherein the center of gravity cone is a hollow structure and its interior is filled with sand and gravel.

[0015] The center of gravity cone includes a cylindrical tube and a conical tube arranged vertically, the outer shell is disposed on the upper part of the cylindrical tube, and the annular float is sleeved on the lower part of the cylindrical tube.

[0016] The float is made of plastic.

[0017] The advantages and beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention provides an array float-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator, which is used for water wave energy collection in marine environments. The principle and structure are simple, the components are all general-purpose parts, easy to manufacture, suitable for marine environments, small, efficient, easy to maintain and low cost, and has long-term output stability and high practicality.

[0018] The buoy of this invention can simply and effectively collect irregular water wave energy and convert it into the vertical movement of a nylon brush, ultimately converting it into electrical energy. The integration of the power generation module array and experimental testing have proven the feasibility of this system for capturing water wave energy in marine environments, providing a feasible method for large-scale blue energy harvesting. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1Axonometric view of the arrayed float wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogeneration of this invention;

[0020] Figure 2 Front view of the arrayed float wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogeneration of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a top view of the arrayed float wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the power generation module in this invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is an isometric view of the brush in this invention;

[0024] Figure 6 The figures show the electrical output performance test results of a single power generation module in this invention; in the figures, (a) is the open circuit voltage; (b) is the short circuit current; (c) is the transferred charge; (d) is the stability test; (e) is the voltage and current under the external load resistance; and (f) is the peak power.

[0025] Figure 7 Open-circuit potential variation curve of a single power generation module protecting 304 stainless steel in this invention;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a circuit diagram showing the integration of the power generation module array with connected electronic devices in this invention;

[0027] Figure 9 The following are diagrams illustrating the testing process of the array float-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator of this invention. In the diagram, (a) is a photograph of the testing process; (b) is the open-circuit voltage; (c) is the short-circuit current; (d) is the charging curve powered by capacitors of different capacities; (e) is the charging curve powered by a calculator; (f) is the charging curve powered by a digital thermometer; (g) is a photograph of the LED being lit; (h) is a photograph of the calculator being powered; (i) is a photograph of the digital thermometer being powered; and (j) is a photograph of the alarm being powered.

[0028] In the figure: 1 is the center of gravity cone, 2 is the annular float, 3 is the outer shell, 4 is the swing rod, 5 is the support, 6 is the float, 7 is the support hinge, 8 is the connecting rod, 9 is the triboelectric nanogenerator unit, 10 is the brush, 11 is the support membrane, 12 is the copper electrode, and 13 is the PTFE membrane. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] like Figure 1-3As shown, this invention provides an array of float-type wave energy capture devices based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators, including a center-of-gravity stabilizer and multiple sets of power generation modules arranged circumferentially on the outside of the center-of-gravity stabilizer. The power generation modules include a shell 3, a swing rod 4, a support 5, floats 6, and triboelectric nanogenerator units 9. The shell 3 is connected to the center-of-gravity stabilizer, the triboelectric nanogenerator units 9 are disposed inside the shell 3, the support 5 is disposed on the outside of the shell 3, the swing rod 4 is hinged to the support 5, the upper end of the swing rod 4 is connected to the triboelectric nanogenerator units 9, and the lower end is connected to the floats 6. The floats 6 continuously float up and down with the water waves, driving the swing rod 4 to swing up and down, thereby triggering the triboelectric nanogenerator units 9 to continuously generate electricity.

[0031] like Figure 1-2 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the center of gravity stabilizer includes a center of gravity cone 1 and an annular float 2 fitted onto the center of gravity cone 1. The center of gravity cone 1 is a hollow structure, and its interior is filled with sand and gravel. Specifically, the center of gravity cone 1 includes a cylindrical tube and a conical tube arranged vertically. The outer shell 3 is disposed on the upper part of the cylindrical tube, and the annular float 2 is fitted onto the lower part of the cylindrical tube. Preferably, the float 6 is made of plastic. The center of gravity cone 1 mainly serves to stabilize the center of gravity of the device. Its interior is a hollow structure, and sand and gravel can be filled into the conical tube according to the required gravity of the device.

[0032] like Figure 4-5 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 includes a friction cylinder and a brush 10 disposed inside the friction cylinder; the friction cylinder includes a support film 11, a copper electrode 12 and a PTFE film 13 arranged sequentially from the outside to the inside, wherein the support film 11 is connected to the inner wall of the outer shell 3, the PTFE film 13 is in frictional contact with the brush 10, and the upper end of the brush 10 is connected to the swing rod 4; the swing rod 4 drives the brush 10 to continuously rub against the PTFE film 13, thereby generating an alternating current.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the support film 11 is a PET film (polyethylene terephthalate film). Three copper electrodes 12 are sequentially and spaced apart along the height direction on the inner side of the support film 11. The copper electrodes 12 have a cylindrical structure. A wire is led out from the two copper electrodes 12 located at the top and bottom, and another wire is led out from the copper electrode 12 located in the middle.

[0034] In this embodiment, the brush 10 is a cylindrical nylon brush. The outer shell 3 is a closed-bottom cylindrical structure made of PVC material. The bracket 5 has a triangular structure, with a support hinge 7 at the bottom. The middle part of the swing rod 4 is hinged to the support hinge 7, the upper end of the swing rod 4 is hinged to one end of the connecting rod 8, and the other end of the connecting rod 8 is fixedly connected to the brush 10.

[0035] Specifically, the material of brush 10 can be replaced with other materials, such as woven wool, woven silk, spun cotton, synthetic fibers, cellulose acetate, melamine, aluminum, copper, etc. The PTFE membrane can be replaced with other materials, such as neoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polydimethylsiloxane, polyimide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, etc.

[0036] Example

[0037] A PVC pipe 495mm long, 200mm in diameter, and 2.5mm thick is cut. A 200mm diameter, 310mm high conical cylinder is rolled from a sheet of iron. The PVC pipe and conical cylinder are then fixed together with silicone sealant to form the hollow center of gravity cone 1, used to balance the device's center of gravity. A 10mm wide, 2mm thick stainless steel strip is welded into a triangular support and fixed to the outer shell 3 with silicone sealant to support the swing rod 4. Two chain links are welded onto a 5mm diameter stainless steel rod to serve as the motion transmission structure and are bolted to the support 5. An annular float 2 with an outer diameter of 500mm, an inner diameter of 300mm, and a thickness of 85mm is placed below the outer shell 3 and fixed to the center of gravity cone 1 with a rope to provide buoyancy for the device. A plastic float 6 with a diameter of 150mm is bolted to the end of the swing rod 4. The buoy 6 serves to capture energy; when waves arrive, it floats up and down with the wave crests and troughs, converting the irregular water wave energy into mechanical energy. The swing rod 4 is made of stainless steel, with two chain links welded to its middle and upper ends for motion transmission. The middle chain link is hinged to the support hinge 7 on the bracket 5 via bolts, and the upper chain link is hinged to the connecting rod 8. The bracket 5, also made of stainless steel, is used to fix the swing rod 4 and is glued to the outer casing 3. The outer casing 3 houses the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 and is glued to the upper part of the center of gravity cone 1. The outer casing 3 is a PVC pipe 200mm long, 63.6mm inner diameter, and 5mm thick, with its lower end sealed with an acrylic plate of the same diameter to prevent water ingress.

[0038] In this embodiment, the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 is used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The triboelectric nanogenerator units 9 are evenly arrayed around the center of gravity cone 1, and there must be at least four triboelectric nanogenerator units 9 to ensure that the device is in a stable state. Its circuit connection is as follows: Figure 8 As shown, multiple triboelectric nanogenerators 9 (TENGs) are connected in parallel in the device circuit.

[0039] Specifically, brush 10 is used as the positive friction material, with an outer diameter of 63.2 mm, a bristle length of 20 mm, a height of 60 mm, a central shaft diameter of 22 mm, and a capillary diameter of 0.1 mm. PTFE film 13 is used as the negative friction material, with a length of 200 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.1 mm. Copper electrode 12 is a 0.1 mm thick copper tape cut to a length of 200 mm and a width of 60 mm. PET film provides support, with a length of 200 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.15 mm.

[0040] The triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 is assembled as follows: three copper electrodes 12 are attached to a PET film, with a 10mm gap between them. A wire is led out from each of the two end electrodes and another wire is led out from the middle electrode. A PTFE film is attached to the copper electrodes 12. The assembled three-layer structure is rolled into a cylinder and attached to the inner wall of the outer shell 3.

[0041] The working process of this invention is as follows:

[0042] When the array-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator of this invention is placed in a marine environment, the annular float 2 mainly serves to float the entire device, while the floats 6 mainly move up and down with the waves to capture mechanical energy. The center of gravity cone 1 serves to stabilize the center of gravity, and sand and gravel are filled into the cone according to the required gravity. In the absence of water waves, the device is kept vertically floating on the water surface without tilting. At this time, the brush 10 and the copper electrode 12 located in the middle are in the same position and remain stationary. When a wave crest arrives, the float 6 floats upward, the swing rod 4 tilts, and drives the brush 10 to move vertically towards the copper electrode 12 below. When a wave trough arrives, the float 6 floats downward, the swing rod 4 tilts again, and drives the brush 10 to move vertically towards the copper electrode 12 above. In this cycle, the device continuously converts kinetic energy under the surging of water waves, and finally converts it into electrical energy through the reciprocating friction between the brush and the PTFE membrane 13, thus achieving water wave energy capture.

[0043] The power generation principle of the triboelectric nano-power generation unit 9 is as follows: a nylon brush acts as an independent layer, and a PTFE film 13 acts as an intermediate insulating layer, completely covering three fixed copper electrodes 12. Through the combination of triboelectric charging and electrostatic induction effects, triboelectric charges are generated on the two contact surfaces of the nylon brush and the PTFE film 13. Due to the different electron-losing abilities of different materials, the surface of the nylon brush becomes positively charged, and the surface of the PTFE film 13 becomes negatively charged. When stationary, the potential induced between the electrodes remains constant. When external components drive the relative movement of the nylon brush and the PTFE film 13, a potential difference is created between the electrodes, driving electrons to move between the electrodes to balance the electrostatic system. As the float 6 continuously floats up and down with the water waves, the nylon brush continuously rubs against the PTFE film 13 via the swing rod 4, periodically generating alternating current.

[0044] The electrical output, charging, and power supply characteristics of the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 in the aforementioned wave energy capture device were tested using a linear motor drive. The test results are as follows: Figure 6 As shown in the figure, at a low driving frequency of 0.5Hz, the voltage reaches 84V and the current reaches 0.57μA. Both current and voltage increase with increasing frequency. At a driving frequency of 4Hz, the voltage reaches 1380V, the current reaches 13.87μA, and the transferred charge reaches 0.4μC. During 11400 cycles, the short-circuit current output by the triboelectric nanogenerator 9 remains essentially unchanged, indicating high output stability. Connecting resistors of different sizes to the triboelectric nanogenerator 9 shows that as the resistance increases, the current decreases while the voltage increases. The power reaches its maximum when the external resistance equals the internal impedance; that is, when matched with an 80MΩ resistor, the calculated peak power is 31.24 × 10⁻⁶. -4 W.

[0045] The triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 of the aforementioned wave energy capture device was tested for corrosion protection against 10mm diameter 304 stainless steel in a marine environment using coupled cathodic protection technology. A linear motor was used for drive, and characterization was performed using an electrochemical workstation (CHI 760E, Shanghai, China). The test results are as follows: Figure 7 As shown. Figure 7 This image shows the open-circuit potential change curve of a single triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 protecting 304 stainless steel in the array float-type wave energy capture device based on the triboelectric nanogenerator principle of this invention. Open-circuit potential (OCP) is a key parameter for evaluating the effectiveness of cathodic protection. Test results show that the potential of 304 stainless steel is stable at -0.2V in a 3.5wt% NaCl solution. After connecting the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9, electrons are transferred to the surface of the 304 stainless steel, and the potential of the 304 stainless steel rapidly drops to -0.4V, then to 200mV. After disconnection, the potential quickly recovers to the self-corrosion potential. After a 4000-second test, this strongly demonstrates that the triboelectric nanogenerator unit 9 provides effective and stable protection for 304 stainless steel.

[0046] The electrical output, charging, and power supply characteristics of the wave energy harvesting device were tested. A six-degree-of-freedom swing table was used to reproduce the ocean wave spectrum, drive the device, and collect the energy of the simulated water waves. The test results are as follows: Figure 8 As shown. Figure 8This diagram illustrates the testing process of the array-type float wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators of this invention. The six-degree-of-freedom swing table simulates a maximum distance of 12cm between wave crests and troughs. When the simulated surge cycle is 3 seconds, driving the device, after rectification, results in an open-circuit voltage of 192V and a short-circuit current of 1.4μA. As the simulated surge frequency increases, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the device show an increasing trend. When the simulated surge frequency is 2Hz, the current reaches 15.6μA and the voltage reaches 900V. When the simulated surge frequency is 1Hz, the device is used to charge capacitors of different capacities. Within 180 seconds, 10μF, 100μF, and 470μF capacitors are charged to 27.44V, 5.3V, and 1.22V, respectively. The device can power up to 260 commercial LEDs. Furthermore, when combined with a 470μF capacitor, the device can enable the calculator to operate normally when the capacitor is charged to 1.5V, enable the digital thermometer to operate normally when the capacitor is charged to 3.5V, and enable the alarm to light up when the capacitor is charged to 10V. The above test results demonstrate the feasibility of the device in collecting water wave energy in marine environments and its great application potential in self-powered service systems.

[0047] This invention discloses an array of float-type wave energy capture devices based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators, for collecting water wave energy in marine environments. The device primarily utilizes floats to collect irregular water wave energy, which is then converted into the vertical motion of brushes via a swing rod, ultimately transforming it into electrical energy. This device features a simple structure, high practicality, and low cost. This invention provides a feasible method for large-scale blue energy harvesting and offers a new approach to alleviating energy shortages and environmental pollution.

[0048] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, extensions, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators, characterized in that, It includes a center-of-gravity stabilizer and multiple sets of power generation modules arranged circumferentially on the outside of the center-of-gravity stabilizer; The power generation module includes a shell (3), a swing rod (4), a bracket (5), a float (6), and a triboelectric nano-power generation unit (9). The shell (3) is connected to the center of gravity stabilizer. The triboelectric nano-power generation unit (9) is located inside the shell (3). The bracket (5) is located outside the shell (3). The swing rod (4) is hinged to the bracket (5). The upper end of the swing rod (4) is connected to the triboelectric nano-power generation unit (9), and the lower end is connected to the float (6). The float (6) floats up and down with the water waves, causing the swing rod (4) to swing up and down, thereby triggering the triboelectric nano-power generation unit (9) to generate electricity. The triboelectric nanogenerator unit (9) includes a friction cylinder and a brush (10) disposed inside the friction cylinder; the friction cylinder includes a support film (11), a copper electrode (12) and a PTFE film (13) arranged sequentially from the outside to the inside, wherein the support film (11) is connected to the inner wall of the outer shell (3), the PTFE film (13) is in frictional contact with the brush (10), and the upper end of the brush (10) is connected to the swing rod (4); the swing rod (4) drives the brush (10) to continuously rub against the PTFE film (13) to generate an alternating current; The bracket (5) is provided with a support hinge (7), the middle part of the swing rod (4) is hinged to the support hinge (7), the upper end of the swing rod (4) is hinged to one end of the connecting rod (8), and the other end of the connecting rod (8) is fixedly connected to the brush (10). The center of gravity stabilizer includes a center of gravity cone (1) and an annular float (2) fitted on the center of gravity cone (1), wherein the center of gravity cone (1) is a hollow structure and its interior is filled with sand and gravel.

2. The array-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the support film (11) is sequentially and spaced apart along the height direction by three copper electrodes (12), which are cylindrical structures; a wire is led out from the two copper electrodes (12) located at the top and bottom, and another wire is led out from the copper electrode (12) located in the middle.

3. The array-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The brush (10) is a cylindrical nylon brush.

4. The array-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support film (11) is a PET film.

5. The array-type wave energy capture device based on the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (3) is a cylindrical structure with a closed bottom made of PVC material.

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