A power generation device based on liquid metal and a power generation method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power generation device based on liquid metal and a power generation method thereof, which includes a box body, at least two liquid metal containing cages, a first electrode and a second electrode. The liquid metal containing cages are fixedly arranged in the box body, and each liquid metal containing cage contains a liquid metal droplet. The first ends of the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet; wherein, an electrolyte solution is further arranged in the box body, and the electrolyte solution submerges the liquid metal droplets in the liquid metal containing cages, so as to change the immersion surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet respectively inserted by the first electrode and the second electrode in the electrolyte solution when the box body is turned over. Correspondingly, the present invention also discloses a power generation method applying the above power generation device of the present invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of generators, and particularly to a power generation device based on liquid metal and a power generation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] As is well known, liquid metal generally refers to a metal in a liquid state at room temperature. Due to its combination of the flexibility of a liquid and the excellent electrical conductivity of a metal, liquid metal can play an important role in fields such as soft robots, pumps, micro-pipes, 3D printing, and flexible sensing.

[0003] In recent years, with the continuous development of technology and the emergence of new energy sources, the ways of collecting energy have also become increasingly diverse. Currently, the existing common power generation methods are usually thermal power generation, which has a high cost and certain environmental pollution problems. Therefore, in order to further explore new power generation methods and reduce the cost of power generation, the inventor expects to design a power generation device based on liquid metal and a power generation method thereof, so as to collect energy at low cost while utilizing the properties of liquid metal itself to achieve power generation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: to provide a power generation device based on liquid metal and a power generation method thereof, which can collect energy at low cost, quickly and conveniently with only a simple structure through reasonable optimization design, and realize power generation through the properties of liquid metal itself.

[0005] To solve the above technical problem, a technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a power generation device based on liquid metal, which includes: a box body, at least two liquid metal containing cages, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The liquid metal containing cages are fixedly arranged in the box body, and each liquid metal containing cage contains a liquid metal droplet. The first ends of the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet.

[0006] Wherein, an electrolyte solution is further provided in the box body, and the electrolyte solution submerges the liquid metal droplets in the liquid metal containing cages, so as to change the submerged surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet respectively inserted by the first electrode and the second electrode in the electrolyte solution when the box body is turned over.

[0007] In the present invention, the inventor designs a novel power generation device based on liquid metal, which has a low manufacturing cost, a simple structure composition, is easy to process and manufacture, and has a very broad application prospect. In this power generation device, the liquid metal droplets arranged in the liquid metal containing cages can be correspondingly submerged in the electrolyte solution, and at this time, a double electric layer will be formed at the contact surface between the liquid metal droplets and the electrolyte solution.

[0008] Since the first and second electrodes are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet, they are also connected to the electric double layer inside the liquid metal droplet; when the operator flips the box left and right and / or shakes the box, the electrolyte solution installed in the box will also move accordingly. At this time, the immersion surface area of at least two liquid metal droplets installed in the box immersed in the electrolyte solution will change.

[0009] For example: when the first electrode is correspondingly inserted into a certain liquid metal droplet on the left side of the box and the second electrode is correspondingly inserted into a certain liquid metal droplet on the right side of the box, when the operator controls the box to flip towards the left, it will drive the electrolyte solution in the box to flow towards the left side of the box and accumulate. At this time, the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplet corresponding to the insertion of the first electrode immersed in the electrolyte solution will be further increased, while the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplet corresponding to the insertion of the second electrode immersed in the electrolyte solution will decrease, so as to change the surface area of the electric double layer of the two liquid metal droplets, making the charges inside the two liquid metal droplets unbalanced, and then inducing the flow of electrons, thereby forming voltage and current in the external circuit.

[0010] It can be seen that through reasonable optimization design, the present invention can conveniently and quickly utilize the self-properties of liquid metal to generate electricity with only its own simple structure, with low cost, good practicability, and good application value.

[0011] It should be noted that the reason for setting the liquid metal containment cage and containing the liquid metal droplets is to prevent the liquid metal droplets from flowing randomly in the electrolyte solution, thereby affecting the power generation effect of the power generation device.

[0012] In some specific embodiments, the power generation device based on liquid metal designed by the present invention can be specifically arranged in the ocean, and the tidal energy of the ocean environment is used to drive the box to flip, so as to change the immersion surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet corresponding to the insertion of the first electrode and the second electrode respectively in the electrolyte solution, thereby effectively collecting energy and converting it into electric energy through an external circuit.

[0013] Furthermore, in the power generation device based on liquid metal described in the present invention, the electrolyte solution is any one of seawater, phosphate buffer solution, sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chloride solution, hydrochloric acid solution, and potassium chloride solution.

[0014] Furthermore, in the power generation device based on liquid metal described in the present invention, at least two through holes are opened on the box, and the through holes are correspondingly opened at the bottom end of the liquid metal containment cage.

[0015] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, the first ends of the first electrode and the second electrode pass through the through hole and are inserted into the liquid metal droplets in the corresponding liquid metal accommodation cages.

[0016] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, the liquid metal droplets are multi-phase alloy droplets composed of at least one metal among indium, tin, zinc, bismuth, silver, aluminum and gallium.

[0017] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, a bracket is further included, and the box body is rotatably arranged on the bracket.

[0018] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, a semi-circular groove is formed at the bottom of the box body, and a semi-circular convex block is further arranged on the bracket. The semi-circular convex block is correspondingly matched with the semi-circular groove so that the box body rotates in a flipping manner relative to the bracket.

[0019] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, a storage battery is further included, and the second ends of the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the storage battery through wires.

[0020] Further, in the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, the box body and the liquid metal accommodation cage are integrally formed.

[0021] Correspondingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a power generation method using the above power generation device, which includes the steps of: flipping the box body and changing the immersion surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet inserted by the first electrode and the second electrode respectively in the electrolyte solution.

[0022] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The structure of the liquid metal-based power generation device designed by the present invention is simple and easy to manufacture, with low cost and can utilize the properties of liquid metal to generate electricity; in practical applications, the power generation device can change the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplets in the electrolyte solution by flipping the box body, thereby changing the double-layer surface area of the two liquid metal droplets, making the charges inside the two liquid metal droplets unbalanced, inducing electron flow, and thus forming voltage and current in the external circuit to complete power generation. It has good practicability and broad promotion prospects and good application value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention in an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2Top view of the structure of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment;

[0025] Figure 3 Exploded view of the structure of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the bracket of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment;

[0027] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the operation of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment for power generation;

[0028] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the power generation principle of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the output voltage of the liquid metal-based power generation device according to the present invention in an embodiment;

[0030] Reference numeral description:

[0031] 1. Electrolyte solution;

[0032] 2. Electric double layer;

[0033] 3. Liquid metal droplet;

[0034] 4. Box body;

[0035] 5. Liquid metal containment cage;

[0036] 6. Semi-circular groove;

[0037] 7. First electrode;

[0038] 8. Second electrode;

[0039] 9. Bracket; 91. Semi-circular raised block. Detailed implementation manner

[0040] To describe in detail the technical content, achieved objectives and effects of the present invention, the following is described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Please refer to Figures 1 to 7As shown in the figure, the present invention designs a power generation device based on liquid metal, which includes a box body 4, at least two liquid metal containing cages 5, a first electrode 7 and a second electrode 8. The liquid metal containing cages 5 are fixedly arranged in the box body 4, and each liquid metal containing cage 5 contains a liquid metal droplet 3. The first ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet 3;

[0042] Wherein, an electrolyte solution 1 is further provided in the box body 4. The electrolyte solution 1 submerges the liquid metal droplets 3 in the liquid metal containing cages 5, so that when the box body 4 is turned over, the immersion surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet 3 into which the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 are respectively inserted in the electrolyte solution 1 is changed.

[0043] As Figures 1 - 7 shown in the figure, in the present invention, the inventor designs a novel power generation device based on liquid metal, which has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture, but has a very broad application prospect. In this power generation device, the liquid metal droplets 3 arranged in the liquid metal containing cages 5 can be correspondingly submerged in the electrolyte solution 1. At this time, an electric double layer 2 will be formed at the contact surface between the liquid metal droplets 3 and the electrolyte solution 1 (as Figure 6 shown in the figure).

[0044] Since the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet 3, they will also be connected to the electric double layer 2 inside the liquid metal droplet 3. When the operator turns the box body 4 left and right and / or shakes it, the electrolyte solution 1 arranged in the box body 4 will also move accordingly. At this time, the immersion surface area of at least two liquid metal droplets 3 arranged in the box body 4 submerged in the electrolyte solution 1 will change. As Figure 5 shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the first electrode 7 is correspondingly inserted into the liquid metal droplet 3 on the left side of the box body 4, and the second electrode 8 is correspondingly inserted into the liquid metal droplet 3 on the right side of the box body 4. When the operator controls the box body 4 to turn towards the left, it will drive the electrolyte solution 1 in the box body 4 to flow towards the left side of the box body 4 and accumulate. At this time, the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplet 3 into which the first electrode 7 is correspondingly inserted submerged in the electrolyte solution 1 will be further increased, while the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplet 3 into which the second electrode 8 is correspondingly inserted submerged in the electrolyte solution 1 will decrease, so as to change the surface area of the electric double layer 2 of the two liquid metal droplets 3, making the charges of the electric double layer 2 inside these two liquid metal droplets 3 unbalanced, thereby inducing electron flow, and thus forming voltage and current in the external circuit.

[0045] It can be seen that through reasonable optimization design, the present invention can conveniently and quickly generate electricity by utilizing the properties of liquid metal with its simple structure, which has good practicability and broad popularization prospects and good application value.

[0046] It should be noted that in practical applications, the power generation device based on liquid metal designed by the present invention can be arranged in the ocean, and the tidal energy of the ocean environment is utilized to push the box body 4 to turn over, so as to change the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplets 3 inserted corresponding to the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 in the electrolyte solution 1, induce the flow of electrons, effectively collect energy, and convert it into electric energy through an external circuit.

[0047] Furthermore, the electrolyte solution 1 is any one of seawater, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chloride solution, hydrochloric acid solution, potassium chloride solution.

[0048] Furthermore, at least two through holes are opened on the box body 4, and the through holes are correspondingly opened at the bottom end of the liquid metal containing cage 5.

[0049] Furthermore, the first ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 pass through the through holes and are inserted into the liquid metal droplets 3 in the corresponding liquid metal containing cages 5.

[0050] In the power generation device based on liquid metal designed by the present invention, in order to facilitate the insertion of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 into the liquid metal droplets 3 in the liquid metal containing cage 5, an operator can further open a through hole (not shown in the figure) on the box body 4, and the through hole can be specifically opened at the central position of the bottom of the liquid metal containing cage 5. The first ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 pass through the through hole and are inserted into the liquid metal droplets 3 in the corresponding liquid metal containing cages 5 to be connected with the electric double layer 2 of the liquid metal droplets 3. Among them, in order to prevent the electrolyte solution 1 in the box body 4 from flowing out of the through hole, after the connection between the two electrodes and the liquid metal droplets 3 is completed, the through hole needs to be sealed.

[0051] Furthermore, the liquid metal droplets 3 are multi-phase alloy droplets composed of at least one metal of indium, tin, zinc, bismuth, silver, aluminum and gallium.

[0052] Furthermore, it further includes a bracket 9, and the box body 4 is rotatably arranged on the bracket 9.

[0053] Furthermore, a semi-circular groove 6 is opened at the bottom of the box body 4, and a semi-circular protruding block 91 is further arranged on the bracket 9. The semi-circular protruding block 91 is correspondingly matched with the semi-circular groove 6, so that the box body 4 rotates and turns over relative to the bracket 9.

[0054] In the power generation device designed by the present invention, in order to facilitate the operation of the operator and simplify the flipping process of the box body 4, a support 9 can be further added. A semi-circular convex block 91 is also provided on the support 9, and a semi-circular groove 6 matching the semi-circular convex block 91 is correspondingly provided at the bottom of the box body 4 to ensure that the box body 4 can be rotatably arranged on the box body 4.

[0055] During actual use, the operator only needs to push the box body 4, and the box body 4 can be rotated and flipped along the arc-shaped outer contour of the semi-circular convex block 91. Among them, in order to facilitate the flipping of the box body 4, lubricating oil can be further applied between the semi-circular groove 6 and the semi-circular convex block 91.

[0056] Of course, in some other embodiments, the support 9 designed by the present invention can also be rotatably connected to the support 9 in a hinged form, and it can also realize the flipping rotation of the box body 4 relative to the support 9, which will not be elaborated here.

[0057] Furthermore, a storage battery is further included, and the second ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the storage battery through wires.

[0058] In the present invention, the second ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 can be specifically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of an external storage battery through wires to store the collected energy in the form of electric energy.

[0059] Furthermore, the box body 4 and the liquid metal containing cage 5 are integrally formed.

[0060] In the power generation device designed by the present invention, the liquid metal containing cage 5 for containing the liquid metal droplets 3 can be integrally formed with the box body 4. And, in this embodiment, the box body 4 can be specifically set as a flexible box body, and it can be integrally formed with the liquid metal containing cage 5 by pouring with PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) material.

[0061] Correspondingly, the inventor also designed a power generation method using the above power generation device, which includes the steps of: flipping the box body 4 and changing the immersion surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet 3 corresponding to the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 inserted in the electrolyte solution 1.

[0062] Embodiment 1

[0063] Please refer to Figures 1 - 7, Embodiment 1 of the present invention is: A power generation device based on liquid metal, which includes a box body 4, a first electrode 7, a second electrode 8, and six liquid metal containing cages 5. Among them, the box body 4 is specifically selected as a flexible box body. These six liquid metal containing cages 5 are fixedly arranged in the box body 4 and are integrally formed with the box body 4 by casting with PDMS material. In this embodiment, the size of the box body 4 is specifically 42mm * 32mm * 20mm, and the size inside the liquid metal containing cage 5 is specifically φ3mm * 8mm.

[0064] In the present invention, each of the six designed liquid metal containing cages 5 contains a liquid metal droplet 3. An appropriate amount of electrolyte solution 1 is installed in the designed flexible box body 4, and the electrolyte solution 1 can submerge the liquid metal droplets 3 in these six liquid metal containing cages 5. At this time, an electric double layer 2 will be formed at the contact surface between the liquid metal droplet 3 and the electrolyte solution 1. Among them, in this embodiment, the liquid metal droplet 3 is specifically selected as a gallium-indium alloy, and its volume is 100 μL; the electrolyte solution 1 is specifically selected as a 0.5mol / L sodium hydroxide solution, and its volume is 20 mL.

[0065] Correspondingly, in this embodiment, the first electrode 7 and the second electrode are specifically selected as 0.5mm copper wires. In order to facilitate the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 to be inserted into the liquid metal droplets 3 in the liquid metal containing cages 5, the operator further opens six through holes (not shown in the figure) at the bottom of the box body 4. These six through holes are respectively opened at the center positions of the bottoms of the six liquid metal containing cages 5. The first ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 can correspondingly pass through the through holes and are respectively inserted into the liquid metal droplets 3 in the liquid metal containing cages 5 to be connected to the electric double layer 2 of the liquid metal droplet 3. Among them, the first electrode 7 is correspondingly inserted into the three liquid metal droplets 3 on the left side of the box body 4, and the second electrode 8 is correspondingly inserted into the three liquid metal droplets 3 on the right side of the box body 4.

[0066] Of course, in this embodiment, a storage battery is also provided for storing electric energy; the second ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 can be respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the storage battery through wires, and then the generated electric energy is stored in the storage battery.

[0067] In addition, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 It can be seen that in this embodiment, the inventor further sets a bracket 9. There is also a semi-circular convex block 91 on the bracket 9, and a semi-circular groove 6 matching the semi-circular convex block 91 is correspondingly arranged at the bottom of the box body 4 to ensure that the box body 4 can be rotatably arranged on the box body 4. In order to facilitate the flipping of the box body 4, lubricating oil is applied between the above-mentioned semi-circular groove 6 and the semi-circular convex block 91.

[0068] Such as Figure 5As shown in the figure, when actually using the liquid metal-based power generation device of the present invention, the operator only needs to push the box body 4, and the box body 4 can be rotated and flipped along the circular arc outer contour of the above-mentioned semi-circular convex block 91. For example, when the operator controls the box body 4 to flip towards the left, it will drive the electrolyte solution 1 in the box body 4 to flow towards the left side of the box body 4 and accumulate. At this time, the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplets 3 corresponding to the insertion of the first electrode 7 in the electrolyte solution 1 will be further increased, and the liquid metal droplets 3 are completely submerged by the sodium hydroxide solution (electrolyte solution 1), while the immersion surface area of the liquid metal droplets 3 corresponding to the insertion of the second electrode 8 in the electrolyte solution 1 will decrease, and the liquid metal droplets 3 are not completely submerged by the sodium hydroxide solution (electrolyte solution 1), thereby changing the surface area of the double electric layer 2 of the two liquid metal droplets 3 and causing the charge imbalance of the double electric layer 2 inside the liquid metal droplets 3 connected to the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 (as Figure 6 shown), thereby inducing the flow of electrons and forming a voltage and current in the external circuit via the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8. At this time, the voltage measured at both ends of the first electrode 7 and the second electrode 8 is as Figure 7 shown.

[0069] It can be seen that the structure of the liquid metal-based power generation device designed by the present invention is simple and easy to manufacture, its cost is low, and it can utilize the self-properties of liquid metal to generate electricity; in actual application, the power generation device can make the charge of the double electric layer inside the two liquid metal droplets unbalanced by flipping the box body, induce the flow of electrons, thereby forming a voltage and current in the external circuit to complete power generation. Its practicability is good, and it has broad promotion prospects and good application value.

[0070] The above are only the embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention accordingly. All equivalent transformations made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields, are similarly included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power generation device based on liquid metal, characterized in that, Comprising: A box body, at least two liquid metal containing cages, a first electrode and a second electrode. The liquid metal containing cages are fixedly arranged in the box body, and each liquid metal containing cage contains a liquid metal droplet. The first ends of the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively inserted into at least one liquid metal droplet. Wherein, an electrolyte solution is further arranged in the box body. The electrolyte solution submerges the liquid metal droplets in the liquid metal containing cages, so as to change the submerged surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet respectively inserted by the first electrode and the second electrode in the electrolyte solution when the box body is turned over.

2. The power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, wherein The electrolyte solution is any one of seawater, phosphate buffer solution, sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chloride solution, hydrochloric acid solution, potassium chloride solution.

3. A power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, characterized in that At least two through holes are formed in the box body, and the through holes are correspondingly formed at the bottom ends of the liquid metal containing cages.

4. The power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first ends of the first electrode and the second electrode pass through the through holes and are inserted into the liquid metal droplets in the corresponding liquid metal containing cages.

5. A power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid metal droplet is a multiphase alloy droplet composed of at least one metal of indium, tin, zinc, bismuth, silver, aluminum and gallium.

6. The power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes a bracket, and the box body is rotatably arranged on the bracket.

7. The power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 6, wherein, A semi-circular groove is formed at the bottom of the box body, and a semi-circular convex block is further arranged on the bracket. The semi-circular convex block is correspondingly matched with the semi-circular groove, so that the box body rotates by turning over relative to the bracket.

8. A power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes a storage battery, and the second ends of the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the storage battery through wires.

9. The power generation device based on liquid metal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box body and the liquid metal containing cage are integrally formed.

10. A power generation method using the power generation device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Including the steps of: turning over the box body and changing the submerged surface area of at least one liquid metal droplet respectively inserted by the first electrode and the second electrode in the electrolyte solution.

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