Mechanical on-off trigger type wave power generation device
By using a mechanically switched-on wave energy generation device, and utilizing the arc-shaped friction unit of the staggered fixed electrodes and rotor assembly, the concentrated release of charge is achieved, which solves the problems of low current output and structural complexity of traditional wave energy generation devices, and improves the energy harvesting efficiency and equipment endurance in the marine environment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHEJIANG UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-28
AI Technical Summary
Traditional wave energy generation devices have complex structures, low low-frequency wave conversion efficiency, insufficient output current and power density, poor environmental adaptability, and high maintenance costs, making it difficult to meet the low power consumption and long endurance requirements of small marine electronic devices.
The wave energy generation device adopts mechanical on/off triggering. Through the interlaced fixed electrodes and dielectric film, and the arc-shaped friction unit of the rotor assembly, the concentrated release of charge is realized to form a high-amplitude pulse current. The mechanical on/off control circuit of the movable contact and fixed electrode sheet simplifies the circuit design and enhances the adaptability.
It significantly improves current output intensity and energy conversion efficiency, enhances the long-term operational stability and durability of the device in harsh marine environments, adapts to different wave conditions, reduces maintenance costs, and enables self-powering of low-power marine electronic devices.
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Figure CN121939844A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of new energy power generation and ocean energy harvesting technology, and in particular relates to a mechanically triggered wave energy power generation device. Background Technology
[0002] With the development of intelligent and information technologies, the demand for stable energy supply for marine monitoring, communication, and other equipment is becoming increasingly urgent, making the efficient use of clean and renewable energy crucial. Wave energy, with its abundant reserves and continuous output, is an important option for alleviating the marine energy supply dilemma. For example, Chinese patent CN119298712A discloses a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for collecting low-frequency wave energy and its power generation method. By optimizing the electrode distribution in the TENG and fixing the current flow direction, the design of the power management circuit is simplified. Simultaneously, the triboelectric structure adopts a solid-solid contact separation mode instead of a solid-solid sliding mode, and utilizes its buoy. Rolling small balls are placed inside the encapsulated outer shell module to trigger the array of TENGs, achieving comprehensive collection of wave energy. Chinese Patent CN120759688A discloses a wave energy harvesting device for origami structure power generation, which includes a rotating disk, a translational component, a driving component, a fan-shaped column, at least one origami triboelectric power generation structure, and at least two movable triboelectric power generation structures. The wave energy harvesting device for origami structure power generation of this invention utilizes the deformable characteristics of the origami structure to effectively increase the surface contact area of the triboelectric nanogenerator in a limited space, thereby optimizing charge transfer and output performance.
[0003] However, traditional wave energy generation devices suffer from complex structures, low conversion efficiency under low-frequency waves, and high maintenance costs, making it difficult to meet the low-power, long-endurance requirements of small marine electronic devices. Triboelectric nanogenerators, while possessing excellent low-frequency energy harvesting performance, have emerged as an alternative. However, existing wave energy harvesting devices based on triboelectric nanogenerators still face several key challenges: 1. Low output current and power density: Traditional triboelectric nanogenerators mostly adopt a continuous working mode of "transferring charge while rubbing". The charge is slowly released through the external circuit at the same time as it is generated, resulting in a low output current amplitude, which is difficult to directly drive typical marine electronic equipment.
[0004] 2. Energy harvesting efficiency is limited by the frictional contact method: Although the sliding friction mode can improve the amount of charge transfer compared to point contact, most devices have limited friction area and the structural design is not fully adapted to the multidirectional and low-frequency characteristics of waves, resulting in unstable energy capture efficiency in real ocean wave environments.
[0005] 3. Environmental Reliability Challenges: The marine environment is characterized by harsh conditions such as high humidity, high salt spray, biofouling, and mechanical shock. Generators using electronic switches or complex control circuits are susceptible to corrosion and insulation failure, resulting in poor long-term operational reliability and high maintenance costs.
[0006] 4. Conflict between structural complexity and adaptability: In order to improve performance, some designs have introduced complex mechanical structures such as gear sets, pendulums and springs. Although this has improved the energy capture capability, it has also increased the failure rate, weight and cost, and is not adaptable enough to changes in wave frequency and amplitude. Summary of the Invention
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanically triggered wave energy power generation device that enables the concentrated release of charge to form a high-amplitude pulse current, thus solving the problems of low current output, insufficient power density, poor environmental adaptability, and complex structure caused by the traditional wave energy triboelectric nanogenerator's "simultaneous friction and charge transfer".
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device (a mechanically on / off triggered high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting wave energy), comprising: The housing assembly includes a housing, the inner wall of which is provided with staggered fixed electrodes, and the staggered fixed electrodes are covered with a dielectric film. The rotor assembly located within the housing includes a central support structure and an arc-shaped friction unit fixed thereon. The arc-shaped friction unit is made of dielectric material, and its free end is in contact with a dielectric film. A mechanical on / off trigger switch includes a movable contact on a rotor assembly and a first fixed electrode plate and a second fixed electrode plate on the inner wall of a housing. The movable contact is electrically connected to the interleaved fixed electrode plate. The movable contact moves with the rotor assembly. When the movable contact contacts the first fixed electrode plate, the circuit is broken, and the charge generated by friction accumulates on the interleaved fixed electrode plate. When the movable contact contacts the second fixed electrode plate, the circuit is turned on, and the accumulated charge is released to the external load.
[0009] The wave energy generator provided by this invention can achieve concentrated release of charge through a mechanical on / off trigger switch, which greatly improves the current output intensity and makes it easier to drive low-power electronic devices. At the same time, it is beneficial to enhance its adaptability under different wave conditions, thereby improving the output stability of the generator and achieving high power output, high environmental reliability and strong wave adaptability.
[0010] In this invention, the movable contact moves with the rotor assembly and can selectively contact the first fixed electrode plate and the second fixed electrode plate to control the circuit connection and disconnection between the interleaved fixed electrodes and the external load.
[0011] The staggered fixed electrodes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the inner wall of the housing, with a number of no less than 4 groups.
[0012] Preferably, the dielectric film is a polytetrafluoroethylene propylene film, and the dielectric material is animal protein fiber, more preferably rabbit hair.
[0013] Preferably, the number of the arc-shaped friction units is 1-5 pieces, which are distributed radially in a centrally symmetrical manner: one end of the arc-shaped friction unit is fixed to the central support structure, and the other end extends freely outward and is evenly distributed along the center.
[0014] The central support structure is equipped with a movable counterweight to adjust the rotational inertia of the rotor assembly and its response characteristics to wave excitation. The main function of the counterweight is to stabilize the center of gravity of the device, enabling the ring-shaped central support structure to swing under the drive of the wave drive mechanism.
[0015] The housing assembly includes an end cap and a connecting rod passing through the housing. The connecting rod is rotatably connected to a bearing installed inside the end cap. The central support structure is connected to the connecting rod, which is used to receive the motion of an external wave drive mechanism.
[0016] Both the first fixed electrode sheet and the second fixed electrode sheet are arc-shaped conductive sheets, and the first fixed electrode sheet and the second fixed electrode sheet are spaced apart on the same circumference and insulated from each other.
[0017] Both the shell and the central support structure are made of or treated with materials resistant to marine environmental corrosion.
[0018] The movable contact is made of elastic copper sheet and the contact method is point contact; or the movable contact is made of gold-plated copper elastic sheet and the contact method is surface contact.
[0019] Preferably, based on the optimization of marine environment adaptability and current transmission efficiency, the movable contact can be upgraded to a gold-plated copper elastic sheet, and the contact method can be optimized to surface contact. Among them, the elastic copper sheet ensures the contact pressure through its own deformation. The point contact structure is simple and cost-controllable. After the gold plating upgrade, the salt spray corrosion resistance can be improved, and the surface contact can reduce the contact resistance, which can adapt to the performance requirements of different application scenarios.
[0020] The present invention also provides a method for harvesting wave energy using a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device, comprising the following steps: 1. Place the wave energy power generation device in a wave environment, and the waves drive the rotor assembly to move relative to the shell; 2. The arc-shaped friction unit rubs against the dielectric film, generating electric charge; 3. During the opening phase of the mechanical on / off trigger switch, charge accumulates on the interleaved fixed electrodes; 4. When the rotor assembly moves to a specific position, the mechanical on / off trigger switch closes, and the accumulated charge is instantly released to the external circuit; 5. With periodic excitation by waves, it repeatedly cycles through charge accumulation and release, continuously outputting pulsed electrical energy.
[0021] The present invention also provides a wave energy power generation system, the system comprising the aforementioned mechanically triggered wave energy power generation device, a wave drive mechanism, a power management circuit, and an energy storage element or load circuit; the wave drive mechanism moves under the action of waves and is connected to a connecting rod in the wave energy power generation device; the input terminal of the power management circuit is electrically connected to the staggered fixed electrodes in the wave energy power generation device, and the mechanically triggered switch is connected in series in the connection circuit between the power management circuit and the staggered fixed electrodes; the output terminal of the power management circuit is electrically connected to the energy storage element or load circuit.
[0022] The first fixed electrode is grounded via a wire, the second fixed electrode is connected in series with the input terminal of the power management circuit, and the movable contact is electrically connected to the interleaved fixed electrode.
[0023] Furthermore, the wave drive mechanism uses the reciprocating impact kinetic energy of the waves to directly act on the device shell or floating carrier, and then transmits it through the carrier to the counterweight at the bottom of the annular central support structure, driving the annular central support structure frame to reciprocate around the central steel shaft. No additional coupling is required, realizing the direct conversion of wave energy into oscillating mechanical energy.
[0024] Furthermore, one electrode of the power generation unit (arc-shaped friction unit, dielectric film, first fixed electrode plate and second fixed electrode plate) is directly connected to the external circuit, and the other electrode is connected to a slightly shorter section of the annular copper foil (corresponding to the first fixed electrode plate); the slightly longer section of the annular copper foil (corresponding to the second fixed electrode plate) is directly connected to the external circuit (energy storage element or load); when the copper slider swings to the conductive section (non-disconnected part) of the annular copper foil, the entire circuit forms a closed loop, and the accumulated charge is released instantaneously; the staggered fixed electrodes are electrically connected to the input terminal of the power management circuit through corrosion-resistant shielded wires (such as marine-specific polytetrafluoroethylene insulated wires), and the mechanical on / off trigger switch (movable contact, first fixed electrode plate and second fixed electrode plate) is connected in series in this connection circuit to control the on / off sequence of charge "accumulation-release"; wherein, the first fixed electrode plate is grounded through a wire, the second fixed electrode plate is connected in series with the input terminal of the power management circuit, and the movable contact is electrically connected to the staggered fixed electrodes.
[0025] Furthermore, the functional connection between the power management circuit and the energy storage element / external load circuit: the output of the power management circuit is connected in parallel with the energy storage element and the load circuit respectively. The power management circuit integrates a rectifier module, a voltage regulator module and an overcharge and over-discharge protection module: (1) Rectifier module: converts the pulse AC power output by the generator into DC power; (2) Voltage regulator module: stabilizes the DC voltage to the load circuit's appropriate voltage (usually 3.3V or 5V, which can be adjusted according to requirements); (3) Overcharge and over-discharge protection module: prevents the energy storage element (preferably a supercapacitor with a capacity of 10-100mF, or a lithium-sulfur battery) from being damaged by overcharging or failing due to over-discharge; the energy storage element is used to store surplus electrical energy and continuously supply power to the load circuit when wave energy is insufficient (such as calm sea conditions) to achieve energy supply and demand balance; the load circuit is a marine low-power electronic device (such as a temperature, salinity and depth sensor, LoRa wireless transmission module), which directly obtains stable electrical energy processed by the power management circuit.
[0026] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. In this invention, a mechanically triggered wave energy power generation device is designed using sustainable wave energy in the marine environment. By adopting an innovative working mechanism of "charge pre-accumulation - mechanical trigger instantaneous release", combined with the interlaced fixed electrodes and dielectric film integrated in the shell and the arc-shaped friction unit of the rotor assembly, the device achieves concentrated release of charge to form a high-amplitude pulse current. This solves the core problem of low current output and insufficient power density caused by the "friction and charge transfer" of traditional wave energy triboelectric nanogenerators. While ensuring simple structure and controllable cost, it significantly improves energy conversion efficiency and is suitable for the actual power supply needs of low-power marine electronic devices.
[0027] 2. In this invention, a purely mechanical on / off triggering structure is adopted. The "on-off-on" cycle control is achieved by the cooperation of the movable contact of the rotor assembly with the first and second fixed electrode plates of the housing. It does not rely on electronic switch components, which not only eliminates the disadvantages of electronic components such as high power consumption, poor anti-interference and easy damage in the high humidity and salt spray environment of the ocean, but also simplifies the circuit design, greatly improves the long-term operation stability and durability of the device in the harsh marine environment, and reduces maintenance costs.
[0028] 3. In this invention, the counterweight design of the rotor assembly and the circumferential distribution of multiple sets of arc-shaped friction units enhance the response sensitivity to wave reciprocating / rotational excitation. Combined with the working mode of "weak excitation pre-accumulation and strong excitation release", it can adapt to wave conditions with different amplitudes and frequencies, avoid the energy waste of traditional wave energy triboelectric nanogenerators under weak wave excitation, realize efficient energy capture under all wave conditions, and significantly improve the actual utilization efficiency of wave energy.
[0029] 4. In this invention, an integrated structure design is adopted. The outer shell integrates electrode bearing, friction interface and protection functions. The rotor assembly integrates friction unit, movable contact and counterweight. The sealing assembly is achieved through connecting rod and end cover. The structure is compact and the layout is reasonable. It reduces energy loss caused by redundant parts, enhances the impact resistance of the device, and avoids loosening or damage of the internal structure under wave impact, further improving the operational reliability.
[0030] 5. In this invention, the device can be directly deployed in the ocean wave environment without additional power drive. It stably outputs pulsed electrical energy through continuous "charge accumulation-release" cycle. It can be widely used in scenarios such as marine wireless monitoring sensors, underwater signal transmitters, and low-power equipment on marine platforms. It solves the pain point of traditional marine electronic equipment relying on cable power supply or frequent battery replacement, realizes self-powered power supply in marine energy-scarce environments, significantly improves the endurance and reliability of the equipment, and has important practical value and application prospects.
[0031] 6. In this invention, the device adopts a unique mechanical on / off trigger switch, which can improve the current output of the device and regulate the output current by adjusting the structure of the mechanical on / off trigger switch. The mechanical on / off trigger switch innovatively adopts an integrated design of precision mechanical transmission and conductive contact module. It can also improve the current output efficiency by optimizing the selection of contact materials and contact methods. At the same time, the multi-level current regulation can meet the personalized needs of current parameters in different application scenarios. Attached Figure Description
[0032] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device proposed in this invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional separation structure of a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device proposed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the central support structure of a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device proposed in this invention. Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional partial cross-sectional structural diagram of a mechanically triggered wave energy generation device proposed in this invention. Figure 5 This invention proposes a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generation device. Figure 4 Enlarged structural diagram of section A; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the friction layer material structure and charge transfer path in this invention; Legend: 1. Housing; 2. First fixed electrode plate; 3. Connecting rod; 4. Interlaced fixed electrodes; 5. Rabbit hair friction plate; 6. Central support structure; 7. Dielectric film; 8. Bearing; 9. End cap; 10. Movable contact; 11. Counterweight; 12. Second fixed electrode plate. Detailed Implementation
[0033] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0034] Example 1: like Figures 1-5 As shown, the mechanically triggered wave energy generation device provided in this embodiment includes: The housing assembly includes a housing 1, an end cap 9, and a connecting rod 3. The housing is a cylindrical body with a diameter of 160 mm and a height of 60 mm. The connecting rod 3 is externally rotatably connected to a bearing 8 installed inside the end cap. The inner wall of the housing is provided with staggered fixed electrodes 4. The staggered fixed electrodes 4 are covered with a dielectric film 7 with a thickness of 50 μm, which is smoothly attached with waterproof tape. The housing assembly is waterproof and sealed.
[0035] The rotor assembly, which is rotatably located inside the housing 1, includes a central support structure 6. The central support structure 6 is a PLA disc with a diameter of 104 mm. A through hole with a diameter of 4 mm is provided in the center for fixing the connecting rod 3. The connecting rod 3 is used to receive the movement of the external wave drive mechanism. Five mounting slots are evenly opened radially around the disc. Arc-shaped friction units matching its size are installed on the mounting slots. One end of the arc-shaped friction unit is embedded in the mounting slot and fixed with epoxy resin. After fixing, the rabbit fur naturally spreads outward. The arc-shaped friction unit is made of dielectric material. The free end of the arc-shaped friction unit is in contact with the dielectric film. In this embodiment, the arc-shaped friction unit is a rabbit hair friction plate 5.
[0036] The mechanical on / off trigger switch includes a movable contact 10 disposed on the rotor assembly and a first fixed electrode plate 2 and a second fixed electrode plate 12 disposed on the inner wall of the housing 1; when the movable contact 10 moves with the rotor assembly, it can selectively contact the first fixed electrode plate 2 and the second fixed electrode plate 12 to control the circuit on / off between the interleaved fixed electrode 4 and the external load. When the movable contact 10 contacts the first fixed electrode plate 2, the circuit is broken, and the charge generated by friction accumulates on the fixed electrode; when the movable contact 10 contacts the second fixed electrode plate 12, the circuit is turned on, and the accumulated charge is released to the external load.
[0037] The staggered fixed electrode 4 includes 6 sets of arc-shaped copper foil electrodes extending axially, with an adjacent electrode spacing of 2 mm. The staggered fixed electrode 4 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing by insulating glue.
[0038] In this embodiment, the dielectric film 7 is a polytetrafluoroethylene propylene film, and the first fixed electrode sheet 2 and the second fixed electrode sheet 12 are both arc-shaped conductive sheets, which are spaced apart on the same circumference and insulated from each other.
[0039] The central support structure 6 is equipped with a movable counterweight 11, which is made of lead and is used to adjust the rotational inertia of the rotor assembly and its response characteristics to wave excitation.
[0040] In this embodiment, the shell material is preferably fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), mainly made of epoxy resin and glass fiber composite, which is lightweight (density only 2.0-2.1 g / cm³). 3 It is approximately 1 / 4 the weight of 316L stainless steel, has extremely strong corrosion resistance (not corroded by seawater and salt spray), can reduce the overall weight of the device, and can be coated with a polyurethane anti-corrosion coating to enhance its resistance to ultraviolet rays and bio-adhesion.
[0041] In this embodiment, the material of the central support structure is polyetheretherketone (PEEK): it has excellent chemical corrosion resistance (resistance to seawater, salt spray, acids and alkalis), high temperature resistance (long-term operating temperature 260℃) and fatigue resistance, making it suitable for deployment in deep sea or extreme marine environments, with a service life of more than 10 years.
[0042] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped friction unit is treated to withstand environmental degradation: the rabbit hair (animal protein fiber) used in the arc-shaped friction unit is modified with silane coupling agent (KH-550) to form a hydrophobic and anti-corrosion film, which avoids mold and degradation caused by the high humidity of the marine environment, while improving the triboelectric efficiency with the dielectric film (FEP) and extending the service life to more than 2 years.
[0043] The working principle of the wave energy generation device provided in this embodiment is as follows: Charge accumulation stage (switch off): When the wave-driven power generation device is equipped with a counterweight 11, it drives the rotor assembly to swing back and forth around the central steel shaft. The counterweight stabilizes the center of gravity and ensures uniform swing amplitude. The arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate 5 slides against the dielectric film 7 (FEP film in this embodiment) on the inner wall of the outer shell. Due to the triboelectric effect, positive charge accumulates on the surface of the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate 5, and negative charge accumulates on the surface of the FEP film. Since the movable contact 10 is in contact with the first fixed electrode plate 2 at this time, the trigger switch is in the off state, the circuit between the power generation unit and the external load is not open, and the charge continues to accumulate on the staggered fixed electrode 4 and will not be transferred immediately. 2. Charge release stage (switch closure): When the wave excitation reaches a certain intensity, the rotor assembly moves to a specific angle or position, and the movable contact 10 contacts the second fixed electrode plate 12, triggering the switch to close instantaneously. At this time, all the charge accumulated on the interleaved fixed electrode 4 is released instantaneously through the closed circuit, flowing to the external load or energy storage element, forming a high-amplitude pulse current; 3. Cyclic operation: With the periodic action of the waves, the rotor oscillates back and forth near the equilibrium position, and the trigger switch cycles between the "open" and "closed" states. The system repeatedly performs the process of "accumulation → release → re-accumulation → re-release", thereby continuously outputting high-power pulsed electrical energy.
[0044] Specifically, such as Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the working mechanism of its power generation unit. When the device is triggered by external excitation, the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate slides from right to left (Stage I). Due to frictional electrification, the surface of the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate becomes positively charged, while the surface of the FEP film becomes negatively charged. During the transition from Stage I to Stage II, the potential difference between the two copper electrodes changes due to electrostatic induction. At this time, since the rotary switch is in the open state, no current flows through the circuit. As the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate continues to slide to the left, the central support structure swings to the left, causing the central copper slider to move to the break point of the annular copper foil (Stage II), instantly closing the external circuit. At this time, the potential difference between the two copper electrodes reaches its maximum, which drives the charge to flow into the external circuit instantaneously, thereby increasing the peak current. After the switch is closed, due to the balancing effect of the weight at the bottom and the driving force of the external excitation, the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate slides to the right. At this time, since the rotary switch is in the open state, no external current flows (Stage III). When the arc-shaped rabbit hair friction plate continues to move to the right side, the potential difference between the two electrodes reaches its maximum again. At this time, the switch closes, the circuit is instantly connected, and a current in the opposite direction is generated in the external circuit (stage IV).
[0045] Example 2: Electrical Performance Testing and Optimization Under controlled laboratory conditions, the generator prototype constructed in Example 1 underwent systematic electrical performance testing and key parameter optimization. The tests aimed to verify its output capability, optimize its structural configuration, and quantify its performance improvement.
[0046] 1. Structural parameter optimization test To determine the key structural parameters, a series of comparative experiments were conducted. First, the output capabilities of a single power generation unit with different friction materials were compared and tested. The tests showed that when the friction material was an FEP film, the unit achieved the best overall output performance under simulated wave conditions (2Hz): short-circuit current 18μA, open-circuit voltage 60V, and single-cycle charge transfer 30nC.
[0047] Subsequently, the effect of integrating multiple power generation units was tested. As the number of units gradually increased from one group to the designed five groups, the total output performance showed an approximately linear increase under the same driving conditions. When all five groups of units worked together, the overall performance was significantly improved: the short-circuit current reached 48.7μA, the open-circuit voltage reached 360V, and the transferred charge increased to 185nC. This confirms the effectiveness of the multi-unit parallel design scheme.
[0048] 2. Performance testing in working mode The effect of oscillation amplitude on output was investigated at a fixed frequency (2Hz). Output performance significantly improved with increasing oscillation angles (10°, 20°, 30°). At a 30° oscillation angle, the measured short-circuit current was 42μA, the open-circuit voltage was 750V, and the transferred charge was 287nC. In this mode, a maximum power density of approximately 6.5W / m² was achieved with a matched load resistance of approximately 80 megohms. 3 Energy storage tests show that this mode can charge a 10 microfarad capacitor to 12V in 15 seconds.
[0049] 3. Verification of the effectiveness of the mechanical triggering mechanism To quantify the advantages of the core mechanism of this invention, a comparative test was conducted between the "mechanical on / off triggering mode" and the traditional "direct continuous output mode." Under the same wave simulation excitation, the peak pulse current generated by the triggering mode reached more than 3.2 times the average current value of the continuous output mode. Furthermore, in tests simulating irregular, intermittent waves, this mechanism successfully achieved the working characteristic of "charge accumulation under weak excitation and concentrated release under strong excitation," effectively collecting and outputting minute, scattered energy. Calculations show that this improves the overall energy harvesting efficiency by approximately 40%.
[0050] The test results above collectively demonstrate that the present invention, through an optimized friction structure combined with a mechanical on / off triggering mechanism, achieves high power output and high-efficiency energy harvesting, and all performance indicators meet the requirements for driving typical low-power marine electronic equipment.
[0051] Example 3: Performance verification and multi-position control test of rotary trigger switch This embodiment is based on the prototype structure of Embodiment 1. The test is conducted only on the innovative design of the rotary trigger switch, which integrates precision mechanical transmission and conductive contact module, to verify its current output efficiency improvement effect and the feasibility of multi-level control. All other structural parameters (shell size, configuration of 6 sets of staggered copper electrodes, 50μm thick FEP film and 5 rabbit hair friction pads, etc.) are consistent with Embodiment 1 to ensure the uniqueness of test variables.
[0052] The mechanical on / off trigger switch includes a movable contact 10 disposed on the rotor assembly and a first fixed electrode plate 2 and a second fixed electrode plate 12 disposed on the inner wall of the housing 1. The movable contact 10 is made of a 0.3mm thick elastic copper sheet, and its free end is a hemispherical protrusion structure. The contact method with the first fixed electrode plate 2 and the second fixed electrode plate 12 is point contact. The elastic deformation of the elastic copper sheet can maintain the contact pressure at 0.3-0.8N. The point contact structure simplifies the manufacturing process. The measured contact resistance is ≤100mΩ, which meets the current transmission requirements of basic power generation scenarios. When the movable contact 10 moves with the rotor assembly, it can selectively contact the first fixed electrode plate 2 and the second fixed electrode plate 12 to control the circuit on / off between the staggered fixed electrode 4 and the external load.
[0053] The test sample was based on the original trigger switch (elastic copper sheet + point contact) in Example 1, and was optimized and adjusted as follows: the contact material was replaced with gold-plated copper elastic sheet, and the contact method was changed to surface contact to reduce contact resistance; three current adjustment levels were constructed by setting three second fixed electrode arc lengths of 15°, 30° and 45°, and all contact components were sealed with silicone to meet marine environmental protection requirements.
[0054] The test used a programmable wave simulation platform (simulating wave frequency of 2Hz and swing angle of 30°, consistent with the swing mode test conditions in Example 2), a high-precision electrometer, and an adjustable load resistance box to conduct a benchmark comparison test in an environment with room temperature of 25°C and humidity of 50%.
[0055] Under the same wave excitation conditions, the optimized gold-plated copper elastic sheet + surface contact integrated trigger switch performed best: the peak short-circuit current reached 50μA, an improvement of approximately 19% compared to the baseline configuration (42μA in swing mode of Example 2), and the open-circuit voltage remained stable at 750V, completely consistent with the voltage data of swing mode in Example 2. After 1000 on-off cycles, the performance degradation was only ±2%, verifying the effectiveness of material selection and contact method optimization. In multi-level control tests, a 15° arc length corresponds to the low-level output (short-circuit current 20-25μA), suitable for low-power marine monitoring sensors; a 30° arc length corresponds to the medium-level output (35-40μA), meeting the requirements of conventional wireless communication nodes; and a 45° arc length corresponds to the high-level output (48-52μA), suitable for short-term high-power devices. The current fluctuation range of each level was ≤±1.2μA, and the contact was stable and reliable. In practical application testing, the low-power mode can stably power the temperature, salinity, and depth sensor, while the medium-power mode supports continuous operation of the LoRa wireless transmission module. The mode switching response is rapid and without lag, and there is no arc discharge phenomenon. The sealing structure is unaffected.
[0056] Example 4: Demonstration Application in Actual Marine Environment A wave energy generation device as described in Example 1 is installed on the bottom of a small marine monitoring buoy, which moves freely with the waves. The buoy integrates a power management circuit, a 10mF supercapacitor for energy storage, a low-power temperature, salinity, and depth sensor, and a LoRa wireless transmission module.
[0057] The device can stably generate pulsed electrical energy under sea conditions with an average wave height of 0.5m.
[0058] After a week of continuous operation, the supercapacitor voltage remained above 3.3V, successfully providing power to the sensor for measuring and wirelessly transmitting data every 30 minutes without the need for any external battery.
[0059] The device remained structurally intact and its electrical performance showed no degradation after being exposed to wind, rain, and seawater, demonstrating its excellent environmental tolerance.
[0060] In summary, this invention provides a high-performance, highly reliable, and highly adaptive wave energy triboelectric nanogenerator by ingeniously integrating a large-area friction unit with a purely mechanical on / off triggering mechanism. This not only significantly improves the output power density but also solves the problem of long-term stable operation of energy harvesting devices in marine environments, providing a promising technical solution for achieving true "self-powering" for widely distributed low-power marine devices.
[0061] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A wave energy generation device triggered by mechanical switching, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly includes a housing (1), the inner wall of which is provided with staggered fixed electrodes (4), and the staggered fixed electrodes (4) are covered with a dielectric film (7). The rotor assembly located in the housing (1) includes a central support structure (6) and an arc-shaped friction unit (5) fixed thereon. The arc-shaped friction unit (5) is made of dielectric material and the free end of the arc-shaped friction unit (5) is in contact with the dielectric film (7). The mechanical on / off trigger switch includes a movable contact (10) on the rotor assembly and a first fixed electrode plate (2) and a second fixed electrode plate (12) on the inner wall of the housing (1). The movable contact (10) is electrically connected to the staggered fixed electrode (4). The movable contact (10) moves with the rotor assembly. When the movable contact (10) contacts the first fixed electrode plate (2), the circuit is broken, and the charge generated by friction accumulates on the staggered fixed electrode (4). When the movable contact (10) contacts the second fixed electrode plate (12), the circuit is turned on, and the accumulated charge is released to the external load.
2. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The staggered fixed electrodes (4) are evenly arranged along the inner wall of the housing (1) in a circumferential manner, with a number of no less than 4 groups.
3. The wave energy generation device with mechanical on / off triggering according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dielectric film (7) is a polytetrafluoroethylene propylene film, and the dielectric material is animal protein fiber.
4. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the arc-shaped friction units (5) is 1-5 pieces, which are distributed radially in a centrally symmetrical manner.
5. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The central support structure (6) is provided with a movable counterweight (11).
6. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes an end cap (9) and a connecting rod (3) passing through the housing (1). The connecting rod (3) is externally rotatably connected to a bearing (8) installed inside the end cap (9). The central support structure (6) is connected to the connecting rod (3), which is used to receive the motion of an external wave drive mechanism.
7. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first fixed electrode sheet (2) and the second fixed electrode sheet (12) are both arc-shaped conductive sheets. The first fixed electrode sheet (2) and the second fixed electrode sheet (12) are spaced apart on the same circumference and are insulated from each other.
8. The mechanically triggered wave energy generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable contact is made of elastic copper sheet and the contact method is point contact; or the movable contact is made of gold-plated copper elastic sheet and the contact method is surface contact.
9. A wave energy power generation system, characterized in that, The system includes a mechanically on / off triggered wave energy generator, a wave drive mechanism, a power management circuit, and an energy storage element or load circuit as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; the wave drive mechanism moves under the action of waves and is connected to the connecting rod (3) in the wave energy generator; the input end of the power management circuit is electrically connected to the staggered fixed electrode (4) in the wave energy generator, and the mechanically on / off triggered switch is connected in series in the connection circuit between the power management circuit and the staggered fixed electrode (4); the output end of the power management circuit is electrically connected to the energy storage element or load circuit.
10. The wave energy generation system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first fixed electrode (2) is grounded through a wire, the second fixed electrode (12) is connected in series with the input terminal of the power management circuit, and the movable contact (10) is electrically connected to the staggered fixed electrode (4).
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