Method for energy mutual conversion and power generation using chemical reaction by mixture of pyroelectric body and excellent conductor

Abstract

To solve the issue that an existing power source such as a power generator or a battery neither involves supply of energy or an action material from the outside of a device nor exchange due to consumption of an action material in the device.SOLUTION: A piezoelectric body having a material characteristic of a mutual conversion action of electric energy and contraction kinetic energy, a highly conductive metal such as copper or aluminum, or a carbon-based excellent conductor such as a carbon isotope are processed into powder or liquid and are mixed together in an appropriate amount and ratio. When the mixture is sealed in a power generator and electric energy is temporarily supplied from an external power source, the mixture will be making a contraction motion and generating power at one time in the device. The object is achieved by a method of power generation using a chemical reaction (the energy mutual conversion action) of the mixture of a pyroelectric body and an excellent conductor.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application technology that utilizes the material properties of piezoelectric bodies (piezoelectric effect). [Background technology]

[0002] A technology used in applications such as transducers, pyrotechnic elements, and acoustic elements. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Conventional power generating devices or power sources such as batteries had the problem that they could not generate electrical energy continuously unless they were accompanied by "the supply of energy or active substances from outside the device" or "the replacement of active substances inside the device due to consumption." [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] To address this issue, piezoelectric materials (such as crystals such as quartz) that have the material property of converting between electrical energy and contraction kinetic energy are processed into powder or liquid form and mixed in appropriate amounts and ratios to ensure that the constituent materials are evenly distributed. (As long as the chemical composition of the target substance is the same, there is no restriction on its state (solid, liquid, etc.) This mixture is sealed inside a power generation device, and electrical energy is temporarily supplied from an external power source (energized), or mechanical energy is supplied (pressurized) by a mechanism inside the device. The mixture then enters a state in which contraction motion and electricity generation occur simultaneously within the device (a state in which mutual conversion between electrical energy and contraction kinetic energy takes place). This method of generating electricity by utilizing the chemical reaction (energy interconversion action) of this "mixture of piezoelectric material and good conductor" solves the problems that existed with conventional power generation devices or power sources such as batteries.

Claims

1. There are substances called piezoelectric materials (crystals such as quartz, semiconductors such as barium titanate, organic polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride, etc.). This material has the properties of contracting when voltage is applied (current is passed through it), and generating an electromotive force when pressure is applied. This means that piezoelectric materials have the ability to convert between electrical energy and contractile kinetic energy. This piezoelectric material is processed into powder or liquid form with a highly conductive metal such as copper or aluminum, or a good carbon-based conductor such as a carbon allotrope, and mixed in appropriate amounts and ratios to ensure that the constituent materials are evenly distributed. (As long as the chemical composition of the target substance is the same, there is no restriction on the state, such as solid or liquid.) This mixture is sealed in a power generating device, and electrical energy is temporarily supplied from an external power source (energized), or mechanical energy is supplied to the mixture in the device (pressurized) by an internal mechanism of the device. The mixture then enters a state in the device where the piezoelectric body contracts and electricity is generated simultaneously (a state in which electrical energy and the contraction kinetic energy of the piezoelectric body are mutually converted). This is a method of generating electricity by utilizing the chemical reaction (energy interconversion) of this "mixture of piezoelectric material and good conductor." When this mixture having the power generating function is used as a power source for electrical appliances, there is no limitation on whether it is in a solid or liquid state. Furthermore, there are no limitations on the shape or material of the outer frame of the power generating device (such as a battery) in which the mixture is enclosed, and the mixture does not need to be enclosed within the power generating device. This also includes cases where the soluble mixture is directly applied to the inside of an electrically powered machine or an electrical appliance controlled by an electrical signal, like a paint, and then connected to an electrical wire, circuit, etc.

2. In the method described in claim 1, electricity is generated by a chemical reaction of the mixture (the mutual conversion of electrical energy and the contraction energy of the piezoelectric body), but the chemical reaction that occurs within the device does not result in 100% mutual conversion of electrical energy and the contraction energy of the piezoelectric body, and as the electrical energy is transmitted to and circulated by the good conductor, some of it is converted into thermal energy. If thermal energy other than electrical energy and the contraction energy of the piezoelectric material is generated within the mixture (converted into thermal energy), it will not be converted back into electrical energy, and the power generation efficiency (electrical energy generation efficiency) as a power source will decrease. To address this issue, an appropriate amount of a substance with the material property of pyroelectric effect (the mutual conversion of electrical energy and thermal energy), such as a pyroelectric material, organic compound, or earth and stone, processed into powder or solution form, is added and mixed into the original mixture (piezoelectric material and good conductor). This allows the thermal energy in the mixture to be converted into electrical energy. A method for suppressing a decrease in the power generation efficiency (electrical energy generation efficiency) of the mixture as a power source by realizing a cycle in which electrical energy is converted into contraction energy and thermal energy of a piezoelectric material within the mixture, and the contraction energy and thermal energy of the piezoelectric material are converted into electrical energy.

3. In the method described in claim 1, a piezoelectric material and a good conductor are processed into a powder or a solution and mixed together to generate electricity by utilizing the energy interconversion action of the mixture. In contrast to this, this method does not use a mixture of a piezoelectric material and a good conductor, but instead processes only the piezoelectric material into a powder or a solution and seals it in a power generation device, and uses the external environment as a power source. Piezoelectric materials have the property of generating electricity when mechanical energy (pressure) is applied to them. Methods for using a power generating device containing a piezoelectric material in an environment where mechanical energy (pressure) is applied from the outside include inserting the device into a gap in a structure so that pressure is applied from both sides, placing the device and placing a heavy object on top of it so that pressure is applied from above and below, or installing it on the seabed so that water pressure is applied from all directions. The method for transmitting external mechanical energy (applying pressure) to the piezoelectric element enclosed in the device involves making the outer frame of the power generating device not out of a hard material such as conventional metal, but out of a soft, elastic material such as a resin film that is stretchable and strong enough to withstand tension or pressure and not easily break. A piezoelectric substance processed into a powder or solution form is enclosed in an outer frame (container) made of such a material. Because the outer frame (container) is made of a soft material such as a resin film, external pressure (mechanical energy) is transmitted through the wall (such as a resin film) to the piezoelectric element inside, generating an electromotive force in the piezoelectric element to which force is applied. This method involves extracting and utilizing the electrical energy generated at this time from the device's electrodes. (The dimensions and shape of the outer frame of the power generation device are not limited.) In this way, a piezoelectric element can be used as a power generator (power source) by utilizing the material (characteristics) of the device's outer frame and an environment in which pressure (mechanical energy) is constantly applied from the outside.

4. A power generation device or power supply using the method according to claims 1, 2, or 3.

5. 5. The power generating device according to claim 4, a device using the power supply, a lighting device, a communication device, a propulsion device for defense equipment, a transportation vehicle, or the like, or a power generating facility.

6. Services and businesses using the device, lighting device, communication device, defense equipment, propulsion device for transportation, and power generation equipment according to claim 5.