power generation equipment

Abstract

To provide a power generation device capable of continuously implementing efficient power generation.SOLUTION: A power generation device comprises a power generation section which relatively moves in contact with a polar liquid and generates power. The power generation device comprises: a support section which supports the power generation section in a swingable or rotatable manner; and a power receiving section which receives an external force generated by at least one of an air flow and a liquid flow. In the power generation device, the power generation section is swung or rotated by the external force, and the power generation section is put in / put out of the polar liquid. A fulcrum of the support section is provided outside of the polar liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generating device, and more particularly to a power generating device that utilizes contact charging and electrostatic induction to continuously generate efficient power. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid-solid contact charging friction nanogenerator that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy through the relative motion between a liquid and a power generation unit. This liquid-solid contact charging friction nanogenerator utilizes contact charging and electrostatic induction between materials with different electron affinities, and generates electricity by moving an object negatively charged by contact charging and a positively charged object relatively while maintaining the induced charge generated on their surfaces, and transporting the charge using the resulting potential difference. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109980985 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the inventors attempted to generate electricity continuously using a liquid-solid contact electrified friction nanogenerator as described in Patent Document 1, they discovered a new technical problem: when liquid remained on the surface of the power generation section, charge transport was prevented, and sufficient power generation gradually ceased.

[0005] The present invention has been made in response to such new technical challenges, and has an object to provide a power generation device that can continuously realize efficient power generation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned object, the inventors discovered that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by providing a support part that supports the power generation part so that it can oscillate or rotate, and a force-receiving part that receives external forces from at least one of air flow and liquid flow, and by using this external force to oscillate or rotate the power generation part and move it in and out of the polar liquid, thereby completing the present invention.

[0007] That is, the power generation device of the present invention includes a power generation section that comes into contact with the polar liquid and moves relative to the polar liquid to generate power. the power generation unit is a porous power generation unit including a porous substrate having communicating holes and a power generation layer formed on at least the inner surface of the porous substrate, The power generation device includes a support part that supports the power generation part so that it can swing or rotate, and a force-receiving part that receives an external force from at least one of an air flow and a liquid flow. In this power generation device, the power generation part swings or rotates due to this external force, and moves in and out of the polar liquid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a power generation device can be provided which is equipped with a support part that supports the power generation part so that it can oscillate or rotate, and a force-receiving part that receives external forces from at least one of air flow and liquid flow, and which uses this external force to oscillate or rotate the power generation part and move it in and out of the polar liquid, thereby enabling efficient power generation to be continuously achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a first embodiment of a power generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a power generation mechanism that utilizes contact charging and electrostatic induction. [Figure 3] Figure 3(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the power generation device of the present invention, and Figure 3(B) is a partially enlarged diagram showing a schematic diagram of the area surrounded by line B of the porous power generation section shown in Figure 3(A). [Figure 4] 4(A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams that schematically show a third embodiment of the power generating device of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5(A) and 5(B) are explanatory diagrams that schematically show a fourth embodiment of the power generating device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The power generating device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions of the drawings cited below are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0011] (First embodiment) As shown in Fig. 1, the power generation device 1 of the first embodiment includes a power generation section 10 that comes into contact with the polar liquid PL and moves relative to it to generate power. The power generation device 1 of this embodiment also includes a floating support section 21 that floats in the polar liquid PL and is an example of a support section 20 that rotatably supports the power generation section 10, and an impeller-type force receiving section 31 that is an example of a force receiving section 30 that receives an external force from at least one of an air current and a liquid current. In the power generation device 1 of this embodiment, this external force causes the power generation section 10 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow Z1 (clockwise in Fig. 1), causing the power generation section 10 to move in and out of the polar liquid PL.

[0012] In this embodiment, the blades 311 of the impeller-type force receiving section 31 include a base material (not shown) and a power generating layer 14 formed on the base material, and function as the power generating section 10 described above.

[0013] In this embodiment, the floating support section 21 has a fulcrum 20A for the rotational movement of the power generation section 10 described above, and the fulcrum 20A is provided outside the polar liquid PL.

[0014] In this embodiment, the power generation unit 10 can also be swung in the direction indicated by arrow Z2 relative to the fulcrum 20A by an external force caused by at least one of an air flow and a liquid flow indicated by the dashed arrow.

[0015] The mechanism of power generation using contact electrification and electrostatic induction has not been fully clarified, but is thought to be as follows.

[0016] 2, the power generation unit 10 includes a substrate 12 and a power generation layer 14 formed on the substrate 12. Because the substrate 12 and the power generation layer 14 are in contact with each other, the one with the larger work function is positively charged and the one with the smaller work function is negatively charged due to contact electrification.

[0017] Since the substrate 12 is electrically charged, an imbalance in the charge between the substrate side and the surface side occurs in the power generation layer 14 in contact with it due to electrostatic induction, and charges opposite to the charges on the surface side of the power generation layer also gather in the polar liquid PL due to electrostatic induction, causing the charges on the surface of the power generation layer and the charges on the surface of the polar liquid in contact with it to attract each other.

[0018] Therefore, when the power generation unit 10 is brought into contact with the polar liquid PL and moved relative to it, the charge in the power generation layer 14 is attracted to the charge in the polar liquid PL and moves, and electricity can be generated by extracting this charge to the outside. In the illustrated example, the charge is extracted to an external circuit 60 via the current collector 50.

[0019] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, the external force causes the power generation unit 10 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow Z1, and the power generation unit 10 moves in and out of the polar liquid PL, so that centrifugal force acts on the polar liquid PL in contact with the power generation unit 10. As a result, the polar liquid is removed by scattering from the surface of the power generation unit, specifically the power generation layer, which is efficiently charged, and the power generation device can continuously generate efficient power.

[0020] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the fulcrum 20A of the floating support 21 is located outside the polar liquid PL, which ensures that the power generation unit 10 remains outside the polar liquid PL for a long time. This allows the polar liquid to be more easily dispersed and removed from the surface of the power generation unit, specifically the power generation layer, which efficiently charges the power generation layer and allows the power generation device to continuously generate more efficient power.

[0021] 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating second to fourth embodiments of the power generating device of the present invention. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the invention will be omitted.

[0022] (Second embodiment) As shown in Figures 3(A) and (B), the power generation device 2 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the power generation device 1 of the first embodiment, except that the power generation section 10 is a porous power generation section 11, the power generation device 2 further includes a liquid removal section 40, and the force receiving section 30 is an example of a drum-type force receiving section 32.

[0023] The porous power generation unit 11 includes a porous substrate 13 having communicating holes 13a and a power generation layer 14 formed on at least the inner surface 13b of the porous substrate 13 (see FIG. 3(B)). Furthermore, the porous power generation unit 11 is provided inside the cylindrical body 321 of the drum-shaped force receiving unit 32 (see FIG. 3(A)).

[0024] The drum-shaped force-receiving section 32 may receive external forces from airflow or liquid flow at the porous power generation section 11 provided inside the cylindrical body 321. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the cylindrical body may be provided with protrusions such as blades (not shown) that receive external forces from airflow or liquid flow.

[0025] The liquid removal section 40 has a cylindrical body 41 that rotates in the direction indicated by arrow Z3 in accordance with the rotation of the porous power generation section 11 in the direction indicated by arrow Z1, and compresses and deforms the porous power generation section 11 outside the polar liquid PL, thereby squeezing out and removing the polar liquid PL contained in the porous power generation section 11.

[0026] In this embodiment, when the porous power generation section 11 swings in the direction indicated by arrow Z2, the liquid removal section 40 can swing in the direction indicated by arrow Z4 relative to the fulcrum 40A of the liquid removal section 40 in accordance with the swing of the porous power generation section 11.

[0027] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, by providing the above-mentioned porous power generation section 11, the contact area per unit volume between the porous power generation section 11 and the polar liquid PL can be increased by several times or more, so in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, the output of the power generation device can be improved.

[0028] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by providing the above-mentioned liquid removal section 40, the polar liquid PL can be more reliably removed from the porous power generation section 11, thereby enabling even more efficient power generation to be continuously achieved than in the first embodiment.

[0029] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, even if the impeller-type force receiving portion 31 is replaced with the drum-type force receiving portion 32, the same advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0030] (Third embodiment) Figure 4(A) is a side view of the power generation device 3 of the third embodiment as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow X in Figure 4(B), and Figure 4(B) is a front view of the power generation device 3 of the third embodiment as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow Y in Figure 4(A).

[0031] As shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), in the power generation device 3 of the third embodiment, the support part 20 that supports the power generation unit 10 so that it can oscillate is fixed directly to the ground, seabed, lakebed, or riverbed (not shown) or to a base that is fixed to any of these, and the force receiving part 30 is an example of a boat-shaped force receiving part 33, and has the same configuration as the power generation device 1 of the first embodiment, except that the power generation unit 10 oscillates in the direction indicated by arrow Z2 due to an external force caused by the liquid flow shown in Figure 4(B).

[0032] Although the present invention may use only one hull-shaped force receiving portion, in this embodiment, multiple hull-shaped force receiving portions 33 are supported by support portion 20. The multiple hull-shaped force receiving portions 33 may swing separately or together.

[0033] The power generation section 10 is provided on the outside of the ship's side 331 of the ship-shaped force receiving section 33. From the viewpoint of allowing efficient entry and exit of the polar liquid PL, it is preferable that the power generation section 10 be provided near the waterline WL, in other words, in an area including the waterline WL.

[0034] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, even if the impeller-type force receiving portion 31 is replaced with the boat-shaped force receiving portion 33, the same advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0035] (Fourth embodiment) Figure 5(A) is a side view of the power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment as seen from the direction indicated by arrow X in Figure 5(B), and Figure 5(B) is a front view of the power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment as seen from the direction indicated by arrow Y in Figure 5(A).

[0036] As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), the power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the power generation device 3 of the third embodiment, except that the ship-shaped force receiving section 33 has an on-board structure 333, and the power generation section 10 oscillates in the direction indicated by arrow Z2 due to the external force of the air flow shown in Figure 5(B).

[0037] The onboard structure 333 has a shape that generates Karman vortices as shown in FIG. 5, such as a triangular prism.

[0038] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, even if the impeller-type force receiving portion 31 is replaced with the boat-shaped force receiving portion 33, the same advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0039] Here, the specifications and material types of each component will be described in more detail.

[0040] (base material) The substrate is preferably a porous substrate having interconnecting pores extending from one surface to the other surface, and may have a porous structure in which pores are randomly arranged in three dimensions and interconnected to form interconnecting pores, such as a sponge-like porous structure, or a structure in which a plurality of linear interconnecting pores are aligned in one direction like a plurality of parallel tubes, or a combination of these structures.

[0041] It is preferable that the above-mentioned communicating holes are not only connected in a direction in which the polar liquid can easily penetrate, but also connected in a direction that intersects with the direction of oscillation or rotation, which is the direction in which the polar liquid is easily scattered by centrifugal force, within the plane in which the power generation unit oscillates or rotates.

[0042] The substrate may be made of a material that has lower electrical conductivity than the power generation layer and a different work function from that of the power generation layer, but is preferably made of an insulator.

[0043] When the conductivity of the substrate increases, the substrate is filled with charges opposite to those of the power generation layer, making it easier for the charges of the power generation layer to be canceled out. This makes it difficult for the charges in the power generation layer to move even when a polar liquid flows, making it difficult to increase the amount of power generation.

[0044] As the insulator, metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide, as well as resins such as polyester resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin, and polystyrene can be used.

[0045] Porous metal oxide substrates can be formed by adding a pore-forming agent such as resin particles to the raw materials used to produce ceramics using the sol-gel method and then firing the resulting mixture. Porous resin substrates can also be formed by adding a pore-forming agent such as a phase separation agent or foaming agent to the monomer components and then polymerizing and curing the resulting mixture. These porous substrates can also be formed by drilling multiple interconnected pores into a block of metal oxide or resin.

[0046] The average pore size of the interconnected pores is preferably greater than 0.05 mm and less than 7 mm, although this depends on the power generation layer and the polar liquid. If the average pore size is greater than 0.05 mm, the polar liquid can enter and move through the pores. Furthermore, if the average pore size is less than 7 mm, high output can be obtained.

[0047] (power generation layer) The power generation layer can be made of a conductor that allows electric charges to move within the layer by electrostatic induction. Increasing the electrical conductivity of the power generation layer reduces the internal resistance of the power generation unit and improves the amount of power generated, so the main component of the power generation layer is preferably a metal or conductive carbon. In the present invention, the main component means 50% by mass or more.

[0048] Examples of the metals include metals with high electrical conductivity such as platinum (Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and molybdenum (Mo), as well as alloys containing these metals.

[0049] In the power generation layer formed from the above metal, an oxide layer is formed on the outermost surface, making it difficult for charge to be transferred between the metal and the polar liquid, and making it easier for charge to be generated on the surface. Note that the oxide layer here refers to a layer formed by oxidation of the metal itself, such as an oxide layer on the metal surface formed by exposing the metal to air at room temperature, or an oxide layer formed by oxidizing the metal by heat treatment, etc., and does not refer to an oxide layer formed by stacking oxides of other materials, etc.

[0050] Examples of the conductive carbon include graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon black, graphite, etc. Among these, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers are preferably used because they have high in-plane conductivity.

[0051] The power generation layer can contain a wettability adjuster. Examples of wettability adjusters that can be used include surfactants and water repellents. The surfactant makes it easier for the polar liquid to enter the communicating pores when the porous power generation section moves from outside the polar liquid (gas side) to inside the polar liquid (liquid side). The water repellent allows the polar liquid that has entered the communicating pores to quickly flow down when the porous power generation section moves from the liquid side to the gas side, enabling power generation at high voltages. This allows the power generation section to be larger, resulting in even higher output.

[0052] The surfactant may be, for example, a nonionic surfactant such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether or polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol. Nonionic surfactants do not affect the charge in the polar liquid because their hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxyl groups (OH), do not dissociate in water. The amount of the wettability adjuster added is preferably 0.1 to 1% by mass.

[0053] Examples of the water repellent agent include silicone-based materials and fluorine-based materials, such as powders of silicone rubber or silicone resin, fluorine-based resin powders and dispersions of these powders, resin paints, silicone oils, and fluorine oils.

[0054] The surface of the power generation layer, i.e., the inner surface of the through-holes, preferably has irregularities, which increases the surface area of ​​the power generation layer and improves the amount of power generation.

[0055] Furthermore, if the communicating holes are cylindrical or have a linear shape, friction between the polar liquid and the inner walls of the communicating holes will cause a difference in flow speed between the inner walls and the center of the communicating holes, resulting in the generation of vortices. The reverse flow caused by this vortex cancels out the movement of charges within the polar liquid, making it difficult for charges to move within the power generation layer.

[0056] The unevenness of the surface of the power generation layer prevents the generation of vortex currents and makes the flow of the polar liquid laminar, enabling power generation at a high voltage. The diameter of the recesses formed on the inner surface of the communicating holes that prevent the generation of vortex currents is preferably 1 to 100 μm, depending on the viscosity of the polar liquid and other factors.

[0057] The unevenness on the surface of the power generation layer may be formed by the shape of the surface of the through holes in the substrate being reflected on the surface of the power generation layer, or may be formed by the thickness of the power generation layer, or by the stacking state of the carbon particles, etc.

[0058] The thickness of the power generation layer is preferably 10 nm to 1 μm, although it depends on the material composition of the power generation layer.

[0059] The power generation layer is provided on at least the inner surfaces of the communicating holes of the porous substrate, but may be formed on the entire surface of the porous substrate, including not only the inner surface but also the outer surface.

[0060] The power generation layer can be formed by applying a coating liquid containing metal or conductive carbon to a substrate and drying it, or by plating or sputtering.

[0061] (polar liquid) It is preferable that the polar liquid be able to move, for example, within the communicating pores, while carrying the charges within the power generation layer. In addition to water and solutions containing salts, ionic liquids (room-temperature molten salts) can be used. However, since ionic liquids generally have high viscosity, solutions containing salts are preferable.

[0062] The solvent for the solution can be water or an organic solvent, but water is preferred because it is a good solvent for salts and can easily increase the ion concentration in the polar liquid. Water is also preferred because it is less susceptible to oxidation and decomposition.

[0063] Examples of the salt to be dissolved in the solvent include inorganic salts such as lithium salts, potassium salts, sodium salts, and magnesium salts, as well as organic salts.

[0064] Among these, it is preferable that the main component of the cation is at least one selected from the group consisting of lithium ions, sodium ions, and magnesium ions.

[0065] These alkali metal ions and alkaline earth metal ions have high solubility in water, making it possible to increase the ion concentration in polar liquids. Furthermore, aqueous solutions containing these cations as their main components have a viscosity of 0.8-1 mPa·s at room temperature and low surface tension, making them less likely to remain within the pores, enabling high-voltage power generation.

[0066] Such polar liquids may be liquids found in the sea, lakes, or rivers, or liquids found in artificial reservoirs or pipes.

[0067] (current collecting part) The current collecting section is connected to both ends of the power generating section in the direction of movement, and extracts the charge moving through the power generating layer of the power generating section to the outside.

[0068] (Support part) The support unit is not particularly limited as long as it can support the power generation unit so that it can swing or rotate. For example, a support unit having a conventionally known shaft and bearing at the fulcrum can be used. Furthermore, if the support unit is fixed to the ground, the bottom of the sea, a lake, or a river, it is preferable that the support unit be made of a heavy material such as metal. On the other hand, if the support unit is to float in a polar liquid, it is preferable that the support unit be made of a lightweight material such as resin, typified by fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0069] (force receiving part) The force receiving part is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of swinging or rotating, such as an impeller-type or drum-type part applied to conventionally known wind turbines or water turbines, or a conventionally known ship-type part. The force receiving part may be integrated with the power generating part as in the first to third embodiments described above, or may be separate from the power generating part as in the fourth embodiment described above. The cylindrical body in the drum-type force receiving part may be formed of a porous body such as punched metal or expanded metal, or may be formed of a non-porous body. When the cylindrical body is formed of a non-porous body, a polar liquid can be stored inside the cylindrical body by providing an inward flange on the end face of the cylindrical body.

[0070] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0071] The gist of the present invention is that in order to continuously achieve efficient power generation, a configuration is adopted in which a support part that supports the power generation part so that it can oscillate or rotate, and a force-receiving part that receives external forces from at least one of air flow and liquid flow, and this external force causes the power generation part to oscillate or rotate and move in and out of the polar liquid.

[0072] Therefore, as long as the power generation unit can be swung or rotated to move in and out of the polar liquid, the fulcrum of the support unit does not need to be located outside the polar liquid, and the fulcrum of the support unit may be located within the polar liquid.

[0073] Furthermore, for example, the components described above are not limited to the components shown in each embodiment, and it is possible to change the details of the specifications of the power generation unit, support unit, force receiving unit, and liquid removal unit, or to apply the components of each embodiment to other embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1,2,3,4 Power generating equipment 10 Power Generation Department 11 Porous power generation section 12 Base material 13 Porous substrate 13a Communication hole 13b Inner surface 14 Power generation layer 20 Support part 20A fulcrum 21 Floating support 30 Force receiving part 31 Impeller type force receiving part 311 Feather 32 Drum-type force receiving part 321 Cylindrical body 33 Hull type force receiving part 331 Ship's side 333 Shipboard Structure 40 Liquid removal section 40A fulcrum 41 Cylindrical body 50 Current collector 60 External circuit PL polar liquid WL waterline

Claims

1. A power generation device including a power generation unit that generates electricity by contacting with a polar liquid and moving relative to the polar liquid, the power generation unit is a porous power generation unit including a porous substrate having communicating holes and a power generation layer formed on at least the inner surface of the porous substrate, a support part that supports the power generation part so that the power generation part can swing or rotate; a force receiving portion that receives an external force due to at least one of an air flow and a liquid flow, This external force causes the power generating unit to swing or rotate, and the power generating unit moves in and out of the polar liquid. A power generation device characterized by:

2. 2. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fulcrum of the support portion is provided outside the polar liquid.

3. 2. The power generation device according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid removal section that compresses and deforms the porous power generation section outside the polar liquid to remove the polar liquid contained in the porous power generation section.

4. 2. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the communication hole communicates in a direction intersecting the direction of the oscillation or rotation within a plane in which the power generating section oscillates or rotates.

5. 2. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is a floating support portion that floats on the polar liquid.

6. 6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the polar liquid contains water as a main component.

7. 6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the polar liquid is an aqueous solution containing alkali metal ions and / or alkaline earth metal ions.

8. the power generation section includes a power generation layer formed on a substrate, The power generation layer is made mainly of metal.

6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating device is a power generating device.

9. the power generation section includes a power generation layer formed on a substrate, The power generation layer is made mainly of carbon.

6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating device is a power generating device.

10. the power generation section includes a power generation layer formed on a substrate, The power generation layer contains carbon particles, and the carbon particles are stacked to form an uneven surface.

6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating device is a power generating device.

11. the power generation section includes a power generation layer formed on a substrate, The power generation layer contains at least one selected from the group consisting of graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers.

6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating device is a power generating device.

12. the power generation section includes a power generation layer formed on a substrate, The power generation layer contains a wettability adjuster.

6. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power generating device is a power generating device.

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