Grain Material Power Generation Using Rice Husk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional micro-generators using piezoelectric crystals are inflexible and costly, and their disposal as grain materials like rice husk leads to environmental pollution and global warming due to carbon emissions.

Innovation Solution

A power generation apparatus and touch apparatus utilizing a grain material layer, such as rice husk, with a porous structure and positively charged silicon dioxide powder, interacting with an electric material layer to generate current or voltage, thereby overcoming the limitations of piezoelectric crystals and reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If piezoelectric crystals are used to generate electricity, then power generation capability is improved, but flexibility is lost and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation capabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive piezoelectric crystals with cheap grain materials (rice husk, wheat straw, etc.) that can be easily disposed of after use. The grain material layer is designed to be non-reusable, allowing the device to be discarded after the grain material degrades, thus achieving low cost and flexibility while maintaining power generation capability during its service life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid piezoelectric crystals to flexible grain materials. By altering the fundamental material property from crystalline solid to organic particulate material, the device gains flexibility and biodegradability while retaining the ability to generate electricity through mechanical stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If piezoelectric crystals are used to generate electricity, then power generation capability is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive piezoelectric crystals with inexpensive agricultural waste materials like rice husk and wheat straw. These grain materials are abundant, cheap, and can be processed into functional layers using simple manufacturing techniques, dramatically reducing production cost while maintaining electricity generation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of piezoelectricity from expensive crystalline materials and replicates it using cheap grain materials. By taking out the core functionality (electricity generation from mechanical stress) and implementing it through alternative materials, the patent achieves the same power generation capability at a fraction of the cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of substance

If grain materials are disposed of through incineration, then waste is removed, but environmental pollution and carbon emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste removalVSAvoidcarbon emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful aspect of grain material waste (requiring incineration) into a benefit by designing the device to utilize the grain material's natural biodegradability. Instead of incinerating the grain material after use, the device is designed to be disposed of naturally, allowing bacteria to decompose the organic material without producing carbon emissions, thus turning a potential harm into an environmentally friendly solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the grain material to self-decompose through natural bacterial action without requiring human intervention for incineration or special disposal processing. The biodegradable grain material layer automatically breaks down in the environment, eliminating the need for energy-intensive waste removal processes and associated carbon emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus achieves flexibility and low production costs while effectively utilizing agricultural waste, producing electrical energy and addressing environmental concerns associated with grain material disposal.

Implementation Method 1

the grain material layer and the electric material layer interact with each other to generate a current or a voltage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTriboelectric effect: Triboelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10075099B2Power generation apparatus and touch apparatus with grain materials

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A power generation apparatus and a touch apparatus with grain materials are provided. The power generation apparatus includes a grain material layer, a first electrode, an electric material layer, a second electrode and a conductive wire. The first electrode is electrically connected to the grain material layer. The electric material layer corresponds to the grain material layer, and a gap is formed between the grain material layer and the electric material layer. The second electrode is electrically connected to the electric material layer. The conductive wire is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. The grain material layer and the electric material layer interact with each other to generate a current or a voltage. Thereby, the present invention can generate power by utilizing a grain material.