Abstract
This paper optimizes the energy harvesting cycle of dissipative dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) to explore possible approaches for improving the energy harvesting performance. By utilizing the developed theoretical framework, the dissipative performance of the DEG with a constant voltage cycle is analyzed, which shows good agreement with the existing experimental data. On this basis, we design a novel energy harvesting cycle and a corresponding energy harvesting circuit in which a transfer capacitor is utilized to store the charge transferred from the DEG. Then, the energy conversion performance of the DEG with the novel energy harvesting cycle is investigated. The results indicate that both the energy density and conversion efficiency are improved by choosing a high voltage during the discharging process and that as the R-C time constant increases, the enhancement effect of the voltage increases and then approaches to the saturation. In addition, there is an optimal transfer capacitor that can maximize energy density or conversion efficiency, and the optimal transfer capacitor increases with the increase in the R-C time constant. These results and methods are expected to guide the optimal design and assessment of DEGs.
Highlights
As a category of electroactive polymers, dielectric elastomers (DEs) are attractive smart materials due to intrinsic attributes, such as high energy density, lightweight, flexibility, and large deformation [1,2,3,4,5,6]
This paper explored a possible approach for improving both energy density and conversion This paper explored a possible approach for improving both energy density and conversion efficiency of a dissipative dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) by considering the material viscosity and the leakage current
Based on the developed theoretical framework, the response of the DEG with the constant voltage cycle in which it can relax under the framework, the response of the DEG with the constant voltage cycle in which it can relax under the condition of no stress, i.e., during the loss of tension (LT) process, was depicted, which showed good agreement with condition of no stress, i.e., during the LT process, was depicted, which showed good agreement with the existing experimental results
Summary
As a category of electroactive polymers, dielectric elastomers (DEs) are attractive smart materials due to intrinsic attributes, such as high energy density, lightweight, flexibility, and large deformation [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Hong’ viscoelstic model and the constant voltage cycle, Foo et al investigated the performance of a dissipative DEG by considering the material viscosity and the leakage current [20]; Li et al analyzed the performance of viscoelastic DEGs under the inhomogeneous deformation [24]; Zhou et al studied the energy conversion of viscoelastic DEGs with consideration of the fatigue life [25], and Chen et al. To validate the developed theoretical framework, the dissipative performance of the DEG with the constant voltage cycle is studied, which is consistent with existing experimental results On this basis, we design a novel energy harvesting cycle and a corresponding energy harvesting circuit in which a transfer capacitor is utilized to store the charge transferred from the DEG, and investigate the influence of the transfer capacitor, the voltage during the discharging process, and the R-C time constant of the elastomer on the energy harvesting performance of a dissipative DEG. The results and methods can guide the optimal design and assessment of DEGs
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