Research on energy harvesting circuit based on self-filling DEG

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) employs high flexible dielectric elastomer as mechanical-electrical energy conversion medium. So that DEG can be directly coupled with a large mount of natural movement such as wind and ocean. This feature allows DEG has a unique prospect in renewable natural energy harvesting. In this paper, the MATLAB software simulation results showed that the traditional DEG energy harvesting circuit cannot achieve real energy harvesting, because of internal energy loss. This paper presented a self-filling energy harvesting circuit, whith only needed a precharge before harvesting and needed no external charge supplement during harvesting process. The simulation results showed that the self-filling circuit can transfer portion of the harvested energy back to DEG as bias voltage to compensate for the energy loss during energy harvesting. This new type of circuit can also increase the voltage across the storage capacitor, and harvest electrical energy continuously.