Simultaneous energy utilization and vibration suppression study of a rolling-structured triboelectric nanogenerator for the vortex-induced vibration of a cylinder

Abstract

Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) is a prevalent phenomenon observed in marine submersible buoys subjected to ocean currents, significantly compromising the structural fatigue life and sensor stability. Meanwhile, the provision of in-situ energy supply and long-term sustainability pose significant challenges for marine submersible buoys. To tackle these issues, this paper presents a novel approach that entails the simultaneous utilization of VIV energy and suppression of VIV through the implementation of a rolling-structured, freestanding triboelectric-layer-based nano-generator (RF-TENG). An experimental investigation has been conducted to explore the power generation mechanism of RF-TENG when subjected to VIV excitation, as well as the vibration suppression effect of RF-TENG on VIV. The following conclusions have been drawn: (1) The maximum power generation is observed within the filling rate range of 50%–60%, where the conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy resulting from particle friction prevails. Correspondingly, the maximum vibration suppression rate is achieved within the filling rate range of 60%–90%, primarily attributed to energy dissipation due to particle collisions. Notably, at approximately 60%–70% filling rate, RF-TENG exhibits a relatively efficient and balanced performance in terms of both energy utilization and vibration suppression. (2) Particle motion irregularity is a prominent factor that greatly influences the power conversion efficiency, which is manifested as the presence of the third harmonic component in the output voltage and current. The power conversion efficiency of RF-TENG attains its peak value at a filling rate of 50%. (3) Within a certain range, an increase in particle diameter contributes to enhancing the robustness and VIV suppression efficiency of RF-TENG. However, it comes at the cost of reduced power generation capacity. In this study, under the excitation of VIV experienced by a cylinder with an effective amplitude of approximately 1.56 cm and a frequency of approximately 1.62 Hz, RF-TENG achieves a power generation density of 80 mW/m3 and a VIV amplitude suppression rate of 24%. These results suggest that RF-TENG is an effective method for synchronously collecting energy and suppressing VIV in marine structures.