Abstract
This work analyzes the results of measurements on thermal energy harvesting through a wearable Thermo-electric Generator (TEG) placed on the arms and legs. Four large skin areas were chosen as locations for the placement of the TEGs. In order to place the generator on the body, a special manufactured band guaranteed the proper contact between the skin and TEG. Preliminary measurements were performed to find out the value of the resistor load which maximizes the power output. Then, an experimental investigation was conducted for the measurement of harvested energy while users were performing daily activities, such as sitting, walking, jogging, and riding a bike. The generated power values were in the range from 5 to 50 μW. Moreover, a preliminary hypothesis based on the obtained results indicates the possibility to use TEGs on leg for the recognition of locomotion activities. It is due to the rather high and different biomechanical work, produced by the gastrocnemius muscle, while the user is walking rather than jogging or riding a bike. This result reflects a difference between temperatures associated with the performance of different activities.
Highlights
Nowadays, harvesting the energy on the human body is becoming a popular means to power wearable devices [1,2,3,4]
The developed band, made of PVC and gauze fabrics guaranteed softness and foldability but did not perfectly thermally insulated the two sides of Thermo-electric Generator (TEG), as it was apparent from the decrease of temperature differences in graphs of the first experimental stage
While analyzing the possibility to recognize daily activities based on the obtained power values, the results show that sitting activity is clearly distinguishable from the others, for both the TEG placement on biceps brachii and gastrocnemius muscles
Summary
Nowadays, harvesting the energy on the human body is becoming a popular means to power wearable devices [1,2,3,4]. Wearables are increasingly being used in different health-related applications, thanks to the availability of miniaturized technologies. Among all technologies used to harvest energy from environmental sources, recovering the energy associated to the heat produced by the human body is an interesting option from an energy perspective [11]. First the aspects related to the physiological processes and the body heat exchange with the environment will be analyzed. The previous solutions leveraging on the human heat energy harvesting will be reviewed.
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