Energy Generation Performance Research Articles

Charge transfer behavior of triboelectric polymers and triboelectric sensors operated under ultrahigh pressure

AbstractThe energy generation performance of triboelectric materials under ultrahigh pressure remains to be investigated. Here, the variations in molecular structure and built‐in electric field of triboelectric polymers under ultrahigh pressure have been thoroughly studied. The attenuation of built‐in electric field and the escaping of triboelectric charges under ultrahigh pressure are observed in different triboelectric polymers, whereas the existence of deep traps allows the built‐in electric field to be recoverable with the release of pressure. Moreover, the macromolecular conformational changes, including twisting molecular chains and crystal structure changes, can also induce the redistribution of deep traps, leading to a sudden increase in built‐in electric field under specific pressure. Finally, a triboelectric sensor for ultrahigh pressure condition is fabricated with excellent cycle repeatability and a total thickness of 2 mm, which has a sensitivity of 0.07 V MPa−1 within a linear region of 1–100 MPa. This study offers in‐depth insight into the physical understanding of charge behavior both on interface and in bulk of triboelectric materials, whereas the proposed ultrahigh pressure sensors can promote various potential applications of triboelectric sensor in extreme environments.

Development of an emulator of the sustainable energy harvesting pad system on a bike lane for charging lithium batteries

In response to the urgent imperative of combating global warming and advancing sustainable energy solutions, an innovative approach has emerged, capitalizing on bicycles and road bike lane infrastructure. This solution integrates a Smart Lithium Battery Charging System with a Sustainable Energy Harvesting Pad (SEHP) designed for cyclists. The SEHP harnesses piezoelectric energy from mechanical vibrations and kinetic energy from lightweight vehicles. It produces clean, renewable electricity as an alternative to traditional power sources. Comprehensive assessments of the SEHP's energy generation performance at various proficiency levels have revealed impressive capabilities. An electronic emulator system is developed to support academic and research communities, simulating scenarios on bike lanes to efficiently charge 36.36 Wh lithium batteries at various cycling proficiency levels. The study involved specific circuit design, seamless integration with the custom Smart Lithium Battery Charging System, and optimization using Microcontroller hardware and software solutions. Practical prototypes verified the emulator's functionality and real-world applicability, making it an authentic replica of the SEHP's outcomes. This innovative technology enhances our understanding of SEHP and enables comparative analysis against other energy sources, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Utilizing PVSyst for planning a hybrid system rooftop solar power plant at Makassar Eye Hospital

Installing rooftop Solar Power Plants (SPP) represents the most efficient solution for reducing substantial electricity consumption in office buildings and hospitals, as Makassar Eye Hospital exemplifies. The research commences by addressing concerns about electricity availability and daily usage at the hospital while evaluating the solar radiation potential. Subsequently, the development of the SPP system begins. A location assessment is conducted using various tools to gather the necessary data for SPP design. In this study, the planning phase involves the utilization of PVSyst software for the technical analysis of electrical energy generation and system performance calculations. Additionally, the economic analysis includes evaluating the initial investment costs for establishing the SPP and considering prevailing market prices for components. The feasibility of the SPP investment is determined by calculating key financial metrics, including the Payback Period (PP), Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Profitability Index (PI), and Return on Investment (ROI). According to the economic analysis findings, the initial investment cost for the SPP amounts to Rp. 544.031.733. The energy production value per kilowatt-hour (kWh) stands at Rp. 1.278, resulting in a Payback Period (PP) of 13,8 years, a Net Present Value (NPV) of Rp. 138.182.638, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 11.51%, and a Return on Investment (ROI) of 25.4%. These results affirm the plan's feasibility, as the IRR value surpasses the Discount Rate (8.43%).

A Transpiration-Driven Electrokinetic Power Generator with a Salt Pathway for Extended Service Life in Saltwater.

To ensure prolonged functionality of transpiration-driven electrokinetic power generators (TEPGs) in saltwater environments, it is imperative to mitigate salt accumulation. This study presents a salt pathway transpiration-driven electrokinetic power generator (SPTEPG), incorporating MXene, graphene oxide (GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as active materials, along with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as aqueous binders and nonwoven fabrics. This unique combination confers exceptional hydrophilicity and enhances the energy generation performance. When tested with deionized water, the SPTEPG achieved a maximum voltage of 0.6 V and a current of 4.2 μA. In simulated seawater conditions, the presence of conductive ions in the solution boosted these values to 0.64 V and 42 μA. The incorporation of the salt pathway mechanism facilitates the return of excess salt deposits to the bulk solution, thus extending the SPTEPG's service life in saltwater environments. This research offers a straightforward yet effective strategy for designing transpiration-driven power generators suitable for saline water applications.

Analysis of a friction-induced vibration piezoelectric energy generator under linear, bi-linear, and impact conditions

The mismatch in natural frequencies between the piezoelectric energy generator and the energy source affects its energy generation performance. In this research, a novel piezoelectric energy generator with linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations is proposed. The energy generator utilizes friction as excitation to achieve self-exciting friction-induced vibration (FIV) close to the systems’ resonant frequencies for piezoelectric energy generation. The dynamic response under FIV is described by a mathematical model incorporating the piezoelectric coupling effect. The energy generation from piezoelectric material is evaluated by simulating the charging process of a capacitor using an iterative method. The reliability of the model and the stable high-frequency FIV phenomenon with linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations are validated by experiment. Furthermore, parameter studies are conducted to investigate their effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of energy generation. With a normal load FN = 30 N and an initial sliding velocity v0 = 0.542 m/s, the linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations yield peak-to-peak voltages of approximately 2.9 V, 3.8 V, and 20.6 V, respectively. Higher voltages can be generated under optimal operating conditions. The proposed energy generator can be integrated into rotating or sliding equipment to harness the energy derived from FIV. Enhanced energy generation performance can be achieved by modifying structural design and incorporating materials with better properties. The current study paves the way for piezoelectric energy generation using FIV and explores the potential of utilizing dynamic frictional signals in sensing and structural health monitoring scenarios.

Techno-economic configuration of an optimized resident microgrid: A case study for Afghanistan

The escalating demand for electricity and the imperative to reconstruct underprivileged areas in Afghanistan necessitates a resilient energy supply system. This study advocates for the implementation of a cost-effective and high-performing microgrid in a region situated in the northern of Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Utilizing a mix of diesel engines, batteries, wind, and solar energy sources, the microgrid aims to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to meet the electricity requirements. Employing the HOMER software for comprehensive analysis, the proposed microgrid configuration comprises a 3.69 kW PV, a 1.50 kW diesel generator, and 27 units of 1 kWh LA batteries. The study investigates six different configurations to identify the optimal solution based on community-specific criteria. Factors such as energy generation, cost, and system performance are rigorously evaluated by the software, culminating in the selection of components that constitute the hybrid system. The optimal configuration includes a capital cost of 5962 $, a net present cost (NPC) of 10108$, operating and maintenance (O&M) costs amounting to 320.69$, and a cost of energy (COE) at 0.190$/kWh. These results show the viability and economic feasibility of the proposed microgrid as a sustainable energy solution for the studied community in Afghanistan.

IoT Monitoring systems applied to photovoltaic generation: The relevance for increasing decentralized plants

The increasing of photovoltaic plant installations at different scales promotes the development of monitoring systems that facilitate the communication, control and automation of the generating units, allowing to guarantee the predicted energy generation performance. Monitoring systems are composed of different interfaces that involve sensing and capturing data; conversion, treatment, pre-storage and transmission of data; and publishing and final storage through graphic interface. This article focuses on describing the growth of decentralized plants, as well as the increasing demand for monitoring and data acquisition system, commenting the limitations of current commercial models and presenting alternative developed monitoring systems with different platforms.

Enhanced hydrogen evolution and symmetric supercapacitor performance of a Ru-doped multiphase WS2 electrode

The metallic and semiconductive phase (1T/2H) coupling enhanced electrochemical energy generation and storage performance of the Ru-doped WS2 multifunctional electrode is reported here.

Adaptive second order sliding mode control of an oscillating water column

AbstractThe energy from waves has a vast untapped potential to contribute to renewable energy supply and diversification. For that reason, wave energy conversion systems have been a topical research area in recent years. In particular, harnessing wave energy with an oscillating water column converter has proved to be one suitable solution, which has also seen a number of successful deployments. Nevertheless, additional research is required for this technology in order to reach full commercial maturity and economic performance. This paper proposes an adaptive second order sliding mode controller to maximise the converted energy. In particular, the proposed adaptive control setup maintains the sliding mode robust features, while reducing high frequency oscillations and abrupt control actions produced by fixed‐gain algorithms. A comparison of energy generation performance shows better energy conversion efficiency of the proposed control strategy over standard speed regulation control strategies, even considering air compression dynamics and hydrodynamics in the tests.

Washable and Eco-Friendly PEDOT:PSS Coated Silk Yarn Based-Transpiration-Driven Electrokinetic Power Generator with Tremendous Energy Generation

Since the importance of eco-friendly technologies and environmental consideration has been increased gradually, energy harvesting technologies that generate electricity from ambient has been gained attentions, including a solar cell, a piezoelectric, a triboelectric, and a thermoelectric device. However, since the relative low energy generation efficiency has been considered as the obstacle, the research on a novel energy harvesting technology is necessary.A transpiration driven-electrokinetic power generator (TEPG), one of the hydro-electric nanogenerators, has been developed recently and researched due to the abundant energy resource (water), the ability to generate energy continuously, no sensitivity to ambient condition, etc. The basic concept is based on the transpiration process where the water flows from roots to leaves by water gradient in the plants. The water gradient in TEPG system is formed with dropping water at one side of the device. There are two main components, including a conductive material and a hydrophilic substrate. The conductive materials with high surface area capture the cations in solution to decrease a surface energy, leading to formation of the electrical double layer. The hydrophilic substrate promotes the flow of solution along the substrate, leading to the transfer of electrons in the conductive material.Herein, we utilize the PEDOT:PSS as conductive material and silk yarn as hydrophilic material. A silk yarn is a natural and biodegradable material with the high mechanical properties, lightweight, and biocompatibility. PEDOT:PSS is promising candidate for TEPG device because its negative charged PSS groups attract the cations selectively via electrostatic interaction, leading to the increase of potential difference between wet/dry region. However, the low washing resistance of PEDOT:PSS is the limitation for practical wearable devices since the cleanness is essential. During the cleaning process, the PEDOT:PSS is easily detached from the substrate. Therefore, the research on the PEDOT:PSS with sufficient water resistance is essential for its wider utilization. In general, an ethylene glycol (EG) is commonly used for improving water resistance of PEDOT:PSS through hydrogen bonding with PSS parts. However, it is also known as the agent to enhance electrical conductivity via removal of excess PSS. Thus, we introduce the divinyl sulfone (DVS) as a covalently cross-linker for enhancing washing resistance of PEDOT:PSS. In this work, we compare the energy generation performance and washing resistance of various PEDOT:PSS coated TEPGs without and with EG or DVS, named as PS-TEPG, PES-TEPG, and PDS-TEPG, respectively.

Multi-objective evolutionary optimization of photovoltaic glass for thermal, daylight, and energy consideration

The potential of fenestration systems is increased by incorporating photovoltaic technology into windows. This recently developed technology enhances the ability to generate energy from the building façade, improve the thermal and daylight performance of buildings, and visual comfort of occupants. Integrating an evolutionary optimization algorithm into this technology is one of the possible sustainable solutions to enhance building performance and minimize environmental impact. This paper uses a genetic evolutionary optimization algorithm to explore the optimum performance of photovoltaic glass in an architecture studio regarding annual energy consumption, energy generation, and daylight performance. Design variables include a window-to-wall ratio (i.e., window size and location) and amorphous-silicon thin-film solar cell transparency to generate optimum Pareto-front solutions for the case building. Optimization objectives are minimizing annual thermal (i.e., heating and cooling) loads and maximizing Spatial Daylight Autonomy. Optimized results of low-E semi-transparent amorphous-silicon photovoltaic glass applied on the façade show that the spatial daylight autonomy is increased to 82% with reduced glare risk and higher visual comfort for the occupants. Photovoltaic glass helped reduce the selected room's seasonal and annual lighting loads by up to 26.7%. Lastly, compared to non-optimized photovoltaic glass, they provide 23.2% more annual electrical energy.

Multi-mode and durable fiber triboelectric nanogenerator for power and sensor enabled by Hookean vascular stent structure

Fiber-sharped triboelectric nanogenerators (F-TENGs) play an important role in distributed energy harvest resources for E-textiles and IoT. Most of the current F-TENGs work in single mode with low power densities. On the contrary, multi-mode has been verified to be an effective way to enhance the energy output of F-TENGs. However, the working mechanisms of multi-mode F-TENGs are not clear yet. In this work, a novel vascular stent-like F-TENG is proposed and two working modes are demonstrated, which can be realized single-electrode mode and contact separation mode accumulation in one motion and lead to a higher electric output. The voltage of the dual-mode reaches 9 V cm−1 under 1 Hz, which is 3 times the value of single-electrode mode, and 2 times the value of vertical contact-separation mode. In addition, the F-TENG shows excellent durable stability after 10,000 cycles. Furthermore, the F-TENG has been successfully applied as an intelligent shoe pad for human walking monitoring. This vascular stent-like F-TENG, owning to its high energy generation performance and easy mass-scale fabrication, is promising and able to extend the application of textile-based electronics.

Boosted energy harvesting in droplet electrochemical cell with non-equilibrium electrical double layer

Droplet energy harvesting technologies, such as droplet triboelectric nanogenerators (D-TENGs) and droplet-based electricity generators (DEGs), which are not restricted by geographical location, have been vigorously developed in recent years. However, achieving electricity generation with high performance is still challenging. Here, we demonstrate a new approach for droplet-based energy harvesting device named droplet electrochemical cell (DECC) which could enhance energy generation performance by utilizing the formation of non-equilibrium electrical double layers. The DECC is designed by drawing inspiration from the zinc-copper primary battery system and demonstrated remarkable results when tested with dynamically impinging water droplets. The peak current and transferred charge generated by a 100 μL droplet are found to be 400 μA and 3.2 μC, respectively. The short circuit current is also found to increase by approximately 30 times when the dynamic impinging frequency of the droplets is increased. This study provides valuable insights into the development of energy harvesting devices based on droplets.

Paper‐Mill Waste Reinforced Nanofluidic Membrane as High‐Performance Osmotic Energy Generators

AbstractNanofluidic membranes consisting of 2D materials and polymers are considered promising candidates for harvesting osmotic energy from river estuaries owing to their unique ion channels. However, micron‐scale polymer chains agglomerate in the nanochannels, resulting in steric hindrance and affection ion transport. Herein, a nanofluidic membrane is designed from MXene and xylan nanoparticles that are derived from paper‐mill waste. The demonstrated membrane reinforced by paper‐mill waste has the characteristics of green, low‐cost, and outstanding performance in mechanical properties and surface‐charge‐governed ionic transport. The MXene/carboxmethyl xylan (CMX) membrane demonstrates a high surface charge (ζ‐potential of −44.3 mV) and 12 times higher strength (284.96 MPa) than the pristine MXene membrane. The resulting membrane shows intriguing features of high surface charge, high ion selectivity, and reduced steric hindrance, enabling it high osmotic energy generation performance. A potential of the nanofluidic membrane is ≈109 mV, the corresponding current of up to 2.73 µA, and the output power density of 14.52 mW m−2 are obtained under a 1000‐fold salt concentration gradient. As the electrolyte pH increases, the power density reaches 56.54 mW m−2. This works demonstrate that CMX nanoparticles can effectively enhance the properties of the nanofluidic membrane and provide a promising strategy to design high‐performance nanofluidic devices.

Comparative Analysis of SAM and RETScreen Tools for the Case Study of 600 kW Solar PV System Installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In this study, we discussed the main recent studies on PV systems worldwide and specifically in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. We focused on different PV cells and their characteristics in terms of efficiency, importance, and negative impacts, and examined the classification of PV systems and their comparison. In addition, the adoption of PV technologies in GCC countries is considered, focusing on the future aspects. In addition, technical and economic evaluations were carried out for a 600-kW commercial PV solar project at one of the selected sites in the Riyadh region, and the PV energy generation performance was assessed. The monthly energy production, module orientation and tracking system, peak voltage, net power consumption, rated output power, cash flow and capacity factor were calculated. In addition, the direct, normal and diffuse solar radiation are calculated to determine the cost-effective and efficient PV system. Two simulation programs, namely system advisor model (SAM) and RETScreen, are used in this study. In addition, a comparison between annual energy production, cash flow, and electricity loads was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the simulation results. The study suggests that a low-cost PV system could be developed in the Riyadh region.

Innovative sensorless dual-axis solar tracking system using particle filter

Renewable energy (RE), particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, is a promising alternative to traditional energy sources for worldwide electricity generation. In recent years, PV generation capacity has increased rapidly due to a considerable reduction in installation costs. Nevertheless, in PV systems, energy generation is significantly less than the installed capacity due to the PV modules’ orientation. Hence, this study proposes an innovative solar tracking system to enhance PV energy generation. Previous research classified solar tracking systems into two categories: sensor-based and sensorless solar tracking systems. However, tracking performance inevitably deteriorates when implementing sensor-based solar tracking systems in low-visibility conditions. Conversely, sensorless solar tracking systems require substantial historical meteorological data based on geographic location and complex mathematical models estimating the sun’s position, increasing computational complexity. This study aims to overcome these difficulties by proposing a sensorless dual-axis solar tracking system that does not require historical meteorological data, complex mathematical models, and sun position sensors to track the sun’s position. Particle filter (PF), a robust sampling-based tracking algorithm, is applied to develop an innovative solar tracking strategy. Initially, a set of samples (also called particles) is generated as inputs to PF corresponding to the proposed tracking system’s orientation angles: daily and elevation angles. Next, PV power is captured as a measurement of each particle, and a weight associated with the PV power is estimated to represent each particle’s relative significance. Furthermore, each particle is estimated and updated recursively, considering its measurement to determine the sun’s probable position. The tracking strategy is terminated once the particles’ weights are equal, indicating that the optimal position has been achieved (convergence). A comparative study is conducted over 60 days under various weather conditions to evaluate the proposed tracking system’s performance compared with that of a fixed flat-plate system. The experimental results indicate that the proposed tracking system improves energy generation performance (after accounting for operational energy consumption) by 20.1% compared with the fixed flat-plate system.

Design and analysis of a d15 mode piezoelectric energy generator using friction-induced vibration

Research works have been conducted on transverse and longitudinal mode piezoelectric energy generation to collect energy from ambient vibrations. However, the inconsistency with the frequency of the energy source and low output power density remain problems for high energy output. In this work, we propose a shear mode piezoelectric energy generator, which utilizes the friction-induced vibration (FIV) and high shear mode piezoelectric coefficient to improve the energy output. A piezoelectric coupled FIV mathematical model is developed to accurately calculate the dynamic vibration response and voltage output. The dynamic voltage response is validated by experiment, and it proves the possibility of continuous friction-induced high-frequency vibration. The energy generation process is evaluated by transient charging simulation of a storage capacitor through an iteration process, which was experimentally validated in the literature. Parameter studies have been conducted to investigate the influences of the piezoelectric patch dimensional parameters, vibration system parameters, friction model parameters, methods of electrical connections, and different piezoelectric materials on the energy generation performance to provide guidance for better design. Under ideal experiment conditions with proper parameters, a volume of m3 PZT4 piezoelectric material indicates root mean square (RMS) charging power density of Wm−3 and Wm−3 with electrically in parallel and electrically in series, respectively. While using the same amount of material and structural setup, the single crystal PMN-PT piezoelectric material shows RMS charging power density of Wm−3 and Wm−3 with electrically in parallel and electrically in series, correspondingly. These promising results demonstrate that close to W-level RMS charging power output may be realized by structure optimization of energy generator design and incorporating multiple generators together for operation. Possible incorporation into vehicle braking systems can be considered to utilize the wasted friction energy, and it may offer an energy supply for low-power wireless devices.

A hybrid wind energy harvester based on a double-rotor reverse synergy mechanism for high-speed railway

With the growing expansion of high-speed railway, the power supply have become increasingly crucial. This research proposes a HWEH to power sensors and small electrical devices along the railroad. The four primary components of the HWEH: the parallel piezoelectric module, the electromagnetic synergy module, and the electric energy storage module. The HWEH uses the a double-rotor reverse synergy mechanism to achieve reverse rotation under wind drive. A conductive slip ring is incorporated. Increasing the relative speed of the disks furnished with magnets and coils improves the electromagnetic module's energy harvesting efficiency. The speed of the magnet disk and coil disk connected with the slip ring are increased. The power storage module converts the generated alternating current into direct current, which is then stored in the supercapacitor and used to power the railway monitoring sensor. The performance of the system is tested through simulation and experimentation. Compared with a single rotor, the efficiency of HWEH is improved by 34%. When the wind speed is 9 m/s, the output power of the HWEH is 394 mW. According to the findings of experiments, the HWEH has a high energy generation performance and can power sensors and other small electrical equipment along the railroad.

Bidirectional Water-Stream Behavior on a Multifunctional Membrane for Simultaneous Energy Generation and Water Purification.

Hydroelectric nanogenerators have been previously proposed to recycle various water resources and polluted water. However, as conventional hydroelectric nanogenerators only utilize water resources, they cannot provide a fundamental solution for water recycling. In this study, a water purification membrane is proposed that can simultaneously generate electricity during the purification process (electricity generation and purification membrane (EPM)) for water recycling. As polluted water passes through the EPM, the water is purified in the perpendicular direction, while electricity is simultaneously produced in the horizontal direction by the movement of ions. Notably, the EPM exhibits high energy generation performance (maximum power 16.44µW and energy 15.16mJ) by the streaming effect of water-streaming carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Moreover, by using a poly(acrylic acid)/carboxymethyl cellulose (PAA/CMC) binder to EPM, the energy-generation performance and long-term stability are substantially improved and outstanding mechanical stability is provided, regardless of the acidity of the water source (pH 1-10). More importantly, the EPM exhibits the water purification characteristics of >90% rejection of sub-10nm pollutants and potentiality of ångstrom level cation rejection, with simultaneous and continuous energy generation. Overall, this study proposes an efficient EPM model, which can be potentially used as a next-generation renewable energy generation approach, thus laying the foundation for effective utilization of polluted water resources.

ZETA DC-DC converter supports photovoltaic production design with utmost tracking POWER using Dual-Anfis

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules is not linear to environmental circumstances, resulting in nonlinear PV curves. The nonlinear PV curve has only one point when the power is at its highest. Perturbation and observation (P&O) technique has been extensively used for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). However, tracking MPP takes longer with the lower step size approach. In the steady state, oscillations are observed be have higher with increasing step size operating point. As a result, new approaches for tracking this MPP with improved quick dynamic reaction, energy generation effectiveness, performance, and stability have been developed. This proposed study work obtains an intellectual solution for maximum power point tracking using a dual adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) controllers. The suggested Dual ANFIS MPPT approach identifies the best operating point of a PV system that is developed using a ZETA DC-DC converter as the PV array's and load's interface. MATLAB Simulation findings also include ZETA converter-based PV system that compares the suggested tracking behaviour to dual ANFIS MPPT technique with perturbs and observes MPPT algorithm the approach under dynamic response.