Sustainable Power Source Research Articles

Bioinspired Triboelectric Soft Robot Driven by Mechanical Energy

AbstractA sustainable power source is a key technical challenge for practical applications of electrically responsive soft robots, especially the required voltage is over several thousand volts. Here, a practicable new technology, triboelectric soft robot (TESR) system with the primary characteristics of power source from mechanical energy, is developed. At its heart is TESR with bioinspired architectures made of soft‐deformable body and two triboelectric adhesion feet, which is driven and accurately controlled through triboelectric effect, while reaching maximum crawling speeds of 14.9 mm s−1 on the acrylic surface. The characteristics of the TESR, including displacement and force, are tested and simulated under the power of a rotary freestanding triboelectric nanogenerator (RF‐TENG). Crawling of TESR is successfully realized on different materials surfaces and different angle slopes under the driven of RF‐TENG. Furthermore, a real‐time visual monitoring platform, in which TESR carries a micro camera to transmit images in a long narrow tunnel, is also achieved successfully, indicating that it can be used for fast diagnosis in an area inaccessible to human beings in the future. This study offers a new insight into the sustainable power source technologies suitable for electrically responsive soft robots and contributes to expanding the applicability of TENGs.

Integration of Distributed Generating Systems for Non-Linear Loads

The independent small-scale networks including sustainable power sources have been used in remote regions around the globe. Nonetheless, the irregularity of vitality sources may cause an enormous variance of the miniaturized scale framework recurrence. Because of consistently expanding vitality utilization, rising open familiarity with ecological assurance, and relentless advancement in power deregulation, distributed generation (DG) frameworks have pulled in expanded intrigue. Wind and photovoltaic (PV) power age are two of the most encouraging sustainable power source advancements. Fuel cell (FC) frameworks likewise show incredible potential in DG utilizations of things to come because of their quick innovation improvement and numerous benefits they have, for example, high effectiveness, zero or low outflow (of contamination gases), and adaptable measured structure. In proposition investigated work Integration of Distributed Generating Systems for Non-straight Loads will be proposed. A run-of-the-mill wind-PV-diesel reconciliation which comprises of diesel generator, PV framework, wind turbine generator (WTG), BESS, and burden, is utilized for the proposed models and controllers. We reenact and Integration Distributed Generating Systems for Non-straight Loads on the MATLAB/SIMULINK and portions of coordinated vitality frameworks are analyzed. The coordinated PV framework is normally controlled to work in the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mode. The battery vitality stockpiling framework is worked inconsistent force charging or releasing mode. So as to give an incorporated vitality framework associated with lattice relying upon singular vitality necessities, the Integrated Energy Systems can be extra to a current vitality source to lessen petroleum product utilization or an independent for complete non-renewable energy source uprooting Through the broad joining of vitality foundations it is conceivable to upgrade the supportability, adaptability, steadiness, and productivity of the general vitality framework. The reproduction of incorporated vitality frameworks is done in MATLAB/SIMULINK. And all framework results will be done by Matlab reproduction is proposed for disconnected smaller scale matrices with sustainable sources. In the exhibited method, the pitch point controller is intended for wind turbine generator (WTG) framework to smooth breeze power yield. The proposed procedure is tried in a regular secluded incorporated small-scale network with both PV and wind turbine generators.

A Zeolitic-Imidazole Framework-Derived Trifunctional Electrocatalyst for Hydrazine Fuel Cells.

Hydrazine fuel cells are promising sustainable power sources. However, the high price and limited reserves of noble metal catalysts that promote the sluggish cathodic and anodic electrochemical reactions hinder their practical applications. Reflecting the enhanced diffusion and improved kinetics of nanostructured non-noble metal electrocatalysts, we report an efficient zeolitic-imidazole framework-derived trifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide reduction. Experimental results and theoretical calculations corroborate that the nanocarbon architecture with abundant Co-N species enhances the electronic interaction and optimizes the energy barriers of anodic hydrazine oxidation and cathodic oxygen reduction. The resulting assembled hydrazine-oxygen fuel cell yields a cell voltage and power density of 0.74 V and 20.5 mW cm-2, respectively. Moreover, benefiting from the liquid-liquid diffusion, the hydrazine-hydrogen peroxide cell shows a boosted cell voltage and power density, corresponding to 1.68 V and 41.0 mW cm-2. This work offers a highly active non-noble metal multifunctional electrocatalyst with a pioneering diffusion philosophy in the liquid electrochemical cells.

The Green Lean Amine Machine: Harvesting Electric Power While Capturing Carbon Dioxide from Breath.

As wearable technologies redefine the way people exchange information, receive entertainment, and monitor health, the development of sustainable power sources that capture energy from the user's everyday activities garners increasing interest. Electric fishes, such as the electric eel and the torpedo ray, provide inspiration for such a power source with their ability to generate massive discharges of electricity solely from the metabolic processes within their bodies. Inspired by their example, the device presented in this work harnesses electric power from ion gradients established by capturing the carbon dioxide (CO2) from human breath. Upon localized exposure to CO2, this novel adaptation of reverse electrodialysis chemically generates ion gradients from a single initial solution uniformly distributed throughout the device instead of requiring the active circulation of two different external solutions. A thorough analysis of the relationship between electrical output and the concentration of carbon capture agent (monoethanolamine, MEA), the amount of CO2 captured, and the device geometry informs device design. The prototype device presented here harvests enough energy from a breath‐generated ion gradient to power small electronic devices, such as a light‐emitting diode (LED).

All-yarn triboelectric nanogenerator and supercapacitor based self-charging power cloth for wearable applications

Despite rapid developments, multifunctional wearable electronics are still not significant in practical applications as compared to portable and stretchable power devices. In this paper, we present the flexible and easy large-scale production of single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and supercapacitor yarn-based self-charging power fabric, for simultaneously converting and storing biomechanical energy. Fabricated using traditional knitting technologies, the self-charging power fabric can adapt to complex mechanical deformations owing to its high flexibility and stretchability. Additionally, the output characteristics of the TENG fabric were systematically investigated with the purpose of energy generation. The TENG fabric can generate a maximum peak power density of ∼90 mW·m−2 using nylon as the contact material, with an operating frequency of 4 Hz. The as-prepared yarn-based supercapacitor exhibited high capacitance, good cycling stability, and flexibility, making it an appropriate wearable energy-storage device. Moreover, the proposed design uses energy harvested from biomechanical motions to sustainably power portable electronic devices. The results of this study indicate that the proposed design is a promising sustainable power source for wearable electronic devices.

Study of carbon supported CuPd alloy nanoparticles with Pd-rich surface for the electrochemical formate oxidation and CO2 reduction

Carbon supported copper-palladium alloy nanoparticles (CuPd/C) with Pd-rich surface synthesized via the adsorbate induced surface segregation method were tested toward both the electrochemical oxidation of formate into electricity and CO2, and the reduction of CO2 to produce formate. An upshift of the d-band center and opposite binding energy shifts of Cu and Pd core levels were experimentally observed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This perturbation of the surface electronic structure of the CuPd/C nanoparticles leads to the lowering of the bonding strength of key adsorbate species for both the formate oxidation and electrochemical CO2 reduction, which increased the catalytic activity toward both reactions. Amongst the different compositions of CuxPd1-x/C, the 20:80 molar% of Cu:Pd concentration shows an important improvement toward formate oxidation (FO) compared to the other CuxPd1-y compositions and the monometallic Pd. On the other hand, CuxPd1-x/C catalyst with the 60:40 molar% of Cu:Pd concentration shows the highest faradaic efficiency for the electrochemical CO2 reduction toward the formate production. Therefore, by selecting a bimetallic CuxPd1-x/C alloy that (1) optimizes the formate oxidation current density and (2) the faradaic efficiency of the electrochemical reduction of CO2 into formate, a novel sustainable and regenerative power source (i.e., combining a direct formate fuel cell and a CO2 reduction unit into a single regenerative energy system) could be developed.

An Efficient Model for Low Voltage Distribution Smart Feeder Overcurrent Protection System Using Microcontroller

A Smart feeder is a growing energy distribution framework that is implanted with various types of energy distribution sources, as sustainable power sources, consolidated heat and power, and dispersed energy resources. The advantages of smart feeder arrangement are low transmission and dissemination cost, and, possibly, high dependability, high effectiveness, and low natural effect. Additionally, the administration of the electrical feeder system is getting increasingly problematic. The absence of data at the base feeder and the electricity administration network status have been distinguished as the significant obstruction to its successful monitoring and control of the electrical distribution system. This research work presents an advancement of the microcontroller-based smart feeder protection from overcurrent using fast using Solid State relay (SSR) to viable monitoring and control of the Feeder system. The simulation result of this work shows that the system is able to control and monitor the feeder protection system from overcurrent with the help of Microcontroller viable results that have been achieved with this system. In this research work, PhotoMOS relay cut-off time and overcurrent parameters have been calculated. The achieved results show significant results over the traditional EMR circuit protection. The PhotoMOS relay operating cut-off time 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 ms with respect to the overcurrent values 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 mA, which is significantly less than the EMR protection system. A 220 V electricity network was utilized to test the reliability and quality of the microcontroller-based PhotoMOS circuit. The proposed approach is demonstrated to be compelling in both grids associated and islanded modes.

Multi-layered BTO/PVDF nanogenerator with highly enhanced performance induced by interlaminar electric field

The flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) has been spotlighted as a promising candidate for sustainable power source in wireless portable device. Here, a multi-layered BaTiO3 (BTO) /poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) PNG has been designed by spin coating and layer by layer assembled method. Benefited from the composite strategy and interlaminar electric field effect, the typical four-layered BTO/PVDF nanogenerator contained with 20 wt% BTO nanoparticles represents excellent output performance with voltage of 14.22 V (about 6.49 times than that of 1 layered PNG), current of 2.42 μA, and maximum power of 11.55 μW. The dielectric constant and residual polarization of the PNG vary with the number of piezoelectric layers, which is suspected as the root cause for the enhancement of piezoelectric and output performance. In addition, 4000 pressing-releasing cycles test, finger tapping and foot striking measurements also demonstrated excellent stability of the synthesized BTO/PVDF PNG, showing their great potential in wireless sensing and wearable device applications.

Microribbon Structured Polyvinylidene Fluoride with High-Performance Piezoelectricity for Sensing Application

Rapid development in artificial intelligence has increased the demand for portable and sustainable power sources. As one of the most important self-powered sensors, piezoelectric generator (PEG) ha...

Fully stretchable self-charging power unit with micro-supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerator based on oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube/polymer electrodes

A key requirement for wearable electronics is an adequate and sustainable power source. Accordingly, a self-powering unit that replaces rechargeable secondary batteries is a promising solution. However, to realize permanent, maintenance-free, and highly durable wearable electronics, stretchable self-powering units that can harvest and store energy should be developed. In this study, we developed a fully stretchable self-charging power unit that integrates a micro-supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerator using oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube/polymer electrodes. The fully stretchable micro-supercapacitor with oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube/polyvinylalcohol electrodes exhibited a double layer capacitance of 20 mF cm −2 at 0.1 mA cm −2 and improved mechanical flexibility and stretchability over 10,000 cycles of stretching tests. A stretchable, polydimethylsiloxane-based current collector employing silver nanoparticles embedded with oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes enabled the fully stretchable, freestanding-triboelectric-layer based nanogenerators to produce a maximum instantaneous power density of 84.4 mW m −2 under periodic and round-trip sliding of a Nylon fabric while stretching up to 40% without significant performance degradation. Furthermore, a micro-supercapacitor of fully stretchable self-charging power unit could be successfully charged by the nanogenerator from 0 to 2.2 V in 1200 s and powered commercial digital clock for approximately 10 s. These results demonstrate that stretchable polymer composites with oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes are suitable electrodes and active materials for fully stretchable and self-powered wearable electronics. • Ag NPs embedded with Ox-SWCNTs for current collectors of fully stretchable FTENG and MSC. • Intrinsically stretchable Ox-SWCNT/PVA/H 3 PO 4 electrode for fully stretchable MSCs. • Highly durable, fully stretchable self-charging power unit that integrates MSC and FTENG. • Simultaneous energy harvesting and storage functions of the FS-SCPU from repetitive human motion.

Sliding triboelectric nanogenerator with staggered electrodes

The sliding mode triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) is a sustainable power source that converts electrical energy from linear or rotary mechanical motion. This paper proposes an S-TENG with staggered electrodes (S-TENG-SE), which can considerably enhance the output performance of S-TENG by simply changing the spatial arrangement of the electrodes. A staggered arrangement of electrodes simultaneously increases both the open-circuit voltage and the transfer charge. The superiority of S-TENG-SE compared to S-TENGs with a conventional electrode arrangement is confirmed by a series of simulations and experiments. As a result, the maximum open-circuit voltage, transfer charge, and short-circuit current were all increased by 3.3, 2.7, and 4.5 times, respectively, compared to the conventional S-TENG. The S-TENG-SE has a favorable structure for improving the performance of S-TENG, and this work will provide valuable insight into the advancement of S-TENG technology.

Photomicrogrph Atlas of Wood Pellet Components

Concerns about climate change, energy security, and the diversification of energy supplies have made renewable resources increasingly more attractive and important sources of energy. As interest grows, bioenergy (energy from bio-based sources) is becoming more environmentally friendly and economically viable and has started to play a more prominent role in the global energy mix. In this changing market, wood pellets have emerged as a sustainable source of power with the potential to become a mainstream fuel in the future energy market. Pellets are currently the most economical way of converting biomass into fuel, and they are a fast-growing component of the energy sector. Pellets can be made from various types of biomass including industrial waste and co-products, food waste, agricultural residues, and virgin lumber, which are compressed under high pressure. Among these, wood pellets are the most common, and they generally are made from raw trees, wood shavings, compacted sawdust, industrial wastes from the milling of lumber, manufacture of wood products and furniture, and construction. The wood pellets available on the market are sold as fuel (heating and grilling) or as absorbents for animal bedding. But while the wood pellets are a fast-growing component of the energy sector and important tool in fight with global warming, it is important to understand influence of wood pellet quality on combustion emissions, and how their usage impacts human health and environment. Thanks to wood pellet industry efforts, especially in the North America and European Union, many of the wood pellets follow rigorous production procedures, and certification. However, there are still some manufacturers that do not use the same production scrutiny, which can result in poorer quality of their pellets. Our research show that in some extreme cases these uncertified wood pellets contain more than 20 percent of impurities. While some of those contaminants are so big that can be visible even without microscope the majority of the contaminants are of micrometer size and can be detected and identify only under a microscope. While the current standards test the quality of pellets based on a variety of physical and chemical properties, some impurities in pellets (glass, plastic, metal, ceramics, coal, and coke) are not easily identified this way. Our research shows that reflected light microscopy can be successfully used to identify and quantify those contaminants. Although reflected light microscopy technique is a well-known and widely used method allowing examination of various materials, this is a novel application for pellet fuels.

Nanogenerators for smart cities in the era of 5G and Internet of Things

<h2>Summary</h2> 5G has taken off at a brisk speed over the years, bringing significant benefits to the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wireless sensor nodes. The launching of 5G technology provides an excellent opportunity for the faster development of smart cities. Nanogenerators (NGs) have been widely demonstrated as sustainable power sources and self-powered active sensors. The last 15 years of research on NGs have revealed that it can contribute to the digitalization of smart city services, such as localized renewable energy supplies, intelligent transportation, smart vehicles, and digital healthcare applications. The integration of novel NG technology in smart cities will solve problems pertinent to sustainable power sources for decentralized IoT devices and provide pathways for realizing self-powered active sensing systems. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive review of current research on NGs' applications in different sectors of a smart city. More importantly, we will show how NGs can be a game changer in the development of smart cities under 5G services and how the usage of NGs can boost the convenience of city dwellers. Our aim is to draw more attention to NG applications in the digitalization of smart cities and provide a guideline for applying smart concepts in future urban planning.

The alternative energy utilization and common regional trade outlook in EU-27: Evidence from common correlated effects

The role of low-carbon energy and trade on the environment has drawn several studies that have looked at issues from different perspectives, thus yielding differing conclusions. Considering the current emphasis on the COP25 conference and the commitment to cut down carbon emissions level, this study also draws strength from the United Nations Sustainable development Goals (UNSDGs) that comprises of positive strides for access to clean and responsible energy consumption (SDGs 7, 12) and climate change mitigation issues (SDG-13). To this end, this study is a timely outlook that underpins the case of the European Union (EU) countries as well as the root cause of anthropogenic activities on clean trajectory of global environment. Hence, we investigate the connection between alternative and sustainable energy source, trade, income and emissions in 27 selected European Union economies by utilizing data covering the period 1990–2017 on an annual frequency. We used second-generation panel model estimators to analyze the relationship between the variables in the long-run. Specifically, the long run results from the MG (Mean Group), AMG (Augmented Mean Group), and CCEMG (Common Correlated Effects Mean Group) estimators reveal that sustainable and alternative energy sources have a negative significant impact on pollutant emissions while trade and income have a positive impact on carbon emissions except that the impact of trade is insignificant. Although the positive impact of openness in trade on carbon emission is insignificant, the positive impact suggests that the free-trade policy that is currently in place in the EU should further incorporate sustainable development goals (SDGs) to avoid the outsourcing of carbon emissions among the member countries. Causality tests reveal a feedback hypothesis between renewable energy, income, trade, and carbon emanations. The investigation proposes expanded utilization of sustainable power source to mitigate carbon emissions in the European Union.

A novel hybrid grey wolf optimization algorithm and artificial neural network technique for stochastic unit commitment problem with uncertainty of wind power

The unit commitment (UC) is highly complex to solve the increasing integrations of wind farm due to intermittent wind power fluctuation in nature. This paper presents a hybrid methodology to solve the stochastic unit commitment (SUC) problem depending on binary mixed integer generator combination with renewable energy sources (RESs). In this combination, ON/OFF tasks of the generators are likewise included to satisfy the load requirement as for the system constraints. The proposed hybrid methodology is the consolidation of grey wolf optimization algorithm (GWOA) and artificial neural network (ANN), hence it is called the hybrid GWOANN (HGWOANN) technique. Here, the GWOA algorithm is used to optimizing the best combination of thermal generators depending on uncertain wind power, minimum operating cost and system constraints – that is, thermal generators limits, start-up cost, ramp-up time, ramp-down time, etc. ANN is utilized to capture the uncertain wind power events, therefore the system ensures maximal application of wind power. The combination of HGWOANN technique guarantees the prominent use of sustainable power sources to diminish the thermal generators unit operating cost. The proposed technique is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink site and the efficiency is assessed with different existing methods. The comparative analysis demonstrates that the proposed HGWOANN approach is proficient to solve unit commitment problems and wind integration. Here, the HGWOANN method is compared with existing techniques such as PSO, BPSO, IGSA to assess the overall performance using various metrics viz. RMSE, MAPE, MBE under 50 and 100 count of trials. In the proposed approach, the range of RMSE achieves 9.26%, MAPE achieves 0.95%, MBE achieves 1% in 50 count of trials. Moreover, in 100 count of trials, the range of RMSE achieves 7.38%, MAPE achieves 1.91%, MBE achieves 2.87%.

Cost Optimization Of Micro-Grid Of Renewable Energy Resources Connected With And Without Utility Grid

Arranging and enhancement of small-scale lattices in determined zone examined in this paper miniaturized scale framework is associated with and without grid to meet the load profiles, particular micro grid arrangements with age from sustainable power sources are developed. Better examinations are then conveyed utilizing HOMER vitality programming to decide cost of economy, measuring, and locating and framework designs. Micro grid is likewise associated with the network because of shortage of supported sustainable power sources. This paper shows a short differentiate among the assorted cost types of gear, control the board and launches for every one of the setups. The improvement result shows the most reduced expense per unit and it allots the positioning for every framework.

Chicken Swarm Optimization based PV-STATCOM for Power Compensation in Hybrid PV/WT System

Today’s the Energy changes like air contamination and a dangerous atmospheric deviation are increases. To direct these troubles the sustainable power sources are presented. PV ranch generate power throughout daytime and totally latent for the period of nighttime. During daytime the inverter is used for authentic power creation and for the period of night-time it is used to satisfy the need. For the examination of PV-STATCOM it is anticipated with calculation, such as The CSO calculation is utilized to accomplish the organize of parameters like voltage, current, and Powers. The Control Strategies are endorsed through MATLAB/Simulink Platform So as to assess the convenience of the projected strategy, this is contrasted with the possible technique like PSO method.

Steady State Analysis and Impact of Benban Solar Park on The Egyptian Transmission System 9

Egypt is progressing from a power system with old traditional thermal power stations to a cutting-edge power system with a profoundly productive combined cycle power plants (Siemens 14.4 GW power plants) and an expanding portion of sustainable power sources. By 2022, Egypt intends to produce 20 % of its power from renewables [1]. Benban Solar Park venture is considered as the world's largest solar power plant, with total capacity of about 1.8 GW. The large renewable power stations, especially the solar power plants, have a significant effect on power systems stability due to rapid and large fluctuations in power generation caused by various factors such as the intermittency of solar irradiance, climate change and tripping out of power electronic based converters connected to the system. This paper presents the specialized technical details of the assessment and results to ensure that the Egyptian Transmission System (ETS) is capable to evacuate the renewable power in safe manner under various operating conditions

WITHDRAWN: Cost Optimization of Micro-grid of Renewable Energy Resources Connected with and without Utility Grid

Arranging and enhancement of small-scale lattices in determined zone examined in this paper miniaturized scale framework is associated with and without grid to meet the load profiles, particular micro grid arrangements with age from sustainable power sources are developed. Better examinations are then conveyed utilizing HOMER vitality programming to decide cost of economy, measuring, and locating and framework designs. Micro grid is likewise associated with the network because of shortage of supported sustainable power sources. This paper shows a short differentiate among the assorted cost types of gear, control the board and launches for every one of the setups. The improvement result shows the most reduced expense per unit and it allots the positioning for every framework.

Scenario of Small Hydro Power Plant (SHP) in India and Effects on Climate Change: An Eco-friendly Approach Towards Sustainability

Water is the crucial asset to help all shape life on earth. Tragically it isn’t uniformly conveyed over the world via season or area. Hydroelectricity is the term alluding to power created by hydropower, the creation of electrical force using the gravitational power of falling and streaming water. It is most broadly utilized type of sustainable power source. Once the hydro electric complex is developed, the item delivers no immediate waste. Hydroelectricity produces 16.6% of the word electricity, and accounted for about 70% of electricity from renewable source in 2015 and was expected to increase by about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years [1]. The annual hydroelectric production of India is 122.31 TWh while installed capacity is 43.8 GW. The national electric grid in India has an installed capacity of 368.79 GW as of 31 December 2019. The hydropower contributes 25%. [2]. In India, hydropower ventures with a station limit of up to 25 MW each fall under the class of little hydropower (SHP). India has an expected SHP capability of around 16000 MW, of which about 18.5% has been tapped so far for example 2960 MW. Service of MNRE has made a database of potential locales of little hydro and 5,718 potential destinations with a total limit of 15384.15 MW for ventures up to 25 MW limit have been distinguished as on 2019. Environmental change has suggestions for both human and characteristic frameworks and could prompt critical changes in asset use creation and monetary action. Because of the effect and potential effects of environmental change universal, local, national and neighbourhood activities are being created and executed to constrain and moderate GHGs fixation in the Earth’s climate. The worldwide worry for reasonable improvement and environmental change has brought grouping of vitality strategy creators towards the sustainable power sources since these give vitality, without emanations of ozone depleting substances (GHGs) and are additionally plentiful asset accessible for future. In the present paper an endeavour has been made to depict the potential and use of little hydropower in India for the practical advancement of the nation.