Harvesting electrical energy from torsional thermal actuation driven by natural convection.

ABSTRACT: The development of practical, cost-effective systems for the conversion of low-grade waste heat to electrical energy is an important area of renewable energy research. We here demonstrate a thermal energy harvester that is driven by the small temperature fluctuations provided by natural convection. This harvester uses coiled yarn artificial muscles, comprising well-aligned shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) microfibers, to convert thermal energy to torsional mechanical energy, which is then electromagnetically converted to electrical energy. Temperature fluctuations in a yarn muscle, having a maximum hot-to-cold temperature difference of about 13?°C, were used to spin a magnetic rotor to a peak torsional rotation speed of 3,000?rpm. The electromagnetic energy generator converted the torsional energy to electrical energy, thereby producing an oscillating output voltage of up to 0.81?V and peak power of 4?W/kg, based on SMPU mass.

SUBMITTER: Kim SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5992175 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature