Irregular Wind Energy Harvesting by a Turbine Vent Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Its Application in a Self-Powered On-Site Industrial Monitoring System

Abstract

Wind is a regenerative and sustainable green energy, but it is intermittent; especially, harvesting irregular wind energy is a great challenge for existing technologies. This study demonstrates a turbine vent triboelectric nanogenerator (TV-TENG), which can be utilized as both an irregular wind harvester and a self-powered environmental sensing system on the rooftops of buildings. At a wind speed of nearly 7 m/s, the TV-TENG delivers an open-circuit voltage of up to 178.2 V, a short-circuit current of 38.2 μA, and a corresponding peak power of 2.71 mW under an external load of 5 MΩ, which can be used to directly light up 120 green light-emitting diodes. Furthermore, a self-powered on-site industrial monitoring system has been developed, which can be improve the easiness and simpleness of the industry environment for temperature monitoring and safety warning. Increasing the fluidity of air inside and outside the device is a key factor in fabricating an efficient TV-TENG; it is a novel approach for harvesting irregular wind energy and is sensitive, reliable, waterproof, and easy to use. This work greatly expands the applicability of TENGs as energy harvesters for irregular wind and also as self-powered sensing systems for ambient detection.

Multidiscipline Applications of Triboelectric Nanogenerators for the Intelligent Era of Internet of Things

“…In addition to TENG for heat recovery, it is reported that TENG can also be used for self-powered modern industrial monitoring. Zhang et al designed a turbine vent TENG (TV-TENG) on the roof of buildings to harvest irregular wind energy for self-powered environmental sensing system [ 81 ]. On the one hand, TV-TENG collects irregular wind energy in the environment for power supply of low-power sensors and other related microelectronic devices in industrial production.…”

Self‐Powered High‐Voltage Recharging System for Removing Noxious Tobacco Smoke by Biomimetic Hairy‐Contact Triboelectric Nanogenerator

“…Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), originating from the coupling effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, is proved to be a cost-effective and eco-friendly technology to convert irregular mechanical energy into electrical energy, [20][21][22][23][24] especially for low frequency vibrational energy such as wind and wave energy. [25][26][27][28][29] Furthermore, the high open-circuit voltage is one typical characteristic of TENG, which can reach several thousand volts easily, [30][31][32] hence it is promising for removing PM from the atmospheric pollution using electrostatic effects. [33] In this work, a practical and economical self-powered highvoltage recharging system is proposed for removing tobacco smoke in the air.…”

“…A turbine vent shell made of 304 stainless steel is attached to the top of the smoking room and this construction has been proved to be very waterproof in our previous work. [34] The photograph of the internal structure is illustrated in Figure S1, Supporting Information. The turbine unit contains a self-powered high-voltage recharging system inside as shown in Figure 1b.…”

Flexible alternating current electroluminescent devices integrated with high voltage triboelectric nanogenerators

“…35 Besides, the performance of TENGs can also be improved based on the dielectric enhancement effect and the new structures. [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] Because TENGs have the advantages of small size, portability, and especially high output, they are suitable for building self-powered devices or systems. 44,45 Hence, the self-powered ACEL devices based on TENGs have tremendous potential in wearable devices and flexible displays, however little work has been conducted in this regard.…”