WGUs sensor based on integrated wind-induced generating units for 360° wind energy harvesting and self-powered wind velocity sensing

Abstract

Wind, as a natural power source, can be used to produce electricity using wind generators. However, detecting wind velocity has been challenging because wind always blows in a random direction. In this study, we design a self-powered wind velocity sensor based on integrated wind-induced generating units (WGUs) to harvest wind energy from all directions in a plane and as a self-powered wind velocity sensor (denoted as WGUs sensor). A wind-induced generating unit consists of two parallel plate Cuelectrodes (size 1.5 Â 4 cm 2 , gap 0.5 cm) and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin film between them.The W-TGUs sensor can be effectively used to harvest wind energy from all directions in a plane by integrating the W-TGUs in circular and vertical directions. The output current and voltage of every WGU are 1-3.5 mA, and 13-20 V under a wind speed of 6-27 m s À1. The output rectified current of WGUs, with vertically integrated one to five WGUs, was 1.3-6.8 mA under a wind speed of 8 m s À1 . Moreover, the W-TGUs sensor can detect a wind velocity from all directions on a plane with a resolution ratio of 0.13 (m s À1) Hz À1 and a response time of 0.15 s, which is a very important advantage as a self-powered wind velocity sensor. The output power of the WGUs sensor can be greatly enhanced by increasing the number of WGUs. This study provides a novel design for harvesting wind energy and sensing wind velocity from a random direction on a plane.

A Comprehensive Review of Advancements and Challenges from Solid–Solid to Liquid–Solid Triboelectric Nanogenerators

“…The device comprises a flexible triboelectric layer, which undergoes contact and separation phases with a stationary counterpart powered by the external force of wind dynamics. Wind-driven TENG can be typically categorized into two primary structure types: rotational, [91][92][93][94][95] and flow-induced, [96][97][98][99][100] both developed to enhance the efficiency of wind energy harvesting.…”

Research Progress on the Application of Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Wind Energy Collection

“…The output performance of a TENG depends significantly on the friction coefficient (μ) and the transfer charge. In a study by Cui et al [ 43 ], they used thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyamide (PA), and nitrile as the top friction layer, whereas materials like ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) [ 44 , 45 , 46 ], polyfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) [ 47 , 48 , 49 ], polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [ 50 ], and polycarbonate (PC) were considered representative materials for obtaining electrons in TENG and thus used as the bottom friction layer. Copper was employed as a relative reference material in constructing the metal–dielectric interface.…”

Recent Advances in Self-powered Sensors Based on Nanogenerators: From Material and Structural Design to Cutting-Edge Sensing Applications

“…Common energy harvesting devices are piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG), triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), thermoelectric nanogenerators (TEG), etc. − In the context of global sustainability, researchers are committed to exploring the naturally existing energy and applying it to self-powered sensing systems to realize both power and sensing functions. Common forms of this energy include solar, − wind, − mechanical, − and thermal, , which are stored in large and diverse amounts. The most prevalent form of mechanical energy in everyday life is vibration, exemplified by the movement of the human body when clicking fingers.…”