Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters

This study presents a performance comparison of two green electrostatic energy harvesters based on force‐sensitive mechanically variable capacitors. A startup battery is required in the conventional electrostatic energy harvester to precharge the mechanically variable capacitor. This adds an extra e...

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Main Authors: Yin Li, Manjusri Misra, Stefano Gregori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-11-01
Series:IET Circuits, Devices and Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-cds.2017.0064
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author Yin Li
Manjusri Misra
Stefano Gregori
author_facet Yin Li
Manjusri Misra
Stefano Gregori
author_sort Yin Li
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a performance comparison of two green electrostatic energy harvesters based on force‐sensitive mechanically variable capacitors. A startup battery is required in the conventional electrostatic energy harvester to precharge the mechanically variable capacitor. This adds an extra element to the device and increases the harvester's size and weight. The proposed harvester does not need a startup battery, operates in a regenerative mode, and provides a similar output power. It has a compact size and can start from low voltages. The conventional and regenerative harvesters were developed using mechanically variable capacitors fabricated with renewable materials (i.e. nanocellulose and carbon‐coated nanocellulose). The flexible nanocellulose films and the cost‐effective fabrication process make the energy harvesters suitable for powering low‐power and wearable devices. The bio‐based materials further reduce the environmental impact of the devices. Prototypes of the two energy harvesters were built, and their performances were compared on the basis of simulation and measurement results. Both simulation and experimental results are shown to demonstrate the startup and scalable energy availability of the proposed regenerative electrostatic energy harvester for driving low‐power devices, such as wireless sensor networks.
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spelling doaj-art-d185e51185e74743be64e1d12a1a05022025-08-20T03:24:00ZengWileyIET Circuits, Devices and Systems1751-858X1751-85982017-11-0111663864710.1049/iet-cds.2017.0064Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvestersYin Li0Manjusri Misra1Stefano Gregori2School of EngineeringUniversity of Guelph50 Stone Road E.GuelphCanadaSchool of EngineeringUniversity of Guelph50 Stone Road E.GuelphCanadaSchool of EngineeringUniversity of Guelph50 Stone Road E.GuelphCanadaThis study presents a performance comparison of two green electrostatic energy harvesters based on force‐sensitive mechanically variable capacitors. A startup battery is required in the conventional electrostatic energy harvester to precharge the mechanically variable capacitor. This adds an extra element to the device and increases the harvester's size and weight. The proposed harvester does not need a startup battery, operates in a regenerative mode, and provides a similar output power. It has a compact size and can start from low voltages. The conventional and regenerative harvesters were developed using mechanically variable capacitors fabricated with renewable materials (i.e. nanocellulose and carbon‐coated nanocellulose). The flexible nanocellulose films and the cost‐effective fabrication process make the energy harvesters suitable for powering low‐power and wearable devices. The bio‐based materials further reduce the environmental impact of the devices. Prototypes of the two energy harvesters were built, and their performances were compared on the basis of simulation and measurement results. Both simulation and experimental results are shown to demonstrate the startup and scalable energy availability of the proposed regenerative electrostatic energy harvester for driving low‐power devices, such as wireless sensor networks.https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-cds.2017.0064regenerative electrostatic energy harvestersgreen electrostatic energy harvestersforce-sensitive mechanically variable capacitorsstartup batteryregenerative moderenewable materials
spellingShingle Yin Li
Manjusri Misra
Stefano Gregori
Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
IET Circuits, Devices and Systems
regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
green electrostatic energy harvesters
force-sensitive mechanically variable capacitors
startup battery
regenerative mode
renewable materials
title Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
title_full Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
title_fullStr Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
title_short Comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
title_sort comparison of conventional and regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
topic regenerative electrostatic energy harvesters
green electrostatic energy harvesters
force-sensitive mechanically variable capacitors
startup battery
regenerative mode
renewable materials
url https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-cds.2017.0064
work_keys_str_mv AT yinli comparisonofconventionalandregenerativeelectrostaticenergyharvesters
AT manjusrimisra comparisonofconventionalandregenerativeelectrostaticenergyharvesters
AT stefanogregori comparisonofconventionalandregenerativeelectrostaticenergyharvesters