KR101864429B1 - Energy harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy harvesting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an energy harvesting apparatus including a cylinder, a piston movable in a first direction in the cylinder, and a tribological element located in a space formed inside the piston, Wherein the tribo element comprises: a body that is located in the space and is movable along the first direction; a first body that is disposed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the body; And a second base entirely disposed on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the space, wherein the whole of the first base and the whole of the second base are capable of contacting with each other.

Description

[0001] ENERGY HARVESTER [0002]

The present invention relates to an energy harvesting apparatus.

In recent years, the use of electricity has been increasing due to the exhaustion of fossil fuels. As a result, the energy shortage is becoming more serious due to the lack of electricity generation.

Energy harvesting technology, which has been developed to efficiently utilize energy resources that are scarce, is attracting attention due to recent energy problems.

In particular, energy harvesting technology has been rapidly growing day by day, which is incomparable to the past technology level due to intensive interest and intensive research and development in the academic and industrial fields.

Energy Harvesting is a system that harvests energy that is harvested from the environment and converts it into usable electrical energy, unlike traditional hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and tidal power generation technology, which means 'harvesting' .

Energy harvesting technology not only greatly improves the energy efficiency of existing electronic devices, but also ultimately enables the electronic devices to be driven independently by using the energy of the surroundings without supplying additional energy. It is expected that this industry will be a big part of the energy industry with the development of smart grid and ubiquitous.

Energy Harvesting is currently being promoted by policy makers in developed countries. Piezoelectric harvesting and triboelectric harvesting technologies are among the most technologically advanced areas of energy harvesting technology.

Piezoelectricity means that power can be obtained only by ordinary operations such as pressure and vibration. In the meantime, piezoelectric harvesting technology has been recognized as being economically unfavorable due to its low output. However, recently, ultra-low-power semiconductor technologies have been developed rapidly, and it is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of energy harvesting.

As shown in the analysis that the shoe mounted piezoelectric generator outputs 330μW per unit volume, the piezoelectric harvesting technology has already proved that it is capable of power output of micro watts (μW). It is expected to improve with milliwatt (mW) piezoelectric energy harvesting technology in a few years.

The electrostatic harvesting technique can also produce electric power by converting mechanical energy such as wind, sound, heartbeat, and shaft rotation into electrical energy. An easy example is the principle that static electricity is generated by light body contact in winter. The two large bodies of different properties can be frictioned with each other, leading to the transfer of electric charge, and current can be made to flow through a simple wire connection.

The higher the contact frequency, the higher the contact strength, the higher the output power. In recent years, as a result of the research that the maximum output is increased from 24% efficiency to 1.5 W (19 mW / cm 2), technical development is actively carried out in the electrostatic hubbing field.

In particular, the two types of energy harvesting systems described above are not exposed to any other wastes or other polluting factors such as carbon dioxide or electron noise during the development process, and are being illuminated as environmentally preferable alternative energy technologies.

However, current energy harvesting systems still require much improvement in terms of durability, continuity of generation, space utilization, and power generation efficiency.

Based on the technical background as described above, the present invention provides an energy harvesting apparatus capable of producing electrical energy using mechanical rotation and vibration.

An energy harvesting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an energy harvesting apparatus including a cylinder, a piston movable in a first direction in the cylinder, and a tribological element located in a space formed inside the piston, Wherein the tribo element comprises: a body that is located in the space and is movable along the first direction; a first body that is disposed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the body; And a second base entirely disposed on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the space, wherein the whole of the first base and the whole of the second base are capable of contacting with each other.

Wherein the tribo element comprises a third main body disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the body and surrounding the outer peripheral surface, and a fourth main body disposed in the space and having a tubular shape in which the whole of the third main body can move, And the third whole body can slide along the inside of the fourth main body.

Wherein the third main body comprises a first tubular body disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the body and a plurality of first electrostatic bands spaced apart from each other on the first tubular body, the first tubular body and the first electrostatic band One of which may be a conductor and the other may be non-conductive.

Wherein the fourth main body comprises a second tubular body and a plurality of second electrostatic bands spaced apart from one another in the second tubular body, wherein either the second tubular body or the second electrostatic band is a conductor, The other may be non-conductive.

Each of the plurality of second electrostatic bands may enclose the inner circumferential surface of the second tubular body.

The entirety of the first base and the entirety of the third base may be insulated from each other.

And an impact absorbing member disposed between the entirety of the first leg and the entirety of the second leg.

The impact absorbing member may be an elastic body.

The elastic body may include a coil spring.

The first base may be a plate-like member having a circular cross section.

The body may be cylindrical or polygonal.

Teflon may be applied to at least one of the surfaces of the third main body facing each other and the entire surface of the fourth main body.

And a connecting rod coupled to the lower portion of the piston and converting a rotational motion transmitted from the outside into a linear motion of the piston.

According to the energy harvesting apparatus as described above, mechanical rotation and vibration can be produced as electric energy.

1 is a schematic view of an energy harvesting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a piston in which the energy harvesting device of Figure 1 is disposed.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the coupling relationship of the first to third bands of Fig. 1 as a whole.
Fig. 4 is a view showing the entirety of the second and the fourth generations disposed in the space inside the piston.
Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the energy harvesting device of Figure 1;
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the entire fourth wheel of Fig. 1;
7 is a view showing a connecting rod connected to a piston.
FIGS. 8 to 11 are views for explaining the operation of the tribological element.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

In addition, since the sizes and thicknesses of the respective components shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings.

Also, throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as "including" an element, it is understood that the element may include other elements as well, without departing from the other elements unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, throughout the specification, the term "on " means to be located above or below a target portion, and does not necessarily mean that the target portion is located on the image side with respect to the gravitational direction.

Hereinafter, an energy harvesting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an energy harvesting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a piston in which the energy harvesting apparatus of FIG. 1 is disposed. Fig. 3 is a view schematically showing the engagement relationship of the first to third bands in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view showing the entirety of the second and the fourth large bodies arranged in the space inside the piston.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the energy harvesting apparatus of this embodiment may include a cylinder (not shown), a piston 100, a tribological element, and a connecting rod 830. In the present embodiment, the tribological element is disposed inside the piston 100 that reciprocates linearly, and the tribological element can produce electric energy by the reciprocating linear motion of the piston 100. [ A tribo-electricity elemment (also known as a tribo device) can produce electrical energy using an electrostatic phenomenon.

In the triboelectric element, electric energy is produced by using a phenomenon that positive and negative charges are charged due to electrostatic phenomenon. When a positive charge and a negative charge collide with each other, electrons in the positive charge move to the negative charge. Then, when the positively charged substance and the negatively charged substance are tried to hit again, the electrons move from the negatively charged substance to the positively charged substance. This flow of electrons is the current flow, which is called electrostatic generation. The process of producing the electric energy by using the electrostatic phenomenon of the tribological element of the present embodiment will be described later.

The tribological elements according to the present embodiment include a body 370, a first main body 310, 330, a second main body 510, 530, a third main body 350 and a fourth main body 550, . ≪ / RTI > In this embodiment, when the piston 100 moves along the first direction (Z-axis), the body 370 disposed inside the piston 100 can move along the first direction (Z-axis). That is, the body 370 can reciprocate in the vertical direction along the first direction (Z-axis).

The first main body 310 and the second main body 330 are disposed at the upper and lower portions of the body 370. The first main body 310 and the second main body 330 are disposed in the piston 100 in such a manner as to face the first main body 310, , 530). That is, electricity can be generated by repeating the process of contacting and separating the first whole body 310, 330 and the second whole body 510, 530 with each other. The first generators 310 and 330 and the second generators 510 and 530 constitute a first generator. Meanwhile, the third major body 350 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the body 370 can slide along the inside of the fourth major body 550 in a tubular form. Electricity can be generated by sliding the third main body 350 in the vertical direction along the first direction (Z-axis) while contacting the inside of the fourth main body 550. And the third major portion 350 and the fourth major portion 550 constitute the second power portion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the piston 100 may reciprocate in a vertical direction along a first direction (Z-axis) within a cylinder (not shown). At this time, the piston 100 and the cylinder (not shown) may be mechanisms for converting a linear motion used in an internal combustion engine or the like into rotational motion. That is, the piston 100 may be a mechanism that linearly reciprocates within a cylinder (not shown).

In this embodiment, an empty space may be formed in the piston 100. [ The first main body 310 and the second main body 330 and the second main bodies 510 and 530 and the third main body 350 and the fourth main body 550 in the space inside the piston 100 . At this time, the empty space may have a cylindrical shape.

The body 370 can reciprocate in the vertical direction along the first direction (Z-axis) along the space of the piston 100. At this time, the body 370 may have a cylindrical shape. The body 370 can move along the inside of the space in a shape corresponding to the cylindrical space.

At this time, the first main body 310, 330 may be disposed on the upper and lower portions of the body 370. Here, the upper and lower portions of the body 370 represent upper and lower surfaces of a cylindrical body 370. That is, the first main body 310 and the second main body 330 may be disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the body 370, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first main bodies 310 and 330 are arranged in pairs, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first main body 310 and 330 may be disposed only on one of the upper surface and the lower surface.

The first main body 310, 330 may have a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the body 370. Specifically, the first main body 310, 330 may be a plate-shaped member having a circular cross-section. At this time, the diameter of the first main body 310, 330 may be equal to or less than the diameter of the body 370.

In the present embodiment, the second large bodys 510 and 530 may be disposed in the space inside the piston 100. The second entire body 510, 530 may be disposed above and below the space of the piston 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the second large bod- ies 510 may be located at the top of the space, and the second bimodal 530 may be located at the bottom of the space.

At this time, the second main body 510 may be arranged to face the first main body 310 all together. The second main body 530 may be arranged to face the first main body 330 in a mutually facing manner.

The second large bodies 510 and 530 may have a shape corresponding to the first small bodies 310 and 330. The second large bodies 510 and 530 may be plate members having a circular cross-section like the first small bodies 310 and 330. At this time, the area of the second main body 510, 530 may be equal to the area of the first main body 310, 330.

In this embodiment, as the body 370 reciprocates in the vertical direction along the first direction (Z axis), the first main body 310 can be brought into contact with or separated from the second main body 510 as a whole. The process of attaching and dropping the first main body 310 and the second main body 510 together may be repeated. The first main body 310 and the second main body 510 are charged with electricity by repeating the contact and separation processes of the first main body 310 and the second main body 510, Electric energy can be produced.

Also, the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 disposed under the body 370 can be repeatedly contacted and separated. That is, the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 are electrified while the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 are repeatedly contacted with and separated from each other, It can produce energy.

The first main body 310 and the second main body 510 are opposed to each other at the upper portion and the lower portion of the body 370 and the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 ) Can face each other. Thus, the upper and lower portions of the body 370 can simultaneously produce electrical energy.

3 to 5, the third major body 350 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the body 370. The third major body 350 may be disposed so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the body 370. The fourth major body 550 may be disposed around the third major body 350. The fourth major body 550 may be a tubular member, and the third major body 350 may be disposed inside the fourth major body 550.

The third major body 350 may include a first tubular body 353 and a plurality of first electrostatic bands 351. The first tubular body 353 has a tubular shape and may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the body 370. [

The plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 353. Each of the plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 may be arranged to surround the outer circumferential surface of the first tubular body 553. At this time, the plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 may be arranged apart from each other along the first direction (Z-axis).

In the present embodiment, the first tubular body 353 is made of a nonconductor, and the plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 can be made of a conductor. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Conversely, the first tubular body 353 may be made of a conductor, and the plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 may be made of non-conductive material.

At this time, the plurality of first electrostatic bands 351 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other, so that when moving in the first direction (Z-axis) along the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 353, .

5, the third major body 350 is disposed inside the fourth major body 550 so that the third major body 350 can slide along the inner peripheral surface of the fourth major body 550 . In this embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the third major body 350 and the inner circumferential surface of the fourth major body 550 can contact each other. That is, while the third major body 350 and the fourth major body 550 are kept in contact with each other, the third major body 350 is moved upward and downward along the first direction (Z axis) Directional linear motion.

At this time, Teflon may be applied to the outer peripheral surface of the third major body 350 and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth major body 550. A frictional force may be generated on the outer peripheral surface of the third major body 350 and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth major body 550 as the outer peripheral surface of the third major body 350 and the inner peripheral surface of the fourth major body 550 slide with each other . At this time, the occurrence of frictional force can be reduced by the applied Teflon.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fourth major body 550 may include a second tubular body 553 and a plurality of second electrostatic bands 551. The second tubular body 553 has a tubular shape and can be disposed in the space inside the piston 100. [

The plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the second tubular body 553. Each of the plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 may be arranged to surround the inner circumferential surface of the second tubular body 553. At this time, the plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 may be arranged apart from each other along the first direction (Z-axis).

In the present embodiment, the second tubular body 553 is made of a nonconductor, and the plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 can be made of a conductor. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Conversely, the second tubular body 553 may be made of a conductor, and the plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 may be made of a nonconductor.

At this time, the plurality of second electrostatic bands 551 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other, so that when moving in the first direction (Z-axis) along the inner circumferential surface of the second tubular body 553, .

As a result, when the third major body 350 reciprocates linearly in the first direction (Z axis) in the fourth major axis 550 in the vertical direction, the third major axis 350 and the fourth major axis 550 are charged with each other to produce electric energy.

Therefore, in this embodiment, electric energy can be produced by the first main body 310, 330 and the second main body 510, 530 at the upper portion and the lower portion of the body 370, The first main body 350 and the fourth main body 550 are charged with electricity to produce electric energy.

Referring again to FIG. 5, in the tribological element of this embodiment, the shock absorbing member 700 may be disposed between the first main body 310, 330 facing each other and the second main body 510, 530 . At this time, the shock absorbing member 700 may include a coil spring.

The shock absorbing member 700 includes a first main body 310 and 330 and a second main body 510 and 530 when the first main body 310 and the third main body 330 and the second main body 510 and 530 are in contact with each other, It is possible to absorb an impact generated in the case This can prevent the first main body 310, 330 and the second main body 510, 530 from being damaged.

An impact absorbing member 710 is disposed between the first main body 310 and the second main body 510 and an impact absorbing member 730 is provided between the first main body 330 and the second main body 530. [ Can be disposed.

1 and 7, a connecting rod 830 may be coupled to a lower portion of the piston 100. [ The connecting rod 830 can convert a rotational motion transmitted from the outside into a linear reciprocating motion. Alternatively, the connecting rod 830 can convert the linear reciprocating motion generated in the piston 100 into rotational motion.

At this time, one end of the connecting rod 830 is coupled to the lower portion of the piston 100 by the connecting pin 810, and the other end of the connecting rod 830 is coupled to the crankshaft 850.

Hereinafter, with reference to Figs. 8 to 11, the process of generating electric energy by the tribological element of this embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 8 to 11 are views for explaining the operation of the tribological element.

Referring to FIG. 8, the body 370 is located at the center of the space in the piston 100. At this time, the first large bodies 310 and 330 disposed above and below the body 370 are separated from the second small bodies 510 and 530, respectively. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the body 370 moves upward along the first direction (Z-axis), the first main body 310 and the second main body 510 come into contact with each other. At this time, the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 are separated from each other.

10, when the body 370 is moved downward along the first direction (Z-axis) again, the body 370 is positioned at the center of the space in the piston 100, The first whole body 310 and the second whole body 510 can be separated from each other.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the body 370 moves downward along the first direction (Z-axis), the first main body 330 and the second main body 530 come into contact with each other. At this time, the first main body 310 and the second main body 510 are separated from each other.

When the body 370 reciprocates in the first direction (Z-axis) in the vertical direction, the first main body 310, 330 and the second main body 510, 530 are brought into contact with and separated from each other The process can be repeated to produce electrical energy.

When the body 370 reciprocates in the vertical direction along the first direction (Z-axis), the third major body 350 slides along the inner peripheral surface of the fourth major body 550, 350 and the fourth major body 550 are charged with each other to produce electrical energy.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

100 pistons
310, 330 First All
350 Third whole
510, 530 Second whole
550 Fourth All
551 Second electrostatic band
553 Second tubular body
700 shock absorber
810 connecting pin
830 connecting rod
850 Crankshaft

Claims (13)

cylinder;
A piston movable in the first direction in the cylinder; And
And a tribological element located in a space formed in the piston,
Wherein the tribological element comprises:
A body positioned within the space and movable along the first direction;
A first main body disposed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the body and a second main body disposed at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the space and facing the entire first main body, A first power generating unit generating electricity by contacting and separating the whole with the whole of the second base; And
A third main body which surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the body and a fourth main body which is located in the space and in which the whole of the third main body can move inside, The second power generation section
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the first and second bodies are separated from each other on the body and electrically insulated from each other. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the third main body comprises a first tubular body disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the body and a plurality of first electrostatic bands spaced apart from each other on the first tubular body,
Wherein one of the first tubular body and the first electrostatic band is a conductor and the other is an nonconductor. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the fourth entirety comprises a second tubular body and a plurality of second electrostatic bands disposed spaced apart from each other in the second tubular body,
Wherein one of the second tubular body and the second electrostatic band is a conductor and the other is an nonconductor. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an impact absorbing member disposed between the entirety of said first leg and the entirety of said second leg. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the shock absorbing member is an elastic body. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the elastic body comprises a coil spring. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first base is a plate-shaped member having a circular cross-section. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the body is cylindrical or polygonal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein at least one of the surfaces of the third major surface and the fourth major surface facing each other is coated with Teflon. The method according to claim 1,
And a connecting rod coupled to the lower portion of the piston and converting a rotational motion transmitted from the outside into a linear motion of the piston.

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