TRIBOELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR ENERGY HARVESTING

Abstract

The open ocean and coastal environments provide an abundant amount of unharvested energy. It would be powerful if the U.S. Navy could harness more of the ocean’s tidal movements, wave oscillations, and vibrations to power its ports and vehicles. A linear sliding contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) consisting of two interdigitative copper electrodes and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) adhesive tape was constructed on 3D printed material. To improve the TENG’s performance in low frequency, ocean wave conditions, a gear system proved the concept that the relatively low frequencies of waves could be increased to produce more power from a sliding contact-mode TENG. Next, a tabletop system and wave tank apparatus, which included a spring and pulley, were developed to translate linear, reciprocating motion 90°. This system converted the vertical heaving motion of ocean waves to horizontal reciprocating linear motion at a safe distance from the harsh environment of the ocean surface. A frequency analysis was conducted on each experiment to investigate both the alternating current (AC) voltage and closed-circuit current of the TENG to quantify the potential power and power density.