Magnetic Force Enhanced Sustainability and Power of Cam-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Since the first invention of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in 2012, many mechanical systems have been applied to operate TENGs, but mechanical contact losses such as friction and noise are still big obstacles for improving their output performance and sustainability. Here, we report on a magnet-assembled cam-based TENG (MC-TENG), which has enhanced output power and sustainability by utilizing the non-contact repulsive force between the magnets. We investigate the theoretical and experimental dynamic behaviors of MC-TENGs according to the effects of the contact modes, contact and separation times, and contact forces (i.e., pushing and repulsive forces). We suggest an optimized arrangement of magnets for the highest output performance, in which the charging time of the capacitor was 2.59 times faster than in a mechanical cam-based TENG (C-TENG). Finally, we design and demonstrate a MC-TENG-based windmill system to effectively harvest low-speed wind energy, ~4 m/s, which produces very low torque. Thus, it is expected that our frictionless MC-TENG system will provide a sustainable solution for effectively harvesting a broadband of wasted mechanical energies.

Performance Evaluation of Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting System on Operating Rolling Stock.

During rolling stock operation, various kinds of energy such as vibration, heat, and train-induced wind are dissipated. The amount of energy dissipation cannot be overlooked when a heavy railroad vehicle operates at high speed. Therefore, if the wasted energy is effectively harvested, it can be used to power components like low power sensor nodes. This study aims to review a method of collecting waste heat, caused by the axle bearing of bogie in a rolling stock. A thermoelectric module (TEM) was used to convert the temperature gradient between the surface of the axle bearing housing and the outdoor air into electric energy. In this study, the output performance by temperature difference in the TEM was lab-tested and maximized by computational fluid analysis of the cooling fins. The optimized thermoelectric energy harvesting system (TEHS) was designed and applied on a rolling stock to analyze the power-generating performance under operation. When the rolling stock was operated for approximately 57 min including an interval of maximum speed of 300 km/h, the maximum open circuit voltage was measured at approximately 0.4 V. Based on this study, the system is expected to be utilized as a self-powered independent monitoring system if applied to a low-power sensor node in the future.

Design of testbed and preliminary data for de-icing experiments using piezoelectric actuators.

The piezoelectric actuators, providing mechanical energy, are a good option to remove the ice efficiently. Therefore, a testbed for experiments are designed and the preliminary data of de-icing phenomena is provided. An ice specimen, formed from sterilized distilled water under -30 °C, is detached from the base materials after the voltage signal is engaged. The parameterized detachment phenomena and the analysis data are presented. The independent variables are ice thickness and frequency of the voltage input. The detachment distance is presented depending on the independent variables.

Design of a four-degree-of-freedom nano positioner utilizing electromagnetic actuators and flexure mechanisms.

Positioning devices are widely used in industrial applications. High precision is a key performance of the positioner and recently high precision positioners for advanced applications are required to satisfy other performances such as larger motion range, nanometer level precision, and multiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion within compact size. We propose a new 4-DOF high-precision positioner employing voice coil motors and flexure guides. Millimeter motion range and nano level resolution were achieved simultaneously, utilizing the frictionless characteristic of the voice coil motors and the flexures. The mathematical model describing static and dynamic behaviors of the positioner was developed and the design parameters were optimized to achieve the best performances. The proposed positioner was manufactured with the size of 180 × 180 × 30.7 mm(3) which was very compact. The experiment of feedback control showed the motion range more than 1.80 × 1.80 mm(2) in-plane and 0.3 mm vertically and the minimum resolution of 10 nm in-plane and 14 nm vertically.

Development of a novel 3-degrees of freedom flexure based positioning system.

Flexure mechanisms have been widely used for nanometer positioning systems. This article presents a novel conceptual design of an ultra-precision 3-degrees of freedom (XYθ(Z)) positioning system with nanometer precision. The main purpose of this novel stage design is for the application of measurement equipment, in particular biological specimens. The stage was designed as a hollow type and with a compact size for the inverted microscope. This stage includes piezoelectric transducer actuators, double compound amplification mechanisms, moving plate, and capacitor sensors. The double compound amplification mechanism was designed using a mathematical model and analyzed by the finite element method. Since the relationship between the variables of the hinge parameters and system performances are complicated, an optimization procedure was used to obtain the optimal design parameters, which maximized the system bandwidth. Based on the solution of the optimization problem, the design of the stage and FEM simulation results are presented. Finally, the stage was manufactured and tested.