Rotating Cylindrical and Spherical Triboelectric Generators

• US 20140292138A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Wang, Zhong Lin, Zhu, Guang, Yang, Ya, Zhang, Hulin, Hu, Youfan, Yang, Jin, Jing, Qingshen, Bai, Peng
• Granted Patent: US 9,571,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/04 Friction generators

Abstract

A generator includes a first member, a second member and a sliding mechanism. The first member includes a first electrode and a first dielectric layer affixed to the first electrode. The first dielectric layer includes a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series. The second member includes a second material that has a second rating on the triboelectric series that is different from the first rating. The second member includes a second electrode. The second member is disposed adjacent to the first dielectric layer so that the first dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sliding mechanism is configured to cause relative movement between the first member and the second member, thereby generating an electric potential imbalance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A generator, comprising:

(a) a substantially cylindrical first member, including;

(i) a first electrode; and

(ii) a first dielectric layer affixed to the first electrode, the first dielectric layer including a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series, the first dielectric layer including a first grating of evenly spaced apart parallel ridges and troughs disposed along a second direction that is transverse to the first direction;

(b) a substantially cylindrical second member disposed inside of the first member, the second member including a second material that has a second rating on the triboelectric series that is different from the first rating, the second member including a second electrode, the second member disposed adjacent to the first dielectric layer so that the first dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second member including a second grating of evenly spaced apart parallel ridges and troughs disposed along the second direction; and

(c) a sliding mechanism configured to cause relative motion between the first member against the second member, thereby generating an electric potential imbalance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the ridges of the first grating have a nanoscale texture on an outer surface thereof.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the ridges and troughs of the first grating and the second grating extend parallel to a cylindrical axis and wherein the sliding mechanism is configured to cause relative rotational motion between the first member and the second member about the cylindrical axis.

4. The generator of claim 1, wherein the ridges and troughs of the first grating and the second grating are disposed circumferentially so as to be transverse to a cylindrical axis and wherein the sliding mechanism is configured to cause reciprocating motion between the first member and the second member along the cylindrical axis.

5. The generator of claim 1, wherein the ridges and troughs of the first grating are helically disposed about an inside surface of the first member and wherein the ridges and troughs of the first grating and the second grating are helically disposed about an outside surface of the second member.

6. A generator, comprising:

(a) a cylinder having a top end and an opposite bottom end;

(b) a top cap member capping the top end of the cylinder and including a first electrode layer and a first triboelectric material layer disposed under the first electrode layer, the first triboelectric material layer having a first rating on a triboelectric series;

(c) a bottom cap member capping the bottom end of the cylinder and including a second electrode layer and a second triboelectric material layer disposed above the second electrode layer, the second triboelectric material layer having a second rating on the triboelectric series; and

(d) a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston including;

(i) a cylindrical body portion having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface;

(ii) a third electrode layer disposed on the top surface;

(iii) a third triboelectric material layer disposed on the third electrode layer, the third triboelectric material layer having a third rating on the triboelectric series that is different from the first rating on the triboelectric series;

(iv) a fourth electrode layer disposed on the bottom surface; and

(v) a fourth triboelectric material layer disposed below the fourth electrode layer, the fourth triboelectric material layer having a fourth rating on the triboelectric series that is different from the second rating on the triboelectric series.

7. The generator of claim 6, wherein the first triboelectric material layer comprises polyamide.

8. The generator of claim 6, wherein the second triboelectric material layer comprises polyamide.

9. The generator of claim 6, wherein the third triboelectric material layer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. The generator of claim 6, wherein the fourth triboelectric material layer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

11. The generator of claim 6, wherein at least a selected one of the first triboelectric material layer, the second triboelectric material layer, the third triboelectric material layer and the fourth triboelectric material layer has a nanoscale texture on an outer surface thereof.

12. A generator, comprising:

(a) a first reference surface;

(b) a second reference surface spaced apart at a fixed distance from the first reference surface;

(c) a spring having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end affixed to the reference surface and the spring depending downwardly therefrom;

(d) an inertial member affixed to the second end of the spring and having a bottom surface;

(e) a first triboelectric member affixed to the bottom surface of the inertial member and including a material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series and a conductive layer;

(f) a second triboelectric member disposed below the first triboelectric member and affixed to the second reference surface, the second triboelectric member including a material that has a second rating on the triboelectric series, the second rating different from the first rating, and a conductive layer; and

(g) a dielectric layer, disposed on a selected one of the first triboelectric member and the second triboelectric member, that is configured to electrically isolate the conductive layer of the first triboelectric member from the conductive layer of the second triboelectric member.

13. The generator of claim 12, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a polyimide film.

15. The generator of claim 12, wherein the conductive layer of a selected one of the first triboelectric member and the second triboelectric member comprises aluminum.

16. The generator of claim 12, wherein the conductive layer of a selected one of the first triboelectric member and the second triboelectric member comprises copper.

14. The generator of claim 1213, wherein the dielectric layer has a nanoscale texture on an outer surface thereof.

17. The generator, comprising:

(a) a waterproof shell having an inside surface;

(b) a conductive inner surface affixed to the inside surface of the shell;

(c) a first triboelectric layer affixed to the conductive inner surface and including a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series;

(d) a conductive three dimensional object having dimensions configured to fit inside of the shell;

(e) a second triboelectric layer affixed to the three dimensional object and including a second material that has a second rating on the triboelectric series, the second rating different from the first rating;

(f) a first conductor electrically coupled to the conductive inner surface and extending to outside of the shell;

(g) a second conductor electrically coupled to the three dimensional object and extending to outside of the shell; and

(h) a member configured to suspend the three dimensional object within the shell and to allow the three dimensional object to move freely from a plurality of positions in which the second triboelectric layer is in contact with the first triboelectric layer to a plurality of positions in which the second triboelectric layer is not in contact with the first triboelectric layer.

18. The generator of claim 17, wherein the shell and the conductive three dimensional object each have a substantially spherical shape.

19. The generator of claim 17, wherein the conductive inner surface and the conductive three dimensional object each comprises copper.

20. The generator of claim 17, wherein the first triboelectric layer comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene film.

21. The generator of claim 17, wherein the second triboelectric layer comprises a polyamide film.

22. The generator of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first triboelectric layer and the second triboelectric layer has a nanoscale texture on an outer surface thereof.