Dynamic balanced hybridization of TENG and EMG via Tesla turbine for effectively harvesting broadband mechanical pressure

Hybrid energy harvesting systems consisting of triboelectric nanogenerators and electromagnetic generators driven by rotation are capable of high voltage and current outputs. Both generators, however, perform best under fast rotate conditions. Thus, in this work, the Tesla turbine design is used along with a hybrid system integrating a triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and an electromagnetic generator (EMG) for high output performance by the input flow of working fluid. For the first time, the dynamic balance is careful analyzed for the rotator part of TENG-EMG to obtain simultaneously high output voltage - current and remaining long operation time of the system after removing the gas supplied. The optimized Tesla turbine TENG-EMG (T3-E) can even convert broadband mechanical energy from low to high input pressure into working fluid energy, result in high rotation and high electric output performance. The DC peak output voltage/current and remaining operation time of the TENG and EMG are 312.5 V/82 mu A and 4.2 V/3.3 mA; 20 s and 38 s, respectively. The hybrid system's output is significantly enhanced to 332 V/3.5 mA with the remaining operation time of 20 s for voltage and 40 s for current output, respectively. This output performance satisfies the energy demands of several portable electric loads. For practical applications, LED lighting by footfall energy harvesting and IoT wireless sensor operation is demonstrated after capacitor charging. This hybrid generator design has significant potential for real-life biomechanical energy scavenging.

Automated summary

Hybrid energy harvesting systems, utilizing Tesla turbine design and integrating triboelectric nanogenerators and electromagnetic generators, have shown high output performance due to careful analysis of dynamic balance for obtaining high output voltage and current. The optimized system can convert mechanical energy into working fluid energy efficiently, resulting in significantly enhanced output performance to meet energy demands of portable electric loads.