Copyright © 2022 Foshan MBRT Nanofiberlabs Technology Co., Ltd All rights reserved.Site Map
The constant water cycle between land, sea and atmosphere contains a huge amount of sustainable energy, which has been successfully harnessed by emerging hydroelectric generators to produce electricity. However, current single-stage hydroelectric generators inevitably discharge various forms of water (e.g., liquid, moisture) after one use, resulting in a huge waste of the energy inherent in the water cycle
In view of this, Professor Qu Liangti's team at Tsinghua University has proposed a multi-stage coupled water-induced generator that utilises the energy of the continuous water cycle to generate electricity efficiently and sustainably. This innovative design provides a reliable power source for wearable devices and other electronic devices, and has a wide range of applications. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications under the title ‘Multistage coupled water-enabled electric generator with customizable energy output’. Communications
1. A multistage coupled water-induced generator is proposed to generate electricity using simultaneous internal liquid flow and subsequent moisture generation with a maximum output power density of ~92 mW m-2 (~11 W m-3).
2. Its structure consists of multi-stage layers, each consisting of electro-generating material and gold electrodes. The electrical energy generation is achieved by absorbing moisture, and the output voltage and current can be adjusted according to the demand.
3. The generator performs well in high humidity environments and is capable of generating electrical energy continuously.
4. By adjusting the resistance and area, the voltage, current and power density output can be achieved under different resistances.
Main design features of multistage coupled water-induced generators
1.Multi-stage functional layers: asymmetric CaCl2-loaded carbon cloth as the water flow-induced power generation layer, three layers of polyelectrolyte consisting of a thin film as the moisture-induced power generation layer, and polyacrylonitrile porous electrostatic spinning layer as the water diversion layer. Each layer plays a specific role in the power generation process.
2. Internal Water Transfer Path: The generator is designed to facilitate the circulation of different forms of water, such as liquid and moisture. This internal water transfer path permits efficient use of water for power generation.
3. Liquid flow and water diffusion coordination: The generator coordinates the internal liquid flow and water diffusion processes to induce ion concentration gradients and directional migration of ions to generate electricity. The synchronisation of such processes improves the overall efficiency of power generation.
4. Adjustable output performance: The generator can be customised to adjust output voltage, current and power density based on resistance, area, relative humidity and other factors. This flexibility allows for customised power output to meet the requirements of different electronic devices
Summary
The multistage coupled water-induced generator consists of multiple functional layers that generate electrical energy through simultaneous internal liquid flow and moisture diffusion. A maximum output power density of about 92 mW m-2 (~11 W m-3) is achieved. Through a three-stage tuning process of size control, space optimisation and large-scale integration, diverse power outputs are achieved to meet the needs of different electronic devices. Twenty-two units connected in series provide an output of ~10 V and ~280 μA, which can directly light up a table lamp for 30 minutes without pre-charging the capacitor. The multistage coupled water-induced generator also exhibits excellent flexibility and environmental adaptability, providing an avenue for the development of water-induced generators
Originallink: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41371-x
