DIESYS—dynamically non-linear dielectric elastomer energy generating synergetic structures: perspectives and challenges

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer based generators (DEGs) offer some unique properties over energy generators based on other materials. These properties include high energy density, high efficiency over a broad range of frequencies, low compliance, the ability to produce high strain, large area, low cost films with no toxic materials and wide range environmental tolerance. As further shown in this paper, DEG materials can also exhibit a non-linear dynamic behavior, enhancing broad-band energy transfer. More specifically, dielectric elastomer (DE) energy generating synergetic structures (DIESYS) are considered as dynamic energy absorbers. Two elementary characteristic DIESYS design concepts are examined, leading to a typical antagonistic configuration for in-plane oscillations and a typical synagonistic configuration for out-of-plane oscillations. Originally, all the DE elements of the structure are assumed to be always in tension during all the phases of the harvesting cycle, conforming to the traditional concept of operation of DE structures. As shown in this paper, the traditional always-in-tension concept results in a linear dynamic system response, despite the fact that the implemented (DE) parts are considered to have been made of a non-linear (hyperelastic) material. In contrast, the proposed loose-part concept ensures the appearance of a non-linear broad-band system response, enhancing energy transfer from the environmental source.

Design and modeling of an innovative wave energy converter using dielectric electro-active polymers generator

“…(22). Simulation is performed under two regular waves with different wave amplitudes and frequencies which are given in Table 4.…”

“…21 A biaxial plane generator using a dielectric polymer was developed in Ref. 22. Here, a reliable method for generator modelling was proposed and validated by experiments.…”

Analysis of viscoelastic soft dielectric elastomer generators operating in an electrical circuit

“…In recent years the problem of energy efficiency has become more and more relevant and many efforts have been made in order to develop devices that are able to harvest energy from renewable resources. Among the various energy harvesting technologies, Dielectric Elastomer Generators (DEGs), or dielectric elastomer energy harvesters, are particularly promising [1,2,8,24,28,40,41,19]. A DEG is an electromechanical transducer based on the high deformations achievable by a filled parallel-plate capacitor subject to a voltage, constituted of a soft dielectric elastomer film usually made up of acrylic or natural rubber embedded between two compliant electrodes.…”

Harvesting energy with load-driven dielectric elastomer annular membranes deforming out-of-plane

“…Harvesting energy from natural resources by means of dielectric elastomer generators could be one of the solutions, once all fundamental aspects of this method will be thoroughly analysed and the shortcomings overcome. A 5 Dielectric Elastomer Generator (DEG) is a soft device based on a deformable parallel-plate capacitor made up of an elastomeric film coated with two compliant electrodes on its opposite faces able to produce electrical energy converting the mechanical work done by an external oscillating load [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. In particular, the energy transformation is promoted by the significant capacitance change of the elastomeric capacitor occurring when the film is highly deformed.…”