Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU
Singapore) have created a low-cost tool that can capture power from wind
energy as moderate as a light breeze.
The gadget can create a voltage of three volts and energy power of up to
290 microwatts when exposed to winds with speeds as low as 2 meters per
second (m/s). This is enough to power a commercial sensor device and allow
it to transfer data to a smartphone or computer.
The portable, sturdy appliance, known as a wind harvester, also directs any
unused electricity to a battery so that it may be stored and used to power
gadgets when there is no wind.
The researchers claim that their creation has the potential to take the
place of batteries in the powering of sensors for structural health
monitoring and light emitting diode (LED) lighting. These are used to
monitor the structural health of metropolitan constructions like skyscrapers
and bridges, warning engineers of problems like instabilities or physical
damage.
The gadget, which is about 15 by 20 centimeters in size and is simply
mountable on building sides, is perfect for
urban settings
like Singaporean suburbia where, outside of thunderstorms, typical wind
speeds are less than 2.5 m/s.
In September, the results were published in the journal Mechanical Systems
and Signal Processing.
The project's director, Professor Yang Yaowen, a structural engineer from
NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), noted that
research has focused heavily on wind power generation as a clean and
sustainable energy source. Our study intends to address the dearth of a
small-scale energy harvester for more specialized uses, such as to power
more compact electrical and sensor equipment.
As our wind harvester is self-sufficient, would only need infrequent
maintenance, and does not use heavy metals, which, if not disposed of
correctly, might create environmental concerns, it also serves as a
potential substitute for smaller lithium-ion batteries.
The industry has expressed interest in the idea. The NTU research team is
also attempting to market their creation.
The study demonstrates NTU's dedication to reducing our impact on the
environment, one of four grand challenges facing humanity that the
University seeks to address through its NTU 2025 strategic plan. The
innovation presented in the study could help reduce electronic waste and
find alternative energy sources.
Taking to the wind
The system was created to efficiently capture wind energy at a cheap cost
and with little wear and tear. The main attachment that interacts with the
wind is constructed of affordable materials like copper, aluminum foil, and
polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon, and is attached to the
body, which is made of fiber epoxy, a highly durable polymer.
The harvester vibrates when exposed to wind flow because of the dynamic
nature of its structure, forcing its plate to move toward and away from the
stopper. When a result, charges develop on the film, and as they move from
the aluminum foil to the copper film, they create an electrical
current.
In laboratory experiments, the NTU-developed harvester was able to reliably
drive 40 LEDs at a 4 m/s wind speed. Additionally, it may activate a sensor
device and provide enough power for it to wirelessly transmit data about the
room's temperature to a smartphone.
This showed that the harvester could not only reliably produce electricity
to power a device but also store surplus charge to maintain the gadget's
power for a lengthy period of time without wind.
Prof. Yang said, "Wind energy is a renewable energy source. It does not
pollute, it cannot run out, and it lessens the need for fossil fuels, which
are where greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming are produced.
Our idea has shown to successfully capture this renewable source of energy
to run LEDs and charge batteries, indicating its promise as an energy
generator for the next generation of electronics, which will be more compact
and power-efficient.
The NTU team will carry out more research to enhance the device's energy
storage capabilities as well as undertake material experiments to increase
its output power. The study team is also submitting a patent application to
NTUitive, the university's innovation and entrepreneurship
organization.
