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Energy Harvesting by Smart Materials

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 8577

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering & Technology, Jinju, Korea
Interests: energy harvesting; energy materials; photovoltaics; thermoelectrics; piezoelectrics; magnetism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

 

We are inviting submissions to a Special Issue on Energy Harvesting by Smart Materials.

 

Energy harvesting technologies can harvest energy that dissipates in the form of solar radiation, electromagnetic waves, heat, wind, vibration, etc. and convert it into electric energy. Energy harvesting technologies can be classified into four main process: harvesting energy from the environment; converting harvested energy into electric energy; processing the energy in the form of power conversion circuits; and utilizing the power for sensing, communication, etc. Among these four processes, the energy harvesting process is mainly controlled by smart energy materials like photovoltaic, magnetic, thermoelectric, piezoelectric materials and so on.

 

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions exploring the development of smart energy materials related to energy harvesting, but the invitation of submissions is not restricted to materials works. Contributions can focus on converting, processing, and utilizing the harvested energy explained above. Comprehensive reviews and survey works are also welcomed.

 

Dr. Jung Young Cho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy harvesting
  • energy materials
  • photovoltaics
  • thermoelectrics
  • piezoelectrics
  • magnetism

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6380 KiB  
Article
Unified Modeling and Analysis of Vibration Energy Harvesters under Inertial Loads and Prescribed Displacements
by Johan Bjurström, Fredrik Ohlsson, Cristina Rusu and Christer Johansson
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9815; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199815 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1477
Abstract
In this paper, we extend the optimization analysis found in the current literature for single-degree-of-freedom vibrational energy harvesters. We numerically derive and analyze the optimization conditions based on unified expressions for piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy harvesters. Our contribution lies in the detailed analysis [...] Read more.
In this paper, we extend the optimization analysis found in the current literature for single-degree-of-freedom vibrational energy harvesters. We numerically derive and analyze the optimization conditions based on unified expressions for piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy harvesters. Our contribution lies in the detailed analysis and comparison of both resonant and anti-resonant states while fully including the effect of intrinsic resistance. We include both the case of excitation by inertial load and prescribed displacement, as the latter has not been elaborated on in the previous literature and provides new insights. We perform a general analysis but also consider typical values of applied piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy harvesters. Our results improve upon previous similar comparative studies by providing new and useful insights regarding optimal load, load power and power input to output efficiency. Our analysis shows an exponential increase in the critical mechanical quality factor due to the resistive loss coefficient. We find that the ratio of mechanical quality factor to resistive loss coefficient, at resonance, increases drastically close to the theoretical maximum for load power. Under the same optimization conditions, an equivalent conclusion can be drawn regarding efficiency. We find that the efficiency at anti-resonance behaves differently and is equal to or larger than the efficiency at resonance. We also show that the optimal load coefficient at resonance has a significant dependence on the mechanical quality factor only when the resistive loss coefficient is large. Our comparison of excitation types supports the previous literature, in a simple and intuitive way, regarding optimal load by impedance matching and power output efficiency. Our modeling and exploration of new parameter spaces provide an improved tool to aid the development of new harvester prototypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Harvesting by Smart Materials)
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15 pages, 2405 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Vibration Energy Harvesting Performance by Omni-Directional INVELOX Wind Funnel: A Computational Study
by Zhi Chao Ong, Keen Kuan Kong, Shin Yee Khoo, Bee Teng Chew and Yu-Hsi Huang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8319; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168319 - 19 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2113
Abstract
An alternate renewable energy source, through a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with a bluff splitter body, could lead to higher efficiency in energy harvesting, through vortex-induced vibration at a near-resonance condition at 20 m/s high wind speed. However, wind energy is not as [...] Read more.
An alternate renewable energy source, through a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with a bluff splitter body, could lead to higher efficiency in energy harvesting, through vortex-induced vibration at a near-resonance condition at 20 m/s high wind speed. However, wind energy is not as popular as solar energy, as the main renewable energy source in Malaysia, due to the relatively low wind speed available in the country. The INVELOX machine, introduced in 2014, was one of the most recent systems used to harvest wind power by accelerating wind speed. This omni-directional wind funnel could capture wind from all directions and tunnel it through a convergent-divergent nozzle, where the coupled bluff splitter body and piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (PVEH) are located at its venturi throat, which could lead to an increase in wind speed to fulfil the task of VIV energy harvesting. The proposed modified design is found to achieve 2.7 times the wind speed amplification at the venturi, which outperformed previously proposed designs. To achieve the optimum wind speed of 20 m/s for the coupled bluff splitter body and the PVEH plate, a free-stream wind speed of 7.4 m/s is recommended. The integration of the PVEH plate and the wind funnel is expected to harvest maximum voltage output at 20.99 V or 4.96 V, with a maximum power output of 0.82mW at 20 m/s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Harvesting by Smart Materials)
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11 pages, 4052 KiB  
Article
Architectural Experiment Design of Solar Energy Harvesting: A Kinetic Façade System for Educational Facilities
by Ho Soon Choi
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 5853; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12125853 - 8 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4495
Abstract
This study proposes an architectural design for renewable energy production to increase energy independence in the architectural field. Among natural energy sources, solar panels that can be applied to building façades have been developed to use solar energy. To maximize renewable energy generation, [...] Read more.
This study proposes an architectural design for renewable energy production to increase energy independence in the architectural field. Among natural energy sources, solar panels that can be applied to building façades have been developed to use solar energy. To maximize renewable energy generation, solar panels can be adjusted according to the optimal tilt for each month. They can be attached to and detached from the building façade and installed on an existing building elevation. Thus, it is possible to increase the energy independence of old buildings. The solar panel developed in this study increases energy independence and presents a creative “kinetic façade,” in which solar panels move each month according to the optimal tilt angle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Harvesting by Smart Materials)
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