High-efficiency ballistic electrostatic generator using microdroplets
| Autor: | Xie, Yanbo, Bos, Diederik, de Vreede, Lennart, de Boer, Hans L., van der Meulen, Mark-Jan, Versluis, Michel, Sprenkels, A.J., van den Berg, Albert, Eijkel, Jan C.T. |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Physics of Fluids |
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
Materials science
General Physics and Astronomy Nanotechnology 02 engineering and technology 010402 general chemistry Kinetic energy METIS-303713 01 natural sciences 7. Clean energy General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology Streaming current IR-90571 Energy transformation Power density Multidisciplinary business.industry Electric potential energy General Chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 0104 chemical sciences Renewable energy Electrostatic generator Optoelectronics EWI-24681 0210 nano-technology business Voltage |
| Zdroj: | Nature communications, 5. Nature Publishing Group Nature Communications |
| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |
| Popis: | The strong demand for renewable energy promotes research on novel methods and technologies for energy conversion. Microfluidic systems for energy conversion by streaming current are less known to the public, and the relatively low efficiencies previously obtained seemed to limit the further applications of such systems. Here we report a microdroplet-based electrostatic generator operating by an acceleration-deceleration cycle ('ballistic' conversion), and show that this principle enables both high efficiency and compact simple design. Water is accelerated by pumping it through a micropore to form a microjet breaking up into fast-moving charged droplets. Droplet kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy when the charged droplets decelerate in the electrical field that forms between membrane and target. We demonstrate conversion efficiencies of up to 48%, a power density of 160 kW m(-2) and both high- (20 kV) and low- (500 V) voltage operation. Besides offering striking new insights, the device potentially opens up new perspectives for low-cost and robust renewable energy conversion. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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