Theoretical demonstration of a capacitive rotor for generation of alternating current from mechanical motion

Ehud Haimov, Aidan Chapman, Fernando Bresme, Andrew S. Holmes, Tom Reddyhoff, Michael Urbakh*, Alexei A. Kornyshev*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Innovative concepts and materials are enabling energy harvesters for slower motion, particularly for personal wearables or portable small-scale applications, hence contributing to a future sustainable economy. Here we propose a principle for a capacitive rotor device and analyze its operation. This device is based on a rotor containing many capacitors in parallel. The rotation of the rotor causes periodic capacitance changes and, when connected to a reservoir-of-charge capacitor, induces alternating current. The properties of this device depend on the lubricating liquid situated between the capacitor’s electrodes, be it a highly polar liquid, organic electrolyte, or ionic liquid – we consider all these scenarios. An advantage of the capacitive rotor is its scalability. Such a lightweight device, weighing tens of grams, can be implemented in a shoe sole, generating a significant power output of the order of Watts. Scaled up, such systems can be used in portable wind or water turbines.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3678
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2021

Funding

FundersFunder number
ISF-NSFC
National Outstanding Youth Science Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China3191/19
Leverhulme TrustRPG2016-223
Israel Science Foundation1141/18

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