Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Electro-Intrusion (Simultaneous transformation of ambient heat and undesired vibrations into electricity via nanotriboelectrification during non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion into-from nanopores)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-01-01 al 2023-06-30
Electro-intrusion project aims at developing a new method for simultaneous conversion of mechanical energy of vibrations and environmental heat into electricity. The overall objective is to go beyond the current paradigm of recovering dissipated mechanical energy by adding ambient heat into the conversion process and hence increasing the efficiency and decreasing energy consumption dramatically.
The main goal of this project is to investigate the challenging and poorly understood phenomenon of nanotriboelectrification and heat extraction during non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion and to maximize electrical energy output for the benefit of wide range of mechanical and/or thermal energy harvesting applications.
The main quantitative objective of the project is to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve mechanical-to-electrical conversion ratio higher than 100% by utilizing a huge quantity of heat absorbed from the environment during intrusion-extrusion process.
We will also make the first step towards keeping such unprecedented energy output at the relevant scale of a device – a new regenerative shock-absorber, which increases maximum range of EVs.
During the first year of the project, the effect of electrodes configuration, porous material´s positioning, temperature, compression-decompression frequency on the electric output in the intrusion-extrusion cycle was investigated. Some unexpected results were achieved with figure of merits considerably higher compared to the state-of-the-art. Materials stability was found to be an important issue. At the same time, heat generated in the intrusion-extrusion cycle was targeted. Effect of temperature, non-wetting liquids and porous material’s properties were investigated. Both experimental campaigns were developed in parallel with numerical simulations to gain microscopic insights into the energetics of the intrusion-extrusion cycle.
The obtained results indicated that in case of success in this challenging topic, it will have considerable effect on ecological transition of our society by providing a new efficient method for converting undesired vibrations and environmental heat into useful electricity.
The main goal of this project is to investigate the challenging and poorly understood phenomenon of nanotriboelectrification and heat extraction during non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion and to maximize electrical energy output for the benefit of wide range of mechanical and/or thermal energy harvesting applications.
The main quantitative objective of the project is to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve mechanical-to-electrical conversion ratio higher than 100% by utilizing a huge quantity of heat absorbed from the environment during intrusion-extrusion process.
We will also make the first step towards keeping such unprecedented energy output at the relevant scale of a device – a new regenerative shock-absorber, which increases maximum range of EVs.
During the first year of the project, the effect of electrodes configuration, porous material´s positioning, temperature, compression-decompression frequency on the electric output in the intrusion-extrusion cycle was investigated. Some unexpected results were achieved with figure of merits considerably higher compared to the state-of-the-art. Materials stability was found to be an important issue. At the same time, heat generated in the intrusion-extrusion cycle was targeted. Effect of temperature, non-wetting liquids and porous material’s properties were investigated. Both experimental campaigns were developed in parallel with numerical simulations to gain microscopic insights into the energetics of the intrusion-extrusion cycle.
The obtained results indicated that in case of success in this challenging topic, it will have considerable effect on ecological transition of our society by providing a new efficient method for converting undesired vibrations and environmental heat into useful electricity.
Several parallel activities targeting the intrusion-extrusion triboelectrification process were studied during the first year of the project: i) synthesis and characterization of porous materials, ii) electrification experiments and simulations, iii) calorimetric experiments and simulations, iv) shock-absorber prototype development and modeling.
To perform the electrification experiments, a custom-made setup was developed, calibrated and adjusted for the project's needs. Performed electrification experiments with a bias voltage resulted in high values of generated energy with considerably higher Figure of merit compared to the state-of-the-art. It was discovered that the interplay between operational conditions and the stability of materials will be an important constraint for this technology. In particular, it was found that bias voltage results in materials degradation (organic grafting). A mitigation strategy was applied within which a passive scheme with zero voltage was explored. Such a scheme resolved the degradation issue. However, the electrical output is low, most likely, due to the problem of charge transfer. To resolve this issue of charge transer, a new model-like material was used for the intrusion-extrusion experiments. Namely, nanoporous monolithic silica was modified to achieve the intrusion-extrusion cycle with a controlled path for the electrones. This noticeably improved the kinetics and repeatability of intrusion-extrusion-related electrification. The next step will be to optimize such a monolithic configuration according to the triboelectric series to maximize the electrification effect. Molecular dynamics and ab initio simulations have been performed to identify the mechanism of contact electrification between porous solids and intruded liquids.
Understanding the heat effects during the non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion (int-ext) into-from nanoporous solids is a crucial objective of the project. The proper design of the heterogeneous lyophobic systems (HLSs) should allow harvesting thermal energy from the environment. Some properties of solids and liquids are taken and studied to determine the trends relating to temperature of intrusion-extrusion, effects of solutions which include solutes of various sizes and thermodynamic properties. The obtained results revealed high sensitivity of the intrusion/extrusion heat to different solutes, and indicate that this strategy can be used to enhance the net heat in the cycle. Synergistic research activities have been conducted, which comprised experimental measurements (USK) and computational simulations. From the simulation side they have developed molecular models from computer simulation. These simulations provided guidance instruction on how to further understand the mechanism of thermal energy generation and conversion into electricity via intrusion-extrusion cycle.To maximize the thermal effects in the intrusion-extrusion cycle, a new strategy of preferential intrusion was tested and verified. By using microporous materials (below 2 nm in pore size according to IUPAC classification), we achieved the mixing-demixing effect of different solutions upon the intrusion-extrusion cycle. This allowed for the first time to control the intrusion/extrusion thermal effects in terms of magnitude and size.
Three generations of the prototype shock absorber were designed and the first generation prototype was constructed and at the point to be tested using a vibration bench. CFD modeling of the prototype was performed. The equation of state of the intrusion-extrusion process was introduced into the CFD model and validated using the available experimental data.
Several integration schemes for an electric vehicle were designed and subjected to laboratory testing.
To perform the electrification experiments, a custom-made setup was developed, calibrated and adjusted for the project's needs. Performed electrification experiments with a bias voltage resulted in high values of generated energy with considerably higher Figure of merit compared to the state-of-the-art. It was discovered that the interplay between operational conditions and the stability of materials will be an important constraint for this technology. In particular, it was found that bias voltage results in materials degradation (organic grafting). A mitigation strategy was applied within which a passive scheme with zero voltage was explored. Such a scheme resolved the degradation issue. However, the electrical output is low, most likely, due to the problem of charge transfer. To resolve this issue of charge transer, a new model-like material was used for the intrusion-extrusion experiments. Namely, nanoporous monolithic silica was modified to achieve the intrusion-extrusion cycle with a controlled path for the electrones. This noticeably improved the kinetics and repeatability of intrusion-extrusion-related electrification. The next step will be to optimize such a monolithic configuration according to the triboelectric series to maximize the electrification effect. Molecular dynamics and ab initio simulations have been performed to identify the mechanism of contact electrification between porous solids and intruded liquids.
Understanding the heat effects during the non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion (int-ext) into-from nanoporous solids is a crucial objective of the project. The proper design of the heterogeneous lyophobic systems (HLSs) should allow harvesting thermal energy from the environment. Some properties of solids and liquids are taken and studied to determine the trends relating to temperature of intrusion-extrusion, effects of solutions which include solutes of various sizes and thermodynamic properties. The obtained results revealed high sensitivity of the intrusion/extrusion heat to different solutes, and indicate that this strategy can be used to enhance the net heat in the cycle. Synergistic research activities have been conducted, which comprised experimental measurements (USK) and computational simulations. From the simulation side they have developed molecular models from computer simulation. These simulations provided guidance instruction on how to further understand the mechanism of thermal energy generation and conversion into electricity via intrusion-extrusion cycle.To maximize the thermal effects in the intrusion-extrusion cycle, a new strategy of preferential intrusion was tested and verified. By using microporous materials (below 2 nm in pore size according to IUPAC classification), we achieved the mixing-demixing effect of different solutions upon the intrusion-extrusion cycle. This allowed for the first time to control the intrusion/extrusion thermal effects in terms of magnitude and size.
Three generations of the prototype shock absorber were designed and the first generation prototype was constructed and at the point to be tested using a vibration bench. CFD modeling of the prototype was performed. The equation of state of the intrusion-extrusion process was introduced into the CFD model and validated using the available experimental data.
Several integration schemes for an electric vehicle were designed and subjected to laboratory testing.
Figure of merits for electric generators more than one order of magnitude higher compared to the state-of-the-art were achieved. However, several important issues related with materials stability and discharge kinetics were discovered. They were resolved using several mitigation measures, which however resulted in lowering of electrification effects. Several strategies are currently undertaken to increase the intrusion-extrusion electrification. If successful, the main expected result is achieving mechanical-to-electrical conversion >100%. The scientific impact related to generation of new knowledge is clearly evident, and as expected each active Workpackage brought unexpected results with high novelty. This is reflected in number of published and submitted papers and 1 patent. The technological impact is expected to be similar to what is stated in the proposal (Annex 1), as all the Milestones of the project are remain unchanged. In particular, if the main goal of the project is achieved, it will pave the way for a new regenerative technology capable of extending the maximum range of an EV to 10-40 %, which according to European Environment Agency´s data means possible reduction of the overall EU electricity consumption by 1-4 %.