Fabrication of the Wrist-type Thermo-electric Generators for Energy Harvesting from the Human Body

• Main Authors: Bo-Chao Wang, 王柏超
• Other Authors: Jr-Lung Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/23720368858205427584

碩士 === 義守大學 === 機械與自動化工程學系 === 104 === Previous studies had attempted to generate additional power for personal electronics include piezoelectric generators that generated energy when pressed or bent. Currently, there exhibits another way, which may be ideal for low-power wearable devices; and that is to harness the waste heat your body naturally gives off through the thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The conversion of body heat into electrical energy using the TEGs is useful for wearable self-powered mobile electronic systems. Certainly, it also could provide a significant auxiliary electricity for the low-power wearable devices such as medical sensors, e-paper, smart watches, and fitness trackers, but also perhaps smart collars and smart clothing. In this study, we’ll herein demonstrate a flexible TE generator using a 3 D printing as well as MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) techniques. The structure of a TE device is going to fabricate with the flexible top and bottom substrates. With these techniques it is possible to make the device thinner, light weight, and more flexible. In addition, the design parameters, i.e., thermoelectric material sizes, particle''s gaps, and thermoelectric couples’ numbers related with the output power are experimentally measured in this study. Finally, the wrist-type thermo-electric generators for energy harvesting from the human body was achieved the maximum values of of 5.98 mV and 46.93μA for the open circuit voltage and short circuit current, respectively. Here, the developed TE generator will show an allowable bending radius and no change in performance by repeating bends. In the future, the conversion of body heat into electrical energy using a flexible thermoelectric (TE) generator is useful for wearable self-powered mobile electronic systems. We hope that can expedite the development of wearable self-powered mobile devices.