Method for measuring energy generation and efficiency of dielectric elastomer generators

Rainer Kaltseis; Christoph Keplinger; Richard Baumgartner; Martin Kaltenbrunner; Tiefeng Li; Philipp Maechler; Reinhard Schwödiauer; Zhigang Suo; Siegfried Bauer

doi:10.1063/1.3653239

Method for measuring energy generation and efficiency of dielectric elastomer generators

Rainer Kaltseis, Christoph Keplinger, Richard Baumgartner, Martin Kaltenbrunner, Tiefeng Li, Philipp Maechler, Reinhard Schwödiauer, Zhigang Suo, Siegfried Bauer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer generators convert mechanical into electrical energy at high energy density, showing promise for large and small scale energy harvesting. We present an experiment to monitor electrical and mechanical energy flows separately and show the cycle of energy conversion in work-conjugate planes. A specific electrical energy generated per cycle of 102 mJ=g, at a specific average power of 17 mW=g, is demonstrated with an acrylic elastomer in a showcase generation cycle. The measured mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency is 7:5%. The experiment may be used to assess the aptitude of specifically designed elastomers for energy harvesting.

Original language	English
Article number	162904
Pages (from-to)	162904
Number of pages	3
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	99
Issue number	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3653239
Publication status	Published - 2011

Fields of science

103015 Condensed matter
103 Physics, Astronomy
103008 Experimental physics
103023 Polymer physics
103018 Materials physics
202036 Sensor systems
202022 Information technology

JKU Focus areas

Nano-, Bio- and Polymer-Systems: From Structure to Function
Engineering and Natural Sciences (in general)

Access to Document

10.1063/1.3653239

Cite this

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title = "Method for measuring energy generation and efficiency of dielectric elastomer generators",

abstract = "Dielectric elastomer generators convert mechanical into electrical energy at high energy density, showing promise for large and small scale energy harvesting. We present an experiment to monitor electrical and mechanical energy flows separately and show the cycle of energy conversion in work-conjugate planes. A specific electrical energy generated per cycle of 102 mJ=g, at a specific average power of 17 mW=g, is demonstrated with an acrylic elastomer in a showcase generation cycle. The measured mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency is 7:5%. The experiment may be used to assess the aptitude of specifically designed elastomers for energy harvesting.",

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AU - Kaltseis, Rainer

AU - Keplinger, Christoph

AU - Baumgartner, Richard

AU - Kaltenbrunner, Martin

AU - Li, Tiefeng

AU - Maechler, Philipp

AU - Schwödiauer, Reinhard

AU - Suo, Zhigang

AU - Bauer, Siegfried

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Dielectric elastomer generators convert mechanical into electrical energy at high energy density, showing promise for large and small scale energy harvesting. We present an experiment to monitor electrical and mechanical energy flows separately and show the cycle of energy conversion in work-conjugate planes. A specific electrical energy generated per cycle of 102 mJ=g, at a specific average power of 17 mW=g, is demonstrated with an acrylic elastomer in a showcase generation cycle. The measured mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency is 7:5%. The experiment may be used to assess the aptitude of specifically designed elastomers for energy harvesting.

AB - Dielectric elastomer generators convert mechanical into electrical energy at high energy density, showing promise for large and small scale energy harvesting. We present an experiment to monitor electrical and mechanical energy flows separately and show the cycle of energy conversion in work-conjugate planes. A specific electrical energy generated per cycle of 102 mJ=g, at a specific average power of 17 mW=g, is demonstrated with an acrylic elastomer in a showcase generation cycle. The measured mechanical to electrical energy conversion efficiency is 7:5%. The experiment may be used to assess the aptitude of specifically designed elastomers for energy harvesting.

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DO - 10.1063/1.3653239

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