• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.360-368
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• 2021

The need for energy harvesting in marine environments is gradually increasing owing to the energy limitation of marine robots. To address this problem, a catamaran-type sail drone (CSD), which can harvest marine energies such as wind and solar, was proposed in a previous study. However, it was designed and manufactured without considering the stability, optimal hull-form, and maintenance. To resolve these problems, a CSD with two keels, a performance estimator, V-shape hulls, and modularized components is proposed and its mechanism is developed in this study. To verify the performance of the CSD, the performance estimation using smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and the heading control using fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are performed. Simulation results show the attitude stability of the CSD and the experimental results show the straight path of the CSD according to wind conditions. Therefore, the CSD has potential applications as an energy harvesting system.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.12
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• pp.1889-1894
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• 2018

An innovative small-scale piezoelectric energy harvester has been proposed to gather wind energy. A conventional horizontal-axis wind power generation has a low generating efficiency at low wind speed. To overcome this weakness, we designed a piezoelectric windmill optimized at low-speed wind. A piezoelectric device having high energy conversion efficiency is used in a small windmill. The maximum output power of the windmill was about 3.14 mW when wind speed was 1.94 m/s. Finally, the output power and the efficiency of the system were compared with a conventional wind power system. This work will be beneficial for the piezoelectric energy harvesting technology to be applied to the real world such as wireless sensor networks (WSN).

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) micro/nanostructures based on soft elastomers have received extensive attention in recent years, owing to their potential and advanced applicability. Designing and fabricating 3D micro/nanostructures are crucial for applications in diverse engineering fields, such as sensors, harvesting devices, functional surfaces, and adhesive patches. However, because of their structural complexity, fabricating soft-elastomer-based 3D micro/nanostructures with a low cost and simple process remains a challenge. Bio-inspired designs that mimic natural structures, or replicate their micro/nanostructure surfaces, have greatly benefited in terms of low-cost fabrication, scalability, and easy control of geometrical parameters. This review highlights recent advances in 3D micro/nanostructures inspired by nature for diverse potential and advanced applications, including flexible pressure sensors, energy-harvesting devices based on triboelectricity, superhydrophobic/-philic surfaces, and dry/wet adhesive patches.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.15-22
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• 2016

The on-board appendages of satellites with mechanical moving parts such as the fly-wheel, the control-moment gyro, the cryocooler, and the gimbal-type directional antenna can generate an undesirable micro-vibration disturbance, which is one of the main causes of the image-quality degradation that affects high-resolution observation satellites. Consequently, the isolation of the micro-vibration issue has always been considered as salient, and the micro-vibration is therefore the focus of this study wherein a complex system that can provide the dual functions of a guaranteed vibration-isolation performance and electrical energy harvesting is proposed. The vibration-isolation and energy-harvesting performances of the complex system are predicted through a numerical analysis based on the characteristics that are obtained from component-level tests. In addition, the effectiveness of the complex system that is proposed in this study is verified through an assembly-level functional-performance test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.81-89
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• 2008

This paper is concerned with the development of the piezoelectric energy harvesting(PEH) device for ubiquitous sensor node(USN). The USN needs auxiliary power to lengthen its operational life. In this study, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system consisting of a cantilever with a tip mass and piezoelectric wafer was investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The dynamic model for the addressed system was derived using the assumed mode method. The resulting equations of motion were expressed in matrix form, which had never been developed before. The power output characteristics of the PEH was then calculated and discussed. Various experiments were carried out to investigate the charging characteristics of electrical components. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the PEH was able to charge a battery with ambient vibrations but still needed an effective mechanism which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and an optimal electric circuit which dissipates small energy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.632-641
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• 2008

This paper is concerned with the development of the piezoelectric energy harvesting(PEH) device for ubiquitous sensor node(USN). The USN needs auxiliary power to lengthen its operational life. In this study, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system consisting of a cantilever with a tip mass and piezoelectric wafer was investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The dynamic model for the addressed system was derived using the assumed mode method. The resulting equations of motion were expressed in matrix form, which had never been developed before. The power output characteristics of the PEH was then calculated and discussed. Various experiments were carried out to investigate the charging characteristics of electrical components. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the PEH was able to charge a battery with ambient vibrations but still needed an effective mechanism which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and an optimal electric circuit which dissipates small energy.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.8-13
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• 2012

In this paper, we investigate cooperative spectrum sensing scheme for sensor network-aided cognitive radio systems with energy harvesting capability. In the proposed model, each sensor node harvests ambient energy from environment such as solar, wind, mechanical vibration, or thermoelectric effect. We propose adaptive cooperative spectrum sensing scheme in which each sensor node adaptively carries out energy detection depending on the residual energy in its energy storage and then conveys the sensing result to the fusion center. From simulation results, we show that the proposed scheme minimizes the false alarm probability for given target detection probability by adjusting the number of samples for energy detector.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.643-650
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• 2018

A self-powered electrochromic device was fabricated on an indium tin oxide-polyethylene naphthalate flexible substrate using a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) as a self-harvesting source; the electrochromic device was naturally bleached and operated under outdoor light conditions. The color of the organic electrochromic polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, was shifted from pale blue to deep blue with an antimony tin oxide film as a charge-balanced material. Electrochromic performance was enhanced by secondary doping using dimethyl sulfoxide. As a result, the device showed stable switching behavior with a high transmittance change difference of 40% at its specific wavelength of 630 nm for 6 hrs. To improve the efficiency of the solar cell, 1.0 wt.% of Ag NWs in the photoanode was applied to the $TiO_2$ photoanode. It resulted in an efficiency of 3.3%, leading to an operating voltage of 0.7 V under xenon lamp conditions. As a result, we built a standalone self-harvesting electrochromic system with the performance of transmittance switching of 29% at 630 nm, by connecting with two solar cells in a device. Thus, a self-harvesting and flexible device was fabricated to operate automatically under the irradiated/dark conditions.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2023

This article investigates the energy harvesting characteristics of a magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) cantilever beam reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNT) under transverse vibration. To this end, the well-known lumped parameter model is used to represent the coupled multiphysics problem mathematically. The proposed system consists of the MEE-CNT layer on top and an inactive substrate layer at the bottom. The substrate is considered to be made of either an isotropic or composite material. Basic laws such as Gauss's Law, Newton's Law and Faraday's Law are used to arrive at the governing equations. Surface electrodes across the beam are used to harvest the electric potential produced, together with a wound coil, for the generated magnetic potential. The influence of various distributions of the CNT and its volume fraction, substrate material, length-to-thickness ratio, and thickness ratio of substrate to MEE layer on the energy harvesting behaviour is thoroughly discussed. Further, the effect of external resistances and changes in substrate material on the response is analysed and reported. The article aims to explore smart material-based energy harvesting systems, focusing on their behaviour when reinforced with carbon nanotubes. The results of this study may lead to an improved understanding of the design and analysis of CNT-based smart structures.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.51-57
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• 2014

PURPOSES : An conventional method for electric power generation is converting thermal energy into mechanical energy then to electrical energy. Due to environmental issues such as global warming related with $CO_2$ emission etc., were the limiting factor for the energy resources which resulting in extensive research and novel technologies are required to generate electric power. Thermal energy harvesting using thermoelectric generator is one of energy harvesting technologies due to diverse advantages for new green technology. This paper presents a possibility of application of the thermoelectric generator's application in the direct exchange of waste solar energy into electrical power in road space. METHODS : To measure generated electric power of the thermoelectric generator, data logger was adopted as function of experimental factors such as using cooling sink, connection methods etc. Also, the thermoelectric generator、s behavior at low ambient temperature was investigated as measurement of output voltage vs. elapsed times. RESULTS : A few temperature difference between top an bottom of the thermoelectric generator is generated electric voltage. Components of an electrical circuit can be connected in various ways. The two simplest of these are called series and parallel and occur so open. Series shows slightly better performance in this study. An installation of cooling sink in the thermoelectric generator system was enhanced the output of power voltage. CONCLUSIONS : In this paper, a basic concepts of thermoelectric power generation is presented and applications of the thermoelectric generator to waste solar energy in road is estimated for green energy harvesting technology. The possibility of usage of thermoelectric technology for road facilities was found under the ambient thermal gradient between two surfaces of the thermoelectric module. An experiment results provide a testimony of the feasibility of the proposed environmental energy harvesting technology on the road facilities.