Triboelectric rotational speed sensor integrated into a bearing: A solid step to industrial application

Abstract A rotational speed sensor is of great importance for the development of modern industrial automation. The reliability, integration, measuring range and accuracy are key characteristics to its application. We report a triboelectric rotational speed sensor that is integrated into a bearing (TRSS) and is composed mainly of a bearing seat, a bearing, an adjusting ring, a rotor and a stator. The sensor-output stability can be improved significantly by modifying the bearing’s structural characteristics. Periodic electric signals are generated by rotating friction between the copper grating on the rotor and a polytetrafluoroethylene film on the stator surface to induce electron transfer on the copper electrode. A comparison of the analysis of the output signal with a commercial sensor proved that TRSS can be used to measure the rotational speed from 10–1000 rpm with an error below 0.3% and an excellent linearity. Therefore, TRSS is reliable and consistent by verifying the measurement accuracy of the sensors with different sizes. We applied this sensor in an industrial application and demonstrated the application prospects of TRSS.

[1]  Carlo Edoardo Campanella,et al.  Photonic technologies for angular velocity sensing , 2010 .

[2]  Mengdi Han,et al.  Magnetic-assisted triboelectric nanogenerators as self-powered visualized omnidirectional tilt sensing system , 2014, Scientific Reports.

[3]  Jun Chen,et al.  Shape Memory Polymers for Body Motion Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Mechanosensing , 2018, Advanced materials.

[4]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Noncontact free-rotating disk triboelectric nanogenerator as a sustainable energy harvester and self-powered mechanical sensor. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[5]  Yannan Xie,et al.  Self-powered triboelectric velocity sensor for dual-mode sensing of rectified linear and rotary motions , 2014 .

[6]  Long Lin,et al.  Theory of Sliding‐Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerators , 2013, Advanced materials.

[7]  Tao Jiang,et al.  Antibacterial Composite Film-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Walking Energy. , 2017, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[8]  Qingshen Jing,et al.  Angle-shaped triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting environmental wind energy , 2019, Nano Energy.

[9]  Caofeng Pan,et al.  Self‐Powered High‐Resolution and Pressure‐Sensitive Triboelectric Sensor Matrix for Real‐Time Tactile Mapping , 2016, Advanced materials.

[10]  N.M. Jokerst,et al.  Integrated Optical Sensor in a Digital Microfluidic Platform , 2008, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[11]  Yikang Li,et al.  Triboelectric nanogenerator by integrating a cam and a movable frame for ambient mechanical energy harvesting , 2019, Nano Energy.

[12]  Jun Chen,et al.  Harmonic‐Resonator‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator as a Sustainable Power Source and a Self‐Powered Active Vibration Sensor , 2013, Advanced materials.

[13]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Theoretical study of contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerators as an effective power source , 2013 .

[14]  Tao Jiang,et al.  Toward the blue energy dream by triboelectric nanogenerator networks , 2017 .

[15]  Fenglei Ni,et al.  A novel absolute angular position sensor based on electromagnetism , 2013 .

[16]  Long Lin,et al.  Theoretical Investigation and Structural Optimization of Single‐Electrode Triboelectric Nanogenerators , 2014 .

[17]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Radial-arrayed rotary electrification for high performance triboelectric generator , 2014, Nature Communications.

[18]  Junjie Bai,et al.  A Self‐Powered Angle Measurement Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator , 2015 .

[19]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  A spring-based resonance coupling for hugely enhancing the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting low-frequency vibration energy , 2017 .

[20]  Yu Song,et al.  Hybrid generator based on freestanding magnet as all-direction in-plane energy harvester and vibration sensor , 2018 .

[21]  장윤희,et al.  Y. , 2003, Industrial and Labor Relations Terms.

[22]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Rationally designed sea snake structure based triboelectric nanogenerators for effectively and efficiently harvesting ocean wave energy with minimized water screening effect , 2018, Nano Energy.

[23]  Fengru Fan,et al.  Theoretical Comparison, Equivalent Transformation, and Conjunction Operations of Electromagnetic Induction Generator and Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Mechanical Energy , 2014, Advanced materials.

[24]  Zhong Lin Wang.  On Maxwell's displacement current for energy and sensors: the origin of nanogenerators , 2017 .

[25]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Flexible triboelectric generator , 2012 .

[26]  Usman Khan,et al.  Sustainable direct current powering a triboelectric nanogenerator via a novel asymmetrical design , 2018 .

[27]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Self-Powered Acceleration Sensor Based on Liquid Metal Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Vibration Monitoring. , 2017, ACS Nano.

[28]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[29]  Dichen Li,et al.  Integrative square-grid triboelectric nanogenerator as a vibrational energy harvester and impulsive force sensor , 2018, Nano Research.