TITLE:
Two-Capacitor Electrostatic Microgenerators
AUTHORS:
Igor L. Baginsky, Edward G. Kostsov, Victor F. Kamishlov
KEYWORDS:
Energy Harvesting; Electrostatics; Capacitance Generators; High Power
JOURNAL NAME:
Engineering,
Vol.5 No.11A,
October
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: All modes of operation of a two-capacitor generator
based on overflow of the charge accumulated in capacitors through the load
resistance between two capacitors with antiphase modulated capacitances by
means of in-plane or out-of-plane shift of the electrode plates under action of
a mechanical force are analyzed paying the especial attention to fabrication of
the generators with small sizes. Numerical solutions for all the modes are
obtained, and they are found to be universal. Analytical
estimates of the maximum power of the generator as a function of the
capacitances modulation factor are derived. Experimental investigations of a
two-capacitor rotational electric generator show that its characteristics are
consistent with the analysis performed and that this analysis can be used to
describe all specific features of operation of particular generators.
Applications of the devices in micro-design for feeding the remote sensors are
discussed.