Gas flow driven disc type Triboelectric Nanogenerator (GFD D-TENG) for gas meter battery safe charging

Abstract A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a revolutionary technology that has demonstrated excellent potential in energy harvesting and application from gas flow. The necessity to identify solutions for changing difficult-to-reach natural gas meter batteries motivates this research. The current effort uses TENG technology to overcome challenges associated with natural gas meter battery replacement, such as safety dangers, battery access difficulties, and meter damage. It presents a practical application of TENG technology to convert the mechanical energy of meter gear rotation due to natural gas flow to electric energy. The generated power will be used to charge the natural gas meter battery. It designs an FR4 printed circuit board (FR4 PCB) disc to harvest energy generated by the rotation of the natural gas gear driver to charge the gas meter rechargeable battery. With a variable gas flow rate, the suggested disc offers an instantaneous safe battery charge over its lifetime. Three software programs were utilised: COMSOL Multiphysics for designing a gas flow-driven disc triboelectric nanogenerator (GFD D-TENG), which produces a peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of approximately 340 V and a short-circuit current of 70 μA at 500 rpm. The maximum average power is 5.813 mW at a matched load resistance of 2.512 MΩ at a 500 rpm rotational rate. The bridge rectifier design for the GFD D-TENG was simulated using the Multisim tool, and the GFD D-TENG PCB layout for the rotor and stator was created with Altium Designer. The experimental testing is carried out utilising a DC motor with speed control and a variable DC power supply. When charging a 1.2 V AAA rechargeable battery, the output voltage is 1.44 V and the charging current is around 9.8 μA. The GFD D-TENG's bridge rectifier circuit illuminates the red LED load at 500 rpm. The voltage and current output are 1.5 V and 60 µA, respectively.