A bimetal and electret-based converter for thermal energy harvesting

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel thermal energy harvester combining a bimetallic heat engine with an electret-based electrostatic converter, demonstrating effective conversion of thermal gradients into electrical power.

Contribution

It presents a new device design that integrates a bimetallic heat engine with an electrostatic converter for thermal energy harvesting, achieving measurable power output.

Findings

Output power up to 5.5μW at 50°C

Successful demonstration of thermal-to-electrical energy conversion

Validation of the combined bimetal and electret-based approach

Abstract

This paper presents a new device able to turn thermal gradients into electricity by using a bimetal-based heat engine coupled to an electrostatic converter. A two-steps conversion is performed: (i) a curved bimetallic strip turns the thermal gradient into a mechanical movement (thermal-to-mechanical conversion) that is (ii) then converted into electricity thanks to an electret-based electrostatic converter (mechanical-to-electrical conversion). An output power up to 5.5uW on a hot source at 50{\deg}C has already been reached, validating this new concept.