Data of a triboelectric energy harvester in low frequency environment and its potential as a power source in a wireless sensor node

TL;DR

This paper explores using a triboelectric nanogenerator to power wireless sensors in low-frequency environments like bridge cables.

Contribution

It presents data on TENG performance in low-frequency settings and its viability for structural health monitoring.

Findings

TENG voltage response was characterized across different resistors and capacitors.

A LEGO platform simulated low-frequency vibrations similar to bridge cables.

TENG can directly power or complement batteries in wireless sensor nodes.

Abstract

The current article highlights the potential usage of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a power source in a wireless sensor node in the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). The voltage response of the TENG across different resistors and capacitors is used to characterize the power output of the vibration energy harvester and it estimates the energy that the TENG can provide to a circuitry. The provided data were collected using a custom-made LEGO platform, which was set to operate in low frequency sinusoidal motion, simulating a low frequency vibration environment of a bridge cable. This paper aims to encourage the usage of such effective energy harvesters in SHM by showcasing their potential in powering up a wireless sensor node directly, or act as a complementary energy source to a battery.

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