Wearable thermal energy harvester powered by human foot

Abstract

With explosive applications of many advanced mobile electronic devices, a pervasive energy system with long term sustainability becomes increasingly important. Among the many efforts ever tried, human power is rather unique due to its independence of weather or geographical conditions and is therefore becoming a research focus. This paper is dedicated to demonstrate the possibility and feasibility of harvesting thermal energy from human body by sandwiching a thermoelectric generator (TEG) between human shoe bottom and ground, aiming to power a portable electronic device. Through the conceptual experiments conducted on adults, a maximum 3.99 mW steady state power output at a ground temperature with 273 K is obtained, which is sufficient enough to drive a lot of micro-electronic devices. Also, parametric simulations are performed to systematically clarify the factors influencing the TEG working performance. To further reveal the mechanism of this power generation modality, analytical solutions to the coupled temperature distributions for human foot and TEG module are obtained and the correlation between TEG characteristics and the output power are studied. It was demonstrated that, the TEG working as a wearable power resource by utilizing thermal energy of human foot shows enormous potential and practical values either under normal or extreme conditions.

Key words： human power; thermal energy; energy harvesting; micro power; wearable device

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50977087).

References

1 Liu J, Deng Y G, Jia D W. Unconventional Energy Technology. Beijing: Science Press, 2010 (in Chinese)

2 Starner T. Human-powered wearable computing. IBM Systems Journal, 1996, 35(3,4): 618-629

3 Xu G D, Deng Y G, Liu J. Human-powered home LED lighting system using super capacitor for electricity recharging. China Illuminating Engineering Journal, 2009, 20(4): 43-47 (in Chinese)

4 Wang Z Y, Leonov V, Fiorini P, van Hoof C. Realization of a wearable miniaturized thermoelectric generator for human body applications. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2009, 156(1): 95-102

5 Paulides J J H, Jansen J W, Encica L, Lomonova E A, Smit M. Human-powered small-scale generation system for a sustainable dance club. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Electric Machines and Drives Conference. Maimi, USA, 2009, 439-444

6 Jia D W, Liu J, Zhou Y X. Harvesting human kinematical energy based on liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics. Physics Letters. Part A, 2009, 373(15): 1305-1309

7 Kymissis J, Kendall C, Paradiso J, Gershenfeld N. Parasitic power harvesting in shoes. In: Proceedings of 2nd IEEE Internantional Conference on Wearable Computers. Cambridge, USA, 1997, 52-55

8 Vullers R J M, Leonov V, Stercken T, Schmitz A. Energy scavengers for wireless intelligent Microsystems. 2006, http://www.onboard-technology.com/pdf_giugno2006/060608.pdf

9 Yang Y, Wei X J, Liu J. Suitability of a thermoelectric power generator for implantable medical electronic devices. Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics, 2007, 40(18): 5790-5800

10 Brooks G A, Fahey T D, Baldwin K M. Exercise Physiology: Human Bioenergetics and Its Applications, Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2005

11 Leonov V, Vullers R J M. Wearable thermoelectric generators for body-powered devices. Journal of Electronic Materials, 2009, 38(7): 1491-1498

12 Saha C R, O’Donnell T, Wang N, McCloskey P. Electromagnetic generator for harvesting energy from human motion. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2008, 147(1): 248-253

13 Donelan J M, Li Q, Naing V, Hoffer J A, Weber D J, Kuo A D. Biomechanical energy harvesting: generating electricity during walking with minimal user effort. Science, 2008, 319(5864): 807-810

PMID

14 Chen S J, Zhen Y, Duan B, Cai M M. Electronic control circuit based on power cycle power generation system developed by fitness. Science and Technology Innovation Herald, 2009, (4): 79 (in Chinese)

15 Nakagawa C, Nakano K, Suda Y, Hirayama Y. Stability of the two-wheeled inverted pendulum vehicle moved by human pedaling. Journal of System Design and Dynamics, 2011, 5(3): 389-402

16 Leonov V, Vullers R J M. Wearable electronics self-powered by using human body heat: The state of the art and the perspective. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2009, 1(6): 062701

17 Jia D W, Liu J. Human power-based energy harvesting strategies for mobile electronic devices. Frontiers of Energy and Power Engineering in China, 2009, 3(1): 27-46

18 Huang H, Merrett G V, White N M. Human-powered inertial energy harvesters: The effect of orientation, location and activity on obtainable power. Procedia Engineering, 2011, 25: 815-818

19 Mateu L, Codrea C, Lucas N, Pollak M, Spies P. Energy harvesting for wireless communication systems using thermogenerators. In: Proceedings of the XXI Conference on Design of Circuits and Integrated Systems (DCIS), Barcelona, Spain, 2006: 22-24

20 Jansen A J. Advances in human-powered energy systems in consumer products. In: Marjanovic D ed. Proceedings of the 8th International Design Conference DESIGN 2004. Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2004, 1539-1544

21 Mateu L, Moll F. Review of energy harvesting techniques and applications for microelectronics. In:Proceedings of the SPIE Microtechnologies for the New Millenium. Seville, Span, 2005, 359-373

22 Snyder G J. Thermoelectric energy harvesting. In: iya S, Inman D J, eds. Energy Harvesting Technologies, Springer Science and Business Media, LLC, 2009, 325-336

23 Kishi M, Nemoto H, Hamao T, Yamamoto M, Sudou S, Mandai M, Yamamoto S. Micro thermoelectric modules and their application to wristwatches as an energy source. In: Ehrlich A ed. Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Thermoelectrics. Baltimore, USA, 1999, 301-307

24 Huesgen T, Woias P, Kockmann N. Design and fabrication of MEMS thermoelectric generators with high temperature efficiency. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2008, 145-146: 423-429

25 Weber J, Potje-Kamloth K, Haase F, Detemple P, V�lklein F, Doll T, Detemple PAuthor Vitae, Völklein FAuthor Vitae, Doll T. Coin-size coiled-up polymer foil thermoelectric power generator for wearable electronics. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2006, 132(1): 325-330

26 Van Bavel M, Leonov V, Yazicioglu R F, Torfs T, van Hoof C, Posthuma N E, Vullers R J M. Wearable battery-free wireless 2-channel EEG systems powered by energy scavengers. Sensors & Transducers Journal, 2008, 94(7): 103-115

27 Torfs T, Leonov V, Vullers R J M. Pulse oximeter fully powered by human body heat. Sensors & Transducers Journal, 2007, 80(6): 1230-1238

28 Leonov V, Torfs T, van Hoof C, Vullers R J M. Smart wireless sensors integrated in clothing: An electrocardiography system in a shirt powered using human body heat. Sensors & Transducers Journal, 2009, 107(8): 165-176

29 Leonov V, Vullers R J M. Thermoelectric generators on living beings. In: Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on “Thermoelectrics (ECT)”. Odessa, Ukraine, 2007, 47-52

30 Yadav A, Pipe K P, Shtein M. Fiber-based flexible thermoelectric power generator. Journal of Power Sources, 2008, 175(2): 909-913

31 Pennes H H. Analysis of tissue and arterial blood temperatures in the resting human forearm. Journal of Applied Physiology, 1948, 1(2): 93-122

PMID

32 Deng Z S, Liu J. Mathematical modeling on temperature mapping over skin surface and its implementation in disease diagnostics. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 2004, 34(6): 495-521

PMID

33 Fang Z J. Thick film growth of the diamond-film/alumina composite and its application in microelectronics. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Shanghai: Shanghai University, 2003

34 Li Y. Thermal analysis and optimum design on the semiconductor thermoelectric generation module. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Shanghai: Tongji University, 2008

35 Rowe D M. CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics. London: CRC Press, 1995, 490-494

36 Liu J, Wang C. Bioheat Transfer. Beijing: Science Press, 1997, 344 (in Chinese)