The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information

This study identifies hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) transducers as electricity generators, contrary to their conventional role as actuators. HASELs are soft, variable-capacitance transducers inspired by biological muscles which were developed to mimic the flexibility and functionality of natural muscle tissues. This research characterizes HASELs as generators by reversing their energy conversion mechanism—generating electricity through mechanical deformation. The study assesses the practical laboratory performance of HASELs by analytic modeling and experimental evaluation. Outcomes of the study include the following: (i) up to 2.5 mJ per cycle per 50 mm wide HASEL pouch of positive net energy generation in experimental testing—corresponding to an energy density of 2.0 mJ cm⁻³; (ii) a maximum theoretical energy density of 4.2 mJ cm⁻³; (iii) the electromechanical characteristics governing efficient conversion; and (iv) design considerations to enhance HASEL generator performance in future applications. This study broadens HASEL’s applicability and utility as a multi-functional transducer for renewable energy and general adaptive electricity generation.

The domain of distributed embedded energy converter technologies (DEEC-Tec) is a nascent and underexplored paradigm for harvesting and converting marine renewable energy. The paradigm distinguishes itself through its use of many small distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) that, ultimately, are assembled through the creation of "DEEC-Tec metamaterials" to create an overall larger marine renewable energy harvesting and converting structure. As an example, such a structure could be an ocean wave energy converter - a converter whose structure is made from various types of DEEC-Tec metamaterials that harvests ocean wave energy and converts that energy into something more useful such as electricity. To that end, DEEC-Tec can be viewed at three different technology levels: (1) individual distributed embedded energy converters, also known as DEECs; (2) DEEC-Tec metamaterials-essentially, pseudo-materials made from the interconnection of many DEECs; and (3) overall larger complete marine renewable energy harvesting-converting structures-these structures being made from DEEC-Tec metamaterials. Arising directly from the application of DEEC-Tec to harvest and convert ocean wave energy are several noteworthy benefits, some of which include: (1) the lack of load concentrations into singular components or subsystems, (2) broad-banded ocean wave energy frequency harvesting and conversion, and (3) inherent redundancy-failure of some individual DEECs does not represent a failure of an entire DEEC-Tec-based WEC. This report describes DEEC-Tec by way of descriptions of those three technology levels: individual DEECs, DEEC-Tec metamaterials, and DEEC-Tec-based WECs. Moreover, the report describes corresponding research approaches and methodologies for related concepts such as DEEC-Tec-based WEC topologies and morphologies in addition to manufacturing and fabrication techniques found suitable for the application of DEEC-Tec within the general domain of marine renewable energy-moving beyond only ocean wave energy conversion.

Hexagonal distributed embedded energy converters, also known as hexDEECs, are centimeter-scale energy transducers that leverage variable capacitance to generate electricity when their hyperelastic structure is dynamically deformed. To better understand, characterize, and optimize hexDEEC designs, a series of numerical methods and techniques were developed to model the hyperelastic mechanics of hexDEECs, electrostatic properties, and electricity generation characteristics. The numerical methods developed for the hyperelastic structural analysis were corroborated by empirical results from another study, and the models and equations for capacitance, electrostatic forces, and electrical potential energy were derived from fundamental electrostatic equations. These methods and techniques were implemented within the STAR-CCM+ multiphysics software Version 2020.3 (15.06.008) environment. Results from this analysis revealed methodologies and techniques necessary to model the energy converters, which will enable future exploration and optimization of more specific designs and corresponding applications.

This report considers and prioritizes potential technical costreduction pathways for axialflow turbines designed for tidal, river, and ocean current resources. This report focuses on technical research and development costreduction pathways related to the device technology rather than environmental monitoring or permitting opportunities. Three sources of information were utilized to understand current cost drivers and develop a list of potential costreduction pathways: a literature review of technical work related to axialflow turbines, the U.S. Department of Energy Reference Model effort, and informal webinars and other targeted interactions with industry developers. Data from these various information sources were aggregated and prioritized with respect to potential impact on the lifetime levelized cost of energy. The four most promising costreduction pathways include structural design optimization; improved deployment, maintenance, and recovery; system simplicity and reliability; and array optimization.

Bio-inspired, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are promising to achieve the agile and efficient locomotion of animals, but like all AUVs their endurance is limited by onboard energy storage. This study demonstrates electrical energy regeneration on a bio-inspired robotic fish using its existing artificial muscles to harvest energy from the environment, providing a path towards energy autonomy with minimal added size and weight. Using a robotic fish with hydraulically amplified, self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) artificial muscles and variable capacitance energy harvesting, we establish the role of frequency, strain, and phase on energy harvesting performance. Through cyclic axial testing of individual muscles, we demonstrate a linear increase in output power with increasing input frequency where the HASELs generated a peak power of 3.2 mW cm − 3 at 2 Hz. Further increases in frequency led to a reduction in generated power due to lower strain on the HASEL muscle and thus a decrease in capacitance change. We then experimentally demonstrate energy generation on a robotic fish-like prototype using HASEL muscles, and we visually capture the HASEL’s change in capacitance during dynamic bending. Finally, we fully establish the role of frequency, strain, and phase on energy generation using a numerical kinematic model of a soft robotic fish with HASEL muscles. We show that maximum energy harvesting occurs (1) at the natural frequencies of the robotic fish, (2) when the HASEL muscles are spatially located at regions of maximum dynamic curvature, and (3) when the phase of the HASEL priming voltage is π / 2 with respect to the stroke of the muscle, maximizing the capacitance change. By establishing the role of frequency, strain, and phase during HASEL energy harvesting, this study provides a framework for energy regeneration on robotic swimmers and flexible ocean wave energy converters with distributed electrical energy converters.