IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v322y2025ics0360544225012253.html

Engineering a motion-enhanced tri-stable hybrid energy converter for capturing low-frequency wave energy

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Yuhao
  • Hao, Ying
  • Wang, Chen
  • Li, Gaolei
  • Wen, Gui-Lin
  • Lai, Siu-Kai

Abstract

This paper presents a new design concept of incorporating a multi-stable nonlinear system with speed amplification designed for a hybrid-based low-frequency wave energy converter (WEC). The design features a tri-stable nonlinear, array-type electromagnetic generator paired with a conveyor belt-style, grating-structured, freestanding triboelectric generator. A roller-belt mechanism can increase the relative speed between the oscillator and translators of the hybrid WEC by a factor of two. The combination of the array magnet and speed amplification also enables the generation of voltage frequency in the electromagnetic generator. The mechanical and electrical characteristics of the fully integrated WEC are assessed through both experimental measurements and numerical calculations. Experimental results show that the designed WEC operates effectively within a frequency range of 0.1–2 Hz, achieving a peak power output of ∼311 mW at 2 Hz under an acceleration of 0.25 g. Ultimately, a capacitor charging experiment carried out in a wave environment shows that the power supply is sufficient for powering small electronic devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Yuhao & Hao, Ying & Wang, Chen & Li, Gaolei & Wen, Gui-Lin & Lai, Siu-Kai, 2025. "Engineering a motion-enhanced tri-stable hybrid energy converter for capturing low-frequency wave energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225012253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135583
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225012253
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.135583?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Chen & Chai, Hongfei & Li, Gaolei & Wang, Wei & Tian, Ruilan & Wen, Gui-Lin & Wang, Chun H. & Lai, Siu-Kai, 2024. "Boosting biomechanical and wave energy harvesting efficiency through a novel triple hybridization of piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and triboelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).
    2. Win Zaw, Nay Yee & Yun, Jonghyeon & Goh, Tae Sik & Kim, Inkyum & Kim, Youngsu & Lee, Jung Sub & Kim, Daewon, 2022. "All-polymer waterproof triboelectric nanogenerator towards blue energy harvesting and self-powered human motion detection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    3. Joe, Hangil & Roh, Hyunwoo & Cho, Hyeonwoo & Yu, Son-Cheol, 2017. "Development of a flap-type mooring-less wave energy harvesting system for sensor buoy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 851-863.
    4. Jin Wang & Zheng Cui & Shangzhen Li & Zeyuan Song & Miaolu He & Danxi Huang & Yuan Feng & YanZheng Liu & Ke Zhou & Xudong Wang & Lei Wang, 2024. "Unlocking osmotic energy harvesting potential in challenging real-world hypersaline environments through vermiculite-based hetero-nanochannels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Salman, Mohamed & Sorokin, Vladislav & Aw, Kean, 2024. "Systematic literature review of wave energy harvesting using triboelectric nanogenerator," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    6. Shi, Ge & Zeng, Wentao & Xia, Yinshui & Xu, Jubing & Jia, Shengyao & Li, Qing & Wang, Xiudeng & Xia, Huakang & Ye, Yidie, 2023. "A floating piezoelectric electromagnetic hybrid wave vibration energy harvester actuated by a rotating wobble ball," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    7. Yang, Yiqing & Chen, Peihao & Liu, Qiang, 2021. "A wave energy harvester based on coaxial mechanical motion rectifier and variable inertia flywheel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    8. Xu, Da & Yuan, Zhe-Li & Bai, Ziyi & Wu, Zhibin & Chen, Shuangyin & Zhou, Ming, 2022. "Optimal operation of geothermal-solar-wind renewables for community multi-energy supplies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    9. Gao, Mingyuan & Wang, Yuan & Wang, Yifeng & Wang, Ping, 2018. "Experimental investigation of non-linear multi-stable electromagnetic-induction energy harvesting mechanism by magnetic levitation oscillation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 856-875.
    10. Feng, Mengqi & Lv, Song & Deng, Jingcai & Guo, Ying & Wu, Yangyang & Shi, Guoqing & Zhang, Mingming, 2023. "An overview of environmental energy harvesting by thermoelectric generators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    11. Zhou, Binzhen & Hu, Jianjian & Wang, Yu & Jin, Peng & Jing, Fengmei & Ning, Dezhi, 2023. "Coupled dynamic and power generation characteristics of a hybrid system consisting of a semi-submersible wind turbine and an array of heaving wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 23-38.
    12. Wang, Zhixia & Kang, Siwei & Du, Hongzhi & Feng, Pengju & Wang, Wei, 2024. "A high-performance dual-mode energy harvesting with nonlinear pendulum and speed-amplified mechanisms for low-frequency applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    13. Chen, Wei & He, Zhicheng & Zhao, Jing & Mo, Jiliang & Ouyang, Huajiang, 2024. "Hybrid triboelectric-piezoelectric energy harvesting via a bistable swing-impact structure with a tuneable potential barrier and frequency-up conversion effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 375(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zeng, Xianming & Wu, Nan & Fu, Jiyang & He, Yuncheng & Dai, Xiaolong, 2024. "Design, modeling and experiments of bistable wave energy harvester with directional self-adaptive characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    2. Cui, Xiangna & Chen, Xi & Gao, Zhongyang, 2024. "Research on the power generation performance and optimization of thermoelectric generators for recycling remaining cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    3. Li, Jianwei & Wang, Guotai & Yang, Panpan & Wen, Yongshuang & Zhang, Leian & Song, Rujun & Hou, Chengwei, 2024. "An orientation-adaptive electromagnetic energy harvester scavenging for wind-induced vibration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    4. Zhou, Xu & Wang, Kangda & Li, Siyu & Wang, Yadong & Sun, Daoyu & Wang, Longlong & He, Zhizhu & Tang, Wei & Liu, Huicong & Jin, Xiaoping & Li, Zhen, 2024. "An ultra-compact lightweight electromagnetic generator enhanced with Halbach magnet array and printed triphase windings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    5. Liu, Weiqun & Qin, Gang & Zhu, Qiao & Hu, Guangdi, 2018. "Synchronous extraction circuit with self-adaptive peak-detection mechanical switches design for piezoelectric energy harvesting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1292-1303.
    6. Liu, Wenhao & Zhang, Xufang & Wang, Wei & Wang, Pengfei & Huang, Xing & Xu, Zhongbin & Ruan, Xiaodong, 2025. "Superhydrophobic microfluidic engineered droplet triboelectric nanogenerator for optimizing multichannel energy conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    7. Zhang, Tingsheng & Kong, Lingji & Zhu, Zhongyin & Wu, Xiaoping & Li, Hai & Zhang, Zutao & Yan, Jinyue, 2024. "An electromagnetic vibration energy harvesting system based on series coupling input mechanism for freight railroads," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    8. Wang, Mangkuan & Shang, Jianzhong & Luo, Zirong & Lu, Zhongyue & Yao, Ganzhou, 2023. "Theoretical and numerical studies on improving absorption power of multi-body wave energy convert device with nonlinear bistable structure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    9. Dongmei Huang & Shengxi Zhou & Zhichun Yang, 2019. "Resonance Mechanism of Nonlinear Vibrational Multistable Energy Harvesters under Narrow-Band Stochastic Parametric Excitations," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-20, December.
    10. Chen, Lin & Liao, Xin & Sun, Beibei & Zhang, Ning & Wu, Jianwei, 2022. "A numerical-experimental dynamic analysis of high-efficiency and broadband bistable energy harvester with self-decreasing potential barrier effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    11. Tang, Tianyi & Zhao, Heng & Li, Yunfei & Zha, Fusheng & Sun, Lining & Liu, Huicong, 2026. "Double-stage frequency-boost mechanism for high-power wave energy harvesting from ultra-low frequency ocean excitations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PD).
    12. Sricharan, V.V.S. & Chandrasekaran, Srinivasan, 2021. "Time-domain analysis of a bean-shaped multi-body floating wave energy converter with a hydraulic power take-off using WEC-Sim," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    13. Rolo, Pedro & Vidal, João V. & Kholkin, Andrei L. & Alves, Luis Nero & Soares dos Santos, Marco P., 2025. "Multidimensional vibrationally driven energy generation: State-of-the-art review and modelling generalization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 396(C).
    14. Dong, Liwei & Zuo, Jianyong & Wang, Tianpeng & Xue, Wenbin & Wang, Ping & Li, Jun & Yang, Fan, 2022. "Enhanced piezoelectric harvester for track vibration based on tunable broadband resonant methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    15. Yi, Yang & Sun, Ke & Liu, Yongqian & Zhang, Jianhua & Jiang, Jin & Liu, Mingyao & Ji, Renwei, 2024. "Experimental investigation into the dynamics and power coupling effects of floating semi-submersible wind turbine combined with point-absorber array and aquaculture cage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    16. Sergiienko, Nataliia Y. & Xue, Lei & da Silva, Leandro S.P. & Ding, Boyin & Cazzolato, Benjamin S., 2025. "Statistical analysis of floating hybrid wind–wave energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 401(PB).
    17. Xuebin Ma & Junfeng Li & Yucheng Ren & Reaihan E & Qiugang Wang & Jie Li & Sihui Huang & Mingguo Ma, 2022. "Performance and Economic Analysis of the Multi-Energy Complementary Heating System under Different Control Strategies in Cold Regions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-17, November.
    18. Wang, LiGuo & Yang, RuoTong & Li, Hui & Lin, Jing & Wen, ChangWen, 2024. "Investigating the influence of geometry on the performance of a wave-powered marine observation buoy: The wave-to-wire approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    19. Xiao, Han & Liu, Zhenwei & Zhang, Ran & Kelham, Andrew & Xu, Xiangyang & Wang, Xu, 2021. "Study of a novel rotational speed amplified dual turbine wheel wave energy converter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    20. Chen, Jinbao & Zeng, Quan & Zou, Yidong & Li, Shaojie & Zheng, Yang & Liu, Dong & Xiao, Zhihuai, 2024. "Intelligent robust control for nonlinear complex hydro-turbine regulation system based on a novel state space equation and dynamic feedback linearization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225012253. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.