Contact
    Start Publications Development of an Energy Harvesting System for the Conversion ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Development of an Energy Harvesting System for the Conversion of Mechanical Energy of Human Movement into Electrical Energy and Its Integration into High Performance Wearable Clothing

    Year: 2023

    Journal: Processes, Volume 11, 2023-11, page 3056

    Authors: Kukle, Silvija; Blūms, Juris; Kataševs, Aleksejs; Baķe, Ieva; Jurķāns, Vilnis; Gorņevs, Ilgvars; Terļecka, Gaļina; Zelča, Zane; Okss, Aleksandrs

    Keywords: cotton knitwear; electromagnetic energy converter; smart clothing; sol–gel technology

    In many smart textile development studies, sensors and electro-conductive yarns have been widely investigated and used as essential components, especially in the fields of medicine, sport, work wear, and special applications. Wearable sensors provide a means to monitor the wearer’s health through physiological measurements in a natural setting or are used to detect potential hazards and alert users and/or caretakers. The aim of the research is to develop a prototype of wearable electronics that consists of high-performance clothing with an integrated energy harvesting system for converting the mechanical energy of human movements into electrical energy. Within the framework of the research, a system for determining human physiological and/or environmental parameters and transmitting data was developed and integrated into clothing modified with sol–gel technology for indoor and outdoor use. Although the created flat inductive elements of the energy harvesting system retain their performance during the hydrothermal treatment process, at the same time, the other elements of the smart clothing system (especially electro-conductive yarns) rapidly lose their electrical conductivity. The modified knitwear provided a longer time between washing cycles to protect the embedded wearable electronics, and the impact of surface modification with sol–gel on wearing comfort was evaluated.
    View publication