Study on weak environmental energy harvesting by shearer

Abstract

Energy harvesting is the process of converting external environmental energy into electrical energy. This technology has certain development potential in realizing self-powered low-power wireless sensors. At present, there are few researches on the adaptability of energy harvesting systems in terms of the application of energy harvesting technology in shears. Therefore, it is unable to achieve reliable applications. In order to solve the above problems, based on the characteristics of the working environment of shearer, this paper analyzes the feasibility of the weak environmental energy being harvested by shearer and the feasibility of converting the energy into electrical energy. It is pointed out that light energy, temperature difference heat energy and vibration energy are the three typical environmental energies that exist in shearer. Theses three energies have different adaptability due to different energy characteristics. Light energy has poor adaptability and is not suitable as an environmental energy source in energy harvesting technology. Temperature difference energy source is stable and the thermoelectric power generation device is easy to install. This energy has certain adaptability. However, the thermoelectric power generation device needs to be installed in the main heat producing part of shearer, and the installation location has certain restrictions. The total amount of vibration energy is large, and the piezoelectric power generation device has a simple structure. Vibration energy is less affected by the working environment factors and has a strong adaptability without installation location restrictions.

Keywords

• shearer; energy harvesting; adaptability analysis; light energy; temperature difference energy; vibration energy; low-power wireless sensor