Research On Dielectric EAP Generation Characteristics

Dielectric EAP (Electro-active Polymer) as a kind of new intelligent materials, not only canconvert electrical energy into mechanical energy, but also work inversely. This paper studiesdielectric EAP power generation characteristics, which have some reference value for design andimplementation of generator.The principle of energy conversion of dielectric EAP and the work cycle of transducer areanalyzed. Then an annular transducer is designed and implemented. The electrical model oftransducer is established according its work characteristics. The relationships between equivalentseries resistance and stretch distance, insulation resistance and stretch distance are obtained. Therelationship between equivalent capacitance and stretch distance is measured by charging anddischarging method, and then is verified by experiment.The parameters of the constitutive equation of EAP are established by uniaxial tensile test. Theelectromechanical coupling and energy conversion of transducer is studied and analyzed. The tensileand retracted force, stress and strain of EAP are obtained by ABAQUS using USER SUBROUTINEto simulate the work process, and then compared with experiment. The inputted electric energy ismeasured by experiment, to compare the two charging ways advantages and disadvantages. A reverseparallel structure with two transducers is proposed in order to make the most of inputted mechanicalenergy.A generator device using reverse parallel structure with two transducers as basic component isdesigned and implemented, which driven by six parallel slider-crank mechanisms. And switchingcircuit is designed. The output voltage curve is measured by experiment. Generator can output68.3mJ of electric energy in a work cycle when loads1500V bias voltage and rotates by0.5π rad/s.