402
S. Chiba et al.
Fig. 28.7 DE wind power
system installed on the roof
of a building
Flag-type power generation
Fig. 28.8 Illustration of DE
power generation system and
8 cm DE diaphragm
cartridge
Floor board
Diaphragm type DE
Electric control circuit
Carbon electrode
For green buildings, more wind power can be generated on the roofs of buildings
because of their height, making them optimal for DE wind power generation, as
shown in Fig. 28.7. The DE generator is suitable for installation on the roof of a
building because it is freely selectable in shape and very light in weight. In this case,
by using transparent DEs, it is possible to install a wind power generator without
damaging the landscape around it.
We are also researching a combined system of existing wind turbines and DEs.
Existing wind generators cannot turn their rotors in the direction of the wind by
themselves. Therefore, the direction of the rotor can be changed by the DE actuator.
In addition, in order for existing wind power generators to generate electricity efficiently, winds of 8 m/s or more are required. Since the DE can generate the power
efficiently even at relatively low winds, this power can be used to drive a DE motor
and rotate existing wind power rotors to generate power more efficiently with slower
wind.
Moreover, we can get energy recovery from vibration and/or heat accumulation
on roads or building floors, waste heat and wastewater from buildings.
As a system to generate electricity from foot traffic, an experiment using a piezoelectric device with a size of 4 m × 4 m was carried out at the Tokyo station by
JR East Japan in 2006. However, it was unfortunately not an efficient system at all
(Chiba 2019b). The DE system is considerably more efficient than the piezoelectric
system (Yuan et al. 2016; Chiba 2008; Ashida et al. 2000; Zurkinden et al. 2007; JeanMistral et al. 2010). In our latest experiments, the power generation was employed
using four DE diaphragm cartridges (0.35 g) having diameters of 8 cm. This system
S. Chiba et al.
Fig. 28.7 DE wind power
system installed on the roof
of a building
Flag-type power generation
Fig. 28.8 Illustration of DE
power generation system and
8 cm DE diaphragm
cartridge
Floor board
Diaphragm type DE
Electric control circuit
Carbon electrode
For green buildings, more wind power can be generated on the roofs of buildings
because of their height, making them optimal for DE wind power generation, as
shown in Fig. 28.7. The DE generator is suitable for installation on the roof of a
building because it is freely selectable in shape and very light in weight. In this case,
by using transparent DEs, it is possible to install a wind power generator without
damaging the landscape around it.
We are also researching a combined system of existing wind turbines and DEs.
Existing wind generators cannot turn their rotors in the direction of the wind by
themselves. Therefore, the direction of the rotor can be changed by the DE actuator.
In addition, in order for existing wind power generators to generate electricity efficiently, winds of 8 m/s or more are required. Since the DE can generate the power
efficiently even at relatively low winds, this power can be used to drive a DE motor
and rotate existing wind power rotors to generate power more efficiently with slower
wind.
Moreover, we can get energy recovery from vibration and/or heat accumulation
on roads or building floors, waste heat and wastewater from buildings.
As a system to generate electricity from foot traffic, an experiment using a piezoelectric device with a size of 4 m × 4 m was carried out at the Tokyo station by
JR East Japan in 2006. However, it was unfortunately not an efficient system at all
(Chiba 2019b). The DE system is considerably more efficient than the piezoelectric
system (Yuan et al. 2016; Chiba 2008; Ashida et al. 2000; Zurkinden et al. 2007; JeanMistral et al. 2010). In our latest experiments, the power generation was employed
using four DE diaphragm cartridges (0.35 g) having diameters of 8 cm. This system