Triboelectric–thermoelectric hybrid energy harvesting technology for transmission line environmental energy harvesting

With the development of smart grids and wireless sensor networks, the power supply demand for distributed sensors has increased. This study presents a hybrid energy harvesting approach combining triboelectric and thermoelectric effects, integrated with a passive energy management circuit to optimize thermal and wind energy capture. A hybrid energy harvesting model combining a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and a μ-thermoelectric generator (μTEG) is constructed, and an integrated prototype with a compact structure and high encapsulation efficiency is developed. Experimental data demonstrate that the voltage of the TENG is approximately 69.4 V, with a current of 8.27 μA, while the output voltage and current of the μTEG are 6.6 V and 384 mA, respectively. By utilizing the energy management circuit, successful charging of the energy storage unit is achieved, thereby validating the feasibility and effectiveness of the hybrid energy harvester in simultaneously collecting thermal energy and wind energy. Moreover, this study compares the charging capabilities of single energy harvesting devices with those of the hybrid energy harvester, further emphasizing the advantages of hybrid energy harvesting. This achievement offers an innovative and practical technical solution to the power supply challenges faced by sensor nodes near transmission lines.