Enhance vortices vibration with Y-type bluff body to decrease arousing wind speed and extend range for flag triboelectric energy harvester

The Internet of Things (IoT) has approached network construction by billions of intelligent wireless sensor nodes (WSNs). The major challenge is the desirable self-power generator by environment local energy. This paper presents a novel flag-type triboelectric nanogenerator with a Y-type bluff body that is YF-TENG to harvest wind energy. It exhibits a wider range and lower wind velocities for energy harvesting. The Y-type bluff body enhances YF-TENG vibration of the vortices shedding which is recorded by high-speed camera. The mounting position, designing dimension, and windward angle of the Y-type bluff body are investigated to enhance the flag vibration and the output triboelectric power. The test results show that the power is twice as much as the traditional flag-type triboelectric nanogenerator with a wind velocity of 6 m/s. Furthermore, a proof-of-concept application of the arrayed YF-TENG units supplies sufficient electric power for the wireless temperature and humidity sensor in a wind tunnel. It is envisioned that the enhancement of YF-TENG sensitivity and stability via a Y-type bluff body affords significant potential power for a large number of sensor nodes in a wide wind region.