Research on a Graded Self-Powered Vibration Sensor for Geological Drilling

Downhole vibration measurement is a key link for optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring operational safety; however, powering conventional vibration sensors reduces drilling efficiency and increases drilling costs. This paper introduces a triboelectric nanogenerator-based, graded, and self-powered vibration sensor designed for geological drilling, enabling the concurrent measurement of vibration frequency and amplitude. Experimental results show that the sensor has a measurement range for vibration frequency from 0 Hz to 11 Hz and can measure amplitude thresholds of 10 mm, 25 mm, 40 mm, and 55 mm. The measurement errors for both vibration frequency and amplitude are less than 3%, and it can operate stably under conditions of temperature below 150 °C and humidity below 90%, demonstrating good environmental adaptability. Furthermore, the sensor has self-powering capabilities, with a maximum output voltage reaching 11.8 V, a peak current of 28 nA, and a peak output power of 4 × 10−7 W into an external resistance of 6 × 107 Ω. In contrast to conventional downhole vibration sensors, this device integrates self-powering with graded amplitude detection, enhancing its suitability for real-world drilling applications.