A Marine Experiment Using Dielectric Elastomer Generators and Comparative Study with Actual Measured Values and Theoretical Values

Power generators using dielectric elastomer (DE) transducers are inexpensive, highly efficient, lightweight, stackable, and also easy to install. Therefore, it is considered optimal for an eco-energy society and is attracting attention as a renewable energy device. In particular, DE wave power generators are characterized by the fact that it is not limited by the direction and size of waves, which is a problem with existing wave power generation. This paper presents an accurate method for measuring the energy generated by a DE generator (DEG) and compares it with the theory value obtained by calculation. The electrode materials actually used in this study were a variety of carbon-based materials (including muti-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and singe-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)), and the performance of DEs using these materials was compared. Furthermore, ocean experiments in actual sea areas using DEG were also conducted, and the energy conversion rate was calculated based on the electrical results.