Generate electricity from chewing, it is possible!
A team of Canadian researchers has developed a prototype piezoelectric chin able to collect energy from the movements of the jaw. Although it is not viable, the concept demonstrates the possibility of power small electronic devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Recently in South Korea, researchers presented a prototype piezoelectric nano-generator capable of powering a pacemaker due to muscle movements which would be fixed. Recall that a piezoelectric material produces electricity when subjected to (and vice versa) mechanical stress. It is precisely from this material that a team from a specialized engineering university located in Montreal, (ETS) in Canada has developed a method to obtain energy from the movements of the jaw.
This is a prototype chin made of piezoelectric composite material that has the potential to generate enough electricity to power small electronic devices such as cochlear implants wireless headphones, earphones or. "The jaw movements that occur when a person chews gum, eating or talking are the most promising to raise the energy level of the muscle activity of head," the researchers said in their paper published in the journal Materials and Structures smart. They calculated that for a typical day, jaw movements can produce up to 580 joules, equivalent to 7 milliwatts.
STU chin is made of a layer of piezoelectric fiber composite (PFC) incorporating the electrodes in a polymer adhesive matrix. This reacts to the movement of the jaw. This strip is placed under the chin, which is maintained by elastic connected to headphones. The PFC band is itself connected to a load resistor and a digital multimeter.
To prove their concept, the researchers asked a tester chewed gum for 60 seconds. Maximum energy harvested up to 18 mW, but the average was 10 mW. However, the ETS team admits that "the amount of energy generated by the system is not able to be used in practical applications."
One goal is to increase the number of piezoelectric elements to produce enough to power small portable electronics electricity. This can be done by superimposing several layers of PFC. Twenty layers would be enough to power an electronic hearing protection scientists say. But it is likely that ergonomics will cause greater problems, because the band would measure 6 mm thick. To ensure that a person can use this type of chin is free and attracts no prying eyes will not be easy ...
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