In a significant advancement towards sustainable consumer technology, Islam Uddin Shipu and his team have developed an innovative self-sustaining cup that heats and cools beverages without relying on external power sources. This device harnesses waste mechanical movement using principles derived from triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).
The innovative device, designed using SolidWorks, operates through simple rotational motion via a hand crank, efficiently maintaining beverage temperatures with renewable mechanical energy. “Our main goal was to reduce reliance on external electricity or batteries,” stated Shipu, emphasizing the project’s focus on promoting sustainable and energy-efficient practices. This eco-friendly invention offers a viable alternative to traditional appliances that depend on fossil fuels and generate carbon emissions.
In the substantial U.S. market for beverage temperature control, valued at over $1 billion, Shipu’s TENG cup represents a significant advancement. With Americans spending roughly $3 billion on heating and cooling beverages annually, this invention could cut energy use by up to 70%, potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars each year. If just 5% of the market adopted this technology, it could lead to savings exceeding $200 million annually.
Shipu’s team is now focused on refining and commercializing the cup, aiming to transform beverage consumption habits and encourage the adoption of more sustainable technologies across various sectors. This innovative project holds the promise of not only altering how consumers interact with their drinks but also leading a shift towards greater environmental responsibility.
Islam Uddin Shipu, a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) alumnus with a master’s degree in chemistry, is at the forefront of a sustainable technology movement with his latest invention—a self-regulating cup that heats or cools beverages without external electrical or battery power. This innovation, centered around the use of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), taps into the unused mechanical movements to control beverage temperature effectively. Designed using SolidWorks, the device operates on simple rotational motion through a hand crank, showcasing a shift towards renewable mechanical energy.
