FLOW ENERGY PIEZOELECTRIC BIMORPH NOZZLE HARVESTER

摘要

A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.

主权项

1. A flow energy harvesting device configured to be integrated with a fluid flow path of a primary pipe, the flow energy harvesting device comprising a harvester pipe comprising:
a flow inlet that receives flow from the primary pipe at one end and a flow outlet at a different part of the harvester pipe that returns the flow into the primary pipe; a flow diverter fitted within the harvester pipe and coupled to the flow inlet and the flow outlet, the flow diverter being configured to redirect the fluid flow from the main pipe through the harvester pipe and comprising
an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet at a first end,a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe, the flow constriction section having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape and configured to create oscillatory pressure amplitude resulting from the reduced flow opening within the harvester pipe, andan outlet section coupled to the constriction section at a first end and coupled to the flow outlet at an opposite second end, the outlet section having an opening matching a widest section of the spline shape at the constriction section and configured to allow the fluid flow to exit the harvester pipe through the flow outlet; and a piezoelectric actuator comprising a cantilever beam having a free end, wherein the free end extends from the inlet section in the direction of fluid flow at least through the constriction section and the constriction point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point from the inlet section induces vibrations in the free end sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect in the piezoelectric actuator and to generate electrical power.