摘要 |
Various micro-transducers incorporating piezoelectric materials for converting energy in one form to useful energy in another form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer can be operated either as a micro-heat engine, converting thermal energy into electrical energy, or as a micro-heat pump, consuming electrical energy to transfer thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source to a high-temperature heat sink. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer is used to convert the kinetic energy of an oscillating or vibrating body on which the micro-transducer is placed into useful electrical energy. A piezoelectric micro-transducer also is used to extract work from a pressurized stream of fluid. Also disclosed are a micro-internal combustion engine and a micro-heat engine based on the Rankine cycle in which a single fluid serves as a working fluid and fuel. |
申请人 |
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION;RICHARDS, ROBERT, F.;BAHR, DAVID, F.;RICHARDS, CECILIA, D. |
发明人 |
RICHARDS, ROBERT, F.;BAHR, DAVID, F.;RICHARDS, CECILIA, D. |