Energy harvesting eel

J. J. Allen; A. J. Smits

doi:10.1006/jfls.2000.0355

Energy harvesting eel

J. J. Allen, A. J. Smits

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

527 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study examines the feasibility of placing a piezoelectric membrane or "eel" in the wake of a bluff body and using the von Kármán vortex street forming behind the bluff body to induce oscillations in the membrane. The oscillations result in a capacitive buildup in the membrane that provides a voltage source that can be used, for example, to trickle-charge a battery in a remote location. The aim of the hydrodynamic testing is to maximize the strain energy and mechanical power by coupling the unsteady flow field with the vibration of the membrane. The requirement of optimal coupling is best defined as a resonance condition where the membrane has a negligible damping effect on the original von Kármán vortex street.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	629-640
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Fluids and Structures
Volume	15
Issue number	3-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1006/jfls.2000.0355
State	Published - 2001

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Mechanical Engineering

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10.1006/jfls.2000.0355

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title = "Energy harvesting eel",

abstract = "The current study examines the feasibility of placing a piezoelectric membrane or {"}eel{"} in the wake of a bluff body and using the von K{\'a}rm{\'a}n vortex street forming behind the bluff body to induce oscillations in the membrane. The oscillations result in a capacitive buildup in the membrane that provides a voltage source that can be used, for example, to trickle-charge a battery in a remote location. The aim of the hydrodynamic testing is to maximize the strain energy and mechanical power by coupling the unsteady flow field with the vibration of the membrane. The requirement of optimal coupling is best defined as a resonance condition where the membrane has a negligible damping effect on the original von K{\'a}rm{\'a}n vortex street.",

author = "Allen, {J. J.} and Smits, {A. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by Ocean Power Technologies Inc., O$ce of Naval Research and DARPA.",

year = "2001",

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AU - Smits, A. J.

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AB - The current study examines the feasibility of placing a piezoelectric membrane or "eel" in the wake of a bluff body and using the von Kármán vortex street forming behind the bluff body to induce oscillations in the membrane. The oscillations result in a capacitive buildup in the membrane that provides a voltage source that can be used, for example, to trickle-charge a battery in a remote location. The aim of the hydrodynamic testing is to maximize the strain energy and mechanical power by coupling the unsteady flow field with the vibration of the membrane. The requirement of optimal coupling is best defined as a resonance condition where the membrane has a negligible damping effect on the original von Kármán vortex street.

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ER -

Energy harvesting eel

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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