Design and Analysis of a Wind Energy Harvesting Circuit Using Piezoelectric Polymers

<p>This thesis investigates a relatively new method for harvesting wind energy by using flexible piezoelectric polymers with additional sails to increase their ability to harvest wind energy. This paper also introduces a new topology deemed the “stacked buck” that allows for multiple inputs to a system with a single output. Derivations and analysis detail the workings of the “stacked buck” with a laboratory test to show a working model. This paper also reports another experiment done in a wind tunnel to analyze the capability of the piezoelectric polymers as sources to the “stacked buck” topology with measurements of the power output. The results of this thesis demonstrate that because the design is very modular, it is possible to scale the proposed wind energy harvesting system for small power applications.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Electrical Engineering

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Thornton, Jameson J

Contributors dc:contributor

• Taufik

• Energy Harvesting
• Piezoelectric
• Wind
• Power Electronics
• Buck
• Stacked Buck
• Electrical and Electronics
• Power and Energy

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2011.47

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-1519