Piezoelectric energy harvesting: vortex induced vibrations in plants, soap films, and arrays of cylinders

The goal of this project was to develop a wind generator that utilizes the collective oscillating motion of multiple piezoelectric devices. These devices would be an alternative to rotating turbine designs for low power generation, for use in applications such as remote power generation. A series of inexpensive devices were developed that harvested energy from vortex shedding, both as independent and cooperative devices. The behavior of single devices was studied, but more interestingly, the way that multiple devices arranged together can increase power output was studied. It was shown that individual devices could harvest more energy if they were placed as specific positions relative to the vortices shed by devices upstream. Through investigating the behavior of these devices, fundamental principles of the phenomenon of vortex induced vibrations were explored. Methods were developed to measure the amplitude and frequency of these vibrations in a wind tunnel, through high speed video and correlations that were found between oscillation and power output from the piezoelectric transducers. Similarly, vortex induced vibrations were explored in an approximation of a two dimensional system in a flowing soap film.

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Georgia Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Hobbs, William Bradford

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hu, David L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Alben, Silas
• Alexeev, Alexander

• Flow induced vibrations
• VIV
• Soap film tunnels
• Piezoelectric transducers
• Remote sensing

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1853/33811

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.gatech.edu:1853/33811