SBIR Phase I: Advanced Electrospray Atomization and Space Charge Modeling for Electrohydrodynamic Wind Energy Conversion

这一小型企业创新研究第一阶段研究项目将通过为设计高效带电液滴发电机奠定科学基础，支持商业上可行的电流体动力风能转换系统的开发。电-流体动力风能转换(EHD-WEC)是一种基于非涡轮机的风能发电方式，利用带电粒子在电压梯度下驱动。最少的活动部件和基本的简单性使EHD-WEC具有颠覆性地比机械同行更轻、更便宜的潜力。有机会应用最近开发的高效液滴生成手段，如先进的电喷雾和基于MEMS的电喷嘴微制造，以及实时系统控制，以制造具有显著正净能量平衡的系统。以可再生、非化石燃料为基础的发电方法在世界范围内都很受关注。由于人口增长和新兴经济体的发展，电力需求预计将稳步上升。与此同时，随着现有供应面临压力，石油和其他化石燃料的价格预计将上涨。此外，人们对碳中性能源也有广泛的兴趣。如果EHD-WEC大幅降低风力发电成本的潜力能够实现，其更广泛的影响将是全球性的；为世界提供可再生能源，并创造许多新的？绿色？美国的就业机会，以及减少国家对外国化石燃料供应商的依赖。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will support development of a commercially viable electro-hydrodynamic wind energy conversion system by developing the science base for design of a high-efficiency charged droplet generator. Electro-hydrodynamic wind energy conversion (EHD-WEC) is a non-turbine based means of producing electricity from wind employing charged particles driven against a voltage gradient. A minimum of moving parts and fundamental simplicity gives EHD-WEC the potential to be disruptively lighter and cheaper than its mechanical counterparts. The opportunity exists to apply recently developed efficient droplet generation means, such as advanced electrospray and MEMS-based microfabrication of electrospray nozzles, as well as real-time system controls, to craft a system with significantly positive net energy balance. Renewable, non-fossil fuel based approaches to electrical generation are of interest worldwide. Demand for electricity is projected to rise steadily due to population growth and development in emerging economies. Simultaneously the price of oil and other fossil fuels is projected to rise as pressure is put on existing supplies. In addition, there is widespread interest in carbon neutral energy sources. If EHD-WEC's potential to significantly lower the cost of generating electricity from wind can be realized, the broader impacts will be global in nature; providing the world with a renewable source of energy, and creating many new ?green? jobs in the US, as well as reducing national dependence on foreign fossil fuel providers.