Energy Harvesting in Flows Using Parasitic Aeroelastic Structures and Nonlinear Switching Electronics

研究目标和方法：研究目标是开发一种新的自供电装置的能量收集方法。如果可以开发不需要电力的传感电路，那么直接导致维护和生产成本的布线量将大大减少。有人建议开发能量收集器来创建传感器网络，该网络可以不断报告各种关键结构的健康状况。建议的方法将开发利用气动弹性系统和智能电力电子电路从流体流动中获取能量的方法。利用压电结构，这些装置将能够将流动诱导的振动转化为可储存的电能。将开发非线性开关电路，以提高传感器机电功率提取的效率。智能优点：这项工作还代表着对自供电系统迄今尚未开发的能源的基础研究，即流体、空气和水的运动。这项工作的结果将为工程师提供分析工具，以确定如何从流体流动中获取能量。这可能有助于为未来和现有的基础设施开发基于条件的维护系统。广泛影响：该项目将通过与当地初中和高中教师合作创建教学模块来向K-12学生传播信息。这些单元将在网上向学校提供，以演示从环境中获取能源的想法。当地教师将被邀请与他们的学生一起参加康奈尔大学的一个研讨会，帮助创建供K-12课堂使用的课程和实验。

Research Objectives and Approach: The research objective is to develop a novel energy harvesting method for self-powered devices. If one could develop sensing circuits that required no power, then the amount of wiring which leads directly to maintenance and production costs could be greatly reduced. It is proposed to develop energy harvesters to create sensor networks that could constantly report on the health of a variety of critical structures. The proposed approach will develop methods of power harvesting from fluid flow using aeroelastic systems and smart power electronic circuits. Using piezoelectric structures, these devices will be capable of converting flow-induced vibrations into storable electrical energy. Nonlinear switching circuits will be developed to enhance the efficiency of transducer electromechanical power extraction.Intellectual Merit: This work also represents fundamental research into a heretofore untapped source of energy for self-powered systems, i.e., the movement of fluid air and water. The results of this work will give engineers the analytical tools to determine how to harvest power from fluid flows. This could aid in the development of condition-based systems of maintenance for future and existing infrastructures.Broader impact: This project will disseminate information for K-12 students by creating teaching modules in cooperation with local middle and high school teachers. These modules will be made available to schools on the web to demonstrate the idea of energy harvesting from the environment. Local teachers will be invited to a workshop at Cornell with their students to help create lessons and experiments for use in K-12 classrooms.