Eelectric Energy Harvesting from Laminar Fluid Flow Don Jenket Peter Stone Kathy Li George Waksman

February 12, 2004Eelectric Introduction There is often a need for electrical energy where power lines cannot go Fluid flow is a persistent energy source even in the most remote locations We seek to fulfill the need for electricity in remote locations by creating a portable device to convert the mechanical energy of fluid flow into electrical energy

February 12, 2004Eelectric Energy Harvesting Eel Program Creates vorticity from laminar flow Vortices create waves in the tail of the device Mechanical waves in the tail are converted to electrical energy

February 12, 2004Eelectric Project Materials Piezoelectric Polymer Flow/Wave Tank Electrical Circuitry Water Barrier Electronic Component Housing

February 12, 2004Eelectric Piezoelectricity A property exhibited by certain materials that serves to couple mechanical strain and electric field The result of retained electrical poling within a material Can be used to interconvert mechanical and electrical energy

February 12, 2004Eelectric Choice of Piezoelectric Material

February 12, 2004Eelectric Design Modifications Size & shape of barrier Material for Barrier Electrodes Vortex deflectors Size & shape of tail Possible layering of piezoelectrics

February 12, 2004Eelectric Risks & Uncertainties Obtaining sufficient power What is the minimum water velocity needed to generate waves within a given sample? Sample durability Fatigue failure Environmental degradation

February 12, 2004Eelectric Testing and Simulation Dielectric Constant Young’s Modulus & Elasticity Fatigue Testing DSC for Glass Transition Temperature Contact Angle Measurements Simulate turbulent water environment

February 12, 2004Eelectric Project Goal To produce between 0.5 W and 1 W of power in gently flowing water Enough Power to light a LED Gently flowing velocity ~ 2 m/s Secondary Goal: Ability of generate power over a range of fluid velocities

February 12, 2004Eelectric Project Timeline