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Development of an ocean wave energy harvester with a built‐in frequency conversion function
Author(s) -
Viet N.V.,
Wang Q.,
Carpinteri A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3851
Subject(s) - stator , acoustics , energy transformation , energy harvesting , bar (unit) , transducer , vibration , power (physics) , wind wave , energy conversion efficiency , mechanical energy , generator (circuit theory) , electricity generation , wave height , piezoelectricity , actuator , electrical engineering , physics , engineering , meteorology , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Summary The research develops a novel harvester associated with a built‐in frequency conversion device to harness energy from ocean waves based on the piezoelectric effect. The developed harvester consists of 2 generators driven by rotational motions converted from vertical motions by a rack and pinion actuator. The generator has a rotator with a magnetic bar attached to its blade tips and a stator. By this innovative design, the harvester is capable of converting ocean waves with low frequencies to mechanical vibrations with higher excitation frequencies of the piezoelectric transducer for increasing its energy conversion efficiency. A corresponding mathematical model for the harvester is developed to evaluate the generated power. The simulation results show that the generated power increases with increases in the ocean wave height, number of magnetic bars and decreases in the wave period, the distance between 2 opposite magnetic bars, and harvester's submerged part height. The power output is realized up to 260 W with the height, length, and width of the harvester being 1 m × 1 m × 1 m , at the ocean wave height and period being 2 m and 7 seconds, respectively.