Funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment
AssigneesAgency for Defense Development, Andong National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
InventorsChee-Young Joh, Hee-Seon Seo, Jong-Kil Lee, Hyun-Du Jin, Jin-Hyo Ahn
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Abstract
A funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment includes a piezoelectric element configured to be installed at a seabed and to be moved by a fluid in order to convert vibration energy into electricity. The funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment further includes a fluid collector coupled to the piezoelectric element and configured to increase velocity of the fluid flowing toward the piezoelectric element. The harvesting equipment exhibits improved energy conversion efficiency, while simplifying the shape of the harvesting equipment.
Claims8
A funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment comprising:
- a piezoelectric element configured to be moved by a fluid in order to convert vibration energy into electricity;
- and
- a fluid collector comprising an inlet portion configured to receive the fluid and an outlet portion configured to discharge the fluid, the fluid collector comprising a fluid channel between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the fluid collector configured to increase velocity of the fluid flowing toward the piezoelectric element,
- the piezoelectric element passing through the fluid collector and comprising:
- a first portion configured to be fixed and disposed between the inlet and outlet portions of the fluid collector;
- and
- a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction of the fluid flowing, the second portion of the piezoelectric element located outside the fluid channel of the fluid collector and configured to be moved by the fluid flowing out of the fluid channel of the fluid collector through the outlet portion.
A funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment comprising:
- a cable connected to a sensor node configured to be fixedly installed at a surface of a seabed in order to construct an underwater sensor network;
- a piezoelectric element having one side coupled to the cable, the piezoelectric element configured to be moved by a fluid in order to convert vibration energy into electricity;
- and
- a fluid collector comprising an inlet portion configured to receive the fluid and an outlet portion configured to discharge the fluid, the fluid collector comprising a fluid channel between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the fluid collector configured to increase velocity of the fluid flowing toward the piezoelectric element,
- the piezoelectric element passing through the fluid collector and comprising:
- a first portion configured to be fixed and disposed between the inlet and outlet portions of the fluid collector;
- and
- a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction of the fluid flowing, the second portion of the piezoelectric element located outside the fluid channel of the fluid collector and configured to be moved by the fluid flowing out of the fluid channel of the fluid collector through the outlet portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.