Micro Piezoelectric Windmill
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Research Advisor
Duan, Lian, 1983-
Advisor's Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Funding Source
University of Missouri Research Board
Abstract
The goal of this research is to develop a novel small-scale piezoelectric windmill that efficiently harvests energy from ambient wind flow by constructing and testing a model, combining computer FEA, wind-tunnel experiments, and field tests to analyze its performance. This windmill may be used to power various wireless sensors, including those widely used for monitoring structural health, border intrusion, weather conditions, and security. Existing small-scale piezoelectric windmill designs typically have complicated structural motion systems and low output electric power densities (power per PZT volume), and cannot be used for random wind flows. Our invention is designed to overcome these drawbacks. It features simpler structures for the motion system and significantly higher power density compared with similar models. It also has the added advantage of operating on fluid flows from arbitrary directions, ideal for harvesting energy from natural random flows.
Biography
Therese Galbraith is a senior from Jefferson City studying Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Interested in sustainability and renewable energy, she has enjoyed working as a research assistant on a wind energy project under Dr. Lian Duan since spring, 2015. Therese has completed a co-op at Pella Corporation, where she worked on developing their home automation line, and she will be returning to Pella where she will work with the Environmental Energy and Sustainability Team in the summer of 2016.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Proposal Oral Applicant
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Turner Room
Presentation Date
11 Apr 2016, 1:40 pm - 2:00 pm
Micro Piezoelectric Windmill
Turner Room
The goal of this research is to develop a novel small-scale piezoelectric windmill that efficiently harvests energy from ambient wind flow by constructing and testing a model, combining computer FEA, wind-tunnel experiments, and field tests to analyze its performance. This windmill may be used to power various wireless sensors, including those widely used for monitoring structural health, border intrusion, weather conditions, and security. Existing small-scale piezoelectric windmill designs typically have complicated structural motion systems and low output electric power densities (power per PZT volume), and cannot be used for random wind flows. Our invention is designed to overcome these drawbacks. It features simpler structures for the motion system and significantly higher power density compared with similar models. It also has the added advantage of operating on fluid flows from arbitrary directions, ideal for harvesting energy from natural random flows.
