IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v74y2014icp99-108.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance of small-scale bladeless electromagnetic energy harvesters driven by water or air

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao, Dan
  • Ji, Chenzhen
  • Teo, C.
  • Li, Shihuai

Abstract

In this work, three different-diameter energy harvesters driven by turbulent air flow and rainwater are designed. Experiments are conducted first on the air-driven harvesters to gain insight on the energy conversion process. Unlike conventional blade-involved systems, the present setup involves using a number of co-rotating compact discs. They are closely spaced and attached to a central shaft, on which a magnet is attached. As the air flow excitations are set to 4 different levels, the harvester performances are measured in both open- and closed-loop electrical circuits. The results show that approximately 0.3 W electricity is produced. Parametric analysis is then conducted to highlight the effect of the system parameters, such as disc diameter, number, exhaust flow rates and inter-disc distance on its performance and to gain insight on its optimum design. Numerical simulations are then conducted to understand the flow physics. Finally, a 40 mm harvester is used to harness energy from rainwater. Compared with the same size air-driven harvester, the rainwater-driven one is working more efficiently in terms of the overall energy conversion efficiency. The maximum electric current is about 4.5 mA. A practical demonstration is then conducted by using the electricity generated to power a red light-emitting diode (LED).

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Dan & Ji, Chenzhen & Teo, C. & Li, Shihuai, 2014. "Performance of small-scale bladeless electromagnetic energy harvesters driven by water or air," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 99-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:74:y:2014:i:c:p:99-108
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.04.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544214004174
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2014.04.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bisio, G & Rubatto, G, 1999. "Sondhauss and Rijke oscillations—thermodynamic analysis, possible applications and analogies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 117-131.
    2. Vocca, Helios & Neri, Igor & Travasso, Flavio & Gammaitoni, Luca, 2012. "Kinetic energy harvesting with bistable oscillators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 771-776.
    3. Xiao, Jinsheng & Yang, Tianqi & Li, Peng & Zhai, Pengcheng & Zhang, Qingjie, 2012. "Thermal design and management for performance optimization of solar thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 33-38.
    4. Zhao, Dan & Ji, Chenzhen & Li, Shihuai & Li, Junwei, 2014. "Thermodynamic measurement and analysis of dual-temperature thermoacoustic oscillations for energy harvesting application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 517-526.
    5. Gou, Xiaolong & Xiao, Heng & Yang, Suwen, 2010. "Modeling, experimental study and optimization on low-temperature waste heat thermoelectric generator system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3131-3136, October.
    6. Arifujjaman, Md. & Iqbal, M. Tariq & Quaicoe, John E., 2008. "Energy capture by a small wind-energy conversion system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 41-51, January.
    7. Perković, Luka & Silva, Pedro & Ban, Marko & Kranjčević, Nenad & Duić, Neven, 2013. "Harvesting high altitude wind energy for power production: The concept based on Magnus’ effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 151-160.
    8. Chun, Wongee & Oh, Seung Jin & Lee, Yoon Joon & Lim, Sang Hoon & Surathu, Rohit & Chen, Kuan, 2012. "Acoustic waves generated by a TA (ThermoAcoustic) laser pair," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 541-545.
    9. Markides, Christos N. & Smith, Thomas C.B., 2011. "A dynamic model for the efficiency optimization of an oscillatory low grade heat engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 6967-6980.
    10. Moldenhauer, Stefan & Stark, Tilman & Holtmann, Christoph & Thess, André, 2013. "The pulse tube engine: A numerical and experimental approach on its design, performance, and operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 703-715.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Xinyan & Zhao, Dan & Yang, Xinglin, 2017. "Experimental and theoretical bifurcation study of a nonlinear standing-wave thermoacoustic system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 553-562.
    2. Zhang, Zhiguo & Zhao, Dan & Li, S.H. & Ji, C.Z. & Li, X.Y. & Li, J.W., 2015. "Transient energy growth of acoustic disturbances in triggering self-sustained thermoacoustic oscillations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 370-381.
    3. Zhao, Dan & Ji, Chenzhen & Li, Shihuai & Li, Junwei, 2014. "Thermodynamic measurement and analysis of dual-temperature thermoacoustic oscillations for energy harvesting application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 517-526.
    4. Wang, Kai & Sun, Daming & Xu, Ya & Zou, Jiang & Zhang, Xiaobin & Qiu, Limin, 2014. "Operating characteristics of thermoacoustic compression based on alternating to direct gas flow conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 338-348.
    5. Cui, Tengfei & Xuan, Yimin & Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Li, Dianhong, 2017. "Experimental investigation on potential of a concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 94-102.
    6. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    7. Ali, Haider & Yilbas, Bekir Sami & Al-Sharafi, Abdullah, 2017. "Innovative design of a thermoelectric generator with extended and segmented pin configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 367-379.
    8. Tian, Hua & Sun, Xiuxiu & Jia, Qi & Liang, Xingyu & Shu, Gequn & Wang, Xu, 2015. "Comparison and parameter optimization of a segmented thermoelectric generator by using the high temperature exhaust of a diesel engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 121-130.
    9. Sun, Daming & Xu, Ya & Chen, Haijun & Shen, Qie & Zhang, Xuejun & Qiu, Limin, 2013. "Acoustic characteristics of a mean flow acoustic engine capable of wind energy harvesting: Effect of resonator tube length," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 361-368.
    10. Qiao, Guofu & Sun, Guodong & Li, Hui & Ou, Jinping, 2014. "Heterogeneous tiny energy: An appealing opportunity to power wireless sensor motes in a corrosive environment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 87-96.
    11. Wu, Gang & Jin, Xiao & Li, Qiangtian & Zhao, He & Ahmed, I.R. & Fu, Jianqin, 2016. "Experimental and numerical definition of the extreme heater locations in a closed-open standing wave thermoacoustic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 320-330.
    12. Chun, Wongee & Oh, Seung Jin & Lee, Yoon Joon & Lim, Sang Hoon & Surathu, Rohit & Chen, Kuan, 2012. "Acoustic waves generated by a TA (ThermoAcoustic) laser pair," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 541-545.
    13. Shen, Zu-Guo & Wu, Shuang-Ying & Xiao, Lan & Yin, Gang, 2016. "Theoretical modeling of thermoelectric generator with particular emphasis on the effect of side surface heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 367-379.
    14. Zhang, Zhiguo & Zhao, Dan & Dobriyal, R. & Zheng, Youqu & Yang, Wenming, 2015. "Theoretical and experimental investigation of thermoacoustics transfer function," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 131-142.
    15. Wang, Yuchao & Dai, Chuanshan & Wang, Shixue, 2013. "Theoretical analysis of a thermoelectric generator using exhaust gas of vehicles as heat source," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1171-1180.
    16. Markides, Christos N. & Gupta, Ajay, 2013. "Experimental investigation of a thermally powered central heating circulator: Pumping characteristics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 132-146.
    17. Soprani, S. & Haertel, J.H.K. & Lazarov, B.S. & Sigmund, O. & Engelbrecht, K., 2016. "A design approach for integrating thermoelectric devices using topology optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 49-64.
    18. Yazawa, Kazuaki & Koh, Yee Rui & Shakouri, Ali, 2013. "Optimization of thermoelectric topping combined steam turbine cycles for energy economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 1-9.
    19. Kim, Hoon & Kim, Woochul, 2015. "A way of achieving a low $/W and a decent power output from a thermoelectric device," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 205-211.
    20. Ming, T. & Wu, Y. & Peng, C. & Tao, Y., 2015. "Thermal analysis on a segmented thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 388-399.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:74:y:2014:i:c:p:99-108. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.