A self-powered delineator includes a wind-powered rotatable module; a first piezoelectric energy generator module for generating electrical energy; a second piezoelectric energy generator module for generating electrical energy; and a light-emitter. The wind-powered rotatable module includes one or more first magnets spacedly arranged around a rotation shaft. The first piezoelectric energy generator module includes one or more first piezoelectric elements, and one or more second magnets disposed on the at least one first piezoelectric element. The second piezoelectric energy generator module includes at least one elastic base extending radially from a fixed shaft in a cantilever manner; and at least one second piezoelectric element on the at least one elastic base.

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.

A nanofriction power generation device with spiral vibrating balls and a buoy body thereof-includes an inner spiral barrel, an outer spiral barrel sleeved outside the inner spiral barrel, hollow balls between the two spiral barrels, an electric energy storage device contained in the inner spiral barrel, and a buoy barrel for containing the outer spiral barrel. The outer wall of the inner spiral barrel and the inner wall of the outer spiral barrel are respectively provided with first spiral tracks and second spiral tracks extending from one end to the opposite other end. The inner spiral barrel is in the outer spiral barrel, and the first spiral tracks and the second spiral tracks have a one-to-one correspondence and form spiral channels. Nanofriction electric generator films are attached to an outer surface of each hollow ball and an inner wall of each spiral channel.

A transportation vehicle may be equipped with electrical energy harvesting systems to harvest electrical energy for use. By way of example, in the transportation vehicle, a Venturi system may be used to receive an air flow and the speed of the air flow increase in a constricted area of the Venturi system, the air flow containing a large amount of kinetic energy. A plurality of electrical energy harvesting systems is disposed in the Venturi system and is configured to convert the kinetic energy contained in the accelerated air flow into electrical energy that can be used to power on-board electronics as well as one or more on-board batteries in the transportation vehicle, as the transportation vehicle is in motion.

A method and apparatus for producing electricity from a combination of three sources: ocean waves, wind and solar, includes converting an upward and downward motion of a buoyant platform into a rotational motion of a shaft using a plurality of blades mounted to the shaft, the blades causing the shaft to rotate from internal wind energy as the blades move up and down within a cavity. The shaft is coupled to a generator for producing electricity. A wind turbine is mounted to the buoyant platform for converting wind energy into electricity. Further, solar panels are included, for example, mounted to the buoyant platform and/or turbine blades of the wind turbine, the solar panels also generate electricity when exposed to light.

A floating piezoelectric assembly for generating energy from waves is provided. The assembly includes a flexible buoyant planar member, an elastic planar member coupled to the same, and two spaced-apart layers of piezoelectric elements extending on and firmly attaching to the top and bottom of the elastic planar member. The elements of a first of the layers are staggered relative to the elements of a second of the layers. The assembly includes a weighted planar member coupled to the buoyant planar member. According to a second aspect, the assembly comprises a first plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart elongate buoyant planar members, a second plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart elongate buoyant planar members, and a series of piezoelectric elements extending between the first and second plurality of buoyant planar members. The assembly further includes a plurality of elastic planar members to which respective ones of the piezoelectric elements couple.

Methods for creating undulating structures are disclosed in which an elastic sheet and a rigid restraining member having different curvatures are joined. The structures incorporate stopping members, such as stopped grooves, to manage the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet. The joint is such that the transverse deformations may migrate along the undulating structure in a coordinated, wave, either to gather kinetic energy, or to propel the structure relative to a fluid. To facilitate such a wave, the elastic sheet can be joined to the retaining member via passive stopping members that oscillate about their points of attachment to the retaining member. These are also constructed to limit the elastic sheet from reverting to its original configuration. The retaining member can be annular structures, and the elastic sheet members can be tubular. Stopping members can be actuated to power the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet to oscillate.

A wind turbine rotor blade is provided including a reinforcement element embedded in the body of the rotor blade and extending in a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade; a number of piezo-electric transducers arranged between the leading edge of the rotor blade and the reinforcement element; a number of piezo-electric transducers arranged between the reinforcement element and the trailing edge of the rotor blade; and a connector arrangement configured to apply an excitation signal to any one of the piezo-electric transducers, and to transmit a sensed signal from any one of the piezo-electric transducers to an evaluation module. A wind turbine including a number of such rotor blades and a method of measuring strain in a reinforcement element arranged in such a rotor blade is also provided.

Systems and methods for use in capturing energy from natural resources. In one form, the systems and methods capture energy from natural resources, such as movement of fluid in a body of water, and convert it into electrical energy.

A wind power generation system including a power generation unit having an elastically deformable base material in a shape of a longitudinal flat plate and a piezoelectric element disposed on the base material, and which generates electricity as the power generation unit is vibrated; the piezoelectric element is repeatedly bent and deformed by the vibration and stacked on the base material, the wind power generation system being configured to include a tension adjusting device that, when a wind speed is increased, moves the movable member to increase a tensile force that pulls the power generation unit in the longitudinal direction, and the tension adjusting device being a lift generating member that is formed integrally with the movable member so as to be extended and to have wing shape to both sides of the movable member and that moves the movable member based on lift generated according to the wind speed.