An electrical power generator includes a first part configured to be located in a fluid such that, when the fluid moves, it generates vortices in the fluid so that a lift force is generated on the first part, which produces an oscillating movement of the first part, which has an amplitude. The natural oscillation frequency of the first part may be adjusted to wind speed by way of magnets, which repel each other. Magnets may also be used to generate electrical currents in coils. The first part can have a diameter that increases with distance above the base of the generator.

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing, the housing defining an opening therethrough. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes a support structure disposed within the housing, and one or more piezoelectric elements disposed on a surface of the support structure within the housing. Movement or vibration in the support structure is translated to the one or more piezoelectric elements, which actuates the one or more piezoelectric elements. The one or more piezoelectric elements generate power when actuated. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes one or more exciters coupled to the support structure. The exciters move or vibrate when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of vibration of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure and ultimately to the one or more piezoelectric elements.

An auxiliary wind energy device comprising a valve device embodied as a rotating aperture plate located adjacent a fixed aperture plate to cyclically operate between open and closed positions to produce intermittent flow at the inlet of the housing and piezoelectric oscillator blades subject to said intermittent flow bending forwardly and backwardly to generate electrical current.

An electric power-generating system for a rotor blade includes at least one electromechanical power-converting device and at least one power-guide line, which is connected mechanically to the electromechanical power-converting device. The electromechanical power-converting device is configured in such a way that, during a movement of the power-guide line, the device converts into electric power the forces introduced by the movement of the power-guide line into the electromechanical power-converting device.

This module comprises: a circuit for interfacing with the piezoelectric beam of an oscillating pendular unit, outputting a rectified signal comprising a sequence of pulses at a frequency equal to a multiple of the oscillation frequency of the pendular unit; a buffer capacitor charged by the successive pulses outputted by the interface circuit; and a converter regulator adapted to convert a capacitor discharge current into a stabilized power supply voltage, and controlled by a feedback control stage of the Maximum Power-Point Tracking (MPPT) type. A comparator detects the conduction of a blocking diode interposed between the interface circuit and the capacitor, in order to produce a signal representative of the current value of the duty cycle of the detected conduction and non-conduction periods. This signal is compared with a predetermined optimum duty cycle value in order to enable or disable the coupling of the capacitor to the converter regulator so as to control either the capacitor discharge towards an input of the converter regulator, or the continuation of its charging.

Improving wind-based piezoelectric power conversion is provided. For example, a piezoelectric element affixed to a vibratory member is provided. A rigid mounting system coupled with a rotatable base is provided for said vibratory member on one end of the vibratory member. A solar generator is coupled with the rigid mounting system and at least one obstacle is provided located on the flexing side of the vibratory member. The obstacle induces a vortex in the wind passing the obstacle and arriving at the vibratory member, which enhances wind-induced displacement in the vibratory member.

An apparatus includes an outer structure body having an inner surface defining a cavity and an inner structure body rotatably supported within the cavity. The inner structure body has an outer surface in opposing relation to the inner surface and a central bore. Movable elements are positioned along the inner surface and movably coupled to the outer structure body. Ball elements are positioned along the outer surface and coupled to the inner structure body for movement with the inner structure body. The ball elements releasably contact the movable elements and impart motion to the movable elements in response to relative motion between the inner structure body and the outer structure body. Energy harvesters are positioned to generate electrical charges based on piezoelectric effect or magnetostrictive effect when motion is imparted to the movable elements by the ball elements.

An energy generation device Including: a surface for supporting movement of a work material, and an energy converter. The surface is operable to induce movement of the work material relative to the surface. The energy converter is arranged to generate electrical energy based on the induced movement of the work material relative to the surface.

An expedient piezoelectric coupled buoy energy harvester from ocean waves is developed. The harvester is made of several piezoelectric coupled cantilevers attached to a floating buoy structure, which can be easily suspended in the intermediate and deep ocean for energy harvesting. In the buoy structure, a slender cylindrical floater is attached on a large sinker. The energy harvesting process is realized by converting the transverse ocean wave energy to the electrical energy via the piezoelectric patches mounted on the cantilevers fixed on the buoy. A smart design of the buoy structure is developed to increase the energy harvesting efficiency by investigation of the effects of the sizes of the floater and the sinker. A numerical model is presented to calculate the generated electric power from buoy energy harvester. The research findings show that up to 22 W electric power can be generated by the proposed expedient buoy harvester with the length of the piezoelectric cantilevers of 1 m and the total length of the buoy of 12 m. The technique proposed in this research can provide an expedient, feasible and stable energy supply from the floating buoy structure.

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing and one or more piezoelectric modules disposed within the housing. Each of the one or more piezoelectric modules include a support structure, one or more piezoelectric components, and one or more exciters. The one or more piezoelectric components are disposed on or within the support structure, wherein at least a portion of vibrational motion in the support structure is transferred to the one or more piezoelectric components. The one or more exciters are coupled to the support structure and extend outside of the housing. When the exciters are actuated, they transfer vibrational motion to the one or more piezoelectric components through the support structure.