A cochlear implant device is disclosed, comprising an inductive antenna, a stimulation unit, an electrode array, and an energy harvesting apparatus. The inductive antenna is configured to receive energy to operate the cochlear implant and to receive signals for a stimulation of a cochlea via an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes. The stimulation unit is configured to process the signals received by the inductive antenna to be usable for the electrodes of the electrode array. The electrode array is configured to apply the signals processed by the stimulation unit to the cochlea for the stimulation thereof. The energy harvesting apparatus is connected to the stimulation unit or to the electrode array, and is configured to harvest energy based on at least one of thermal, biochemical, biophysical, and mechanical processes/phenomena pertaining to the cochlea, and is configured to provide harvested energy to the stimulation unit or the electrode array, respectively.

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.

A downhole energy harvesting apparatus comprising a fluidic oscillator comprising: an inlet channel configured to receive fluid from a wellbore, a feedback system coupled to the inlet channel to oscillate the fluid, and an outlet channel coupled to the feedback system and configured to receive the oscillated fluid from the feedback system, and at least one piezoelectric element disposed on at least one side of the outlet channel and configured to generate an electric signal in response to variations in pressure of the oscillated fluid.

The subject of the invention is an energy generating apparatus for utilizing the energy of a flow medium having a support structure (13), at least one waving element (1), at least two fastening elements (4), a drive and control unit (5), and an energy recovery and transfer unit (10), wherein the waving element (1) is connected to the fastening elements (4), the drive and control unit (5) is connected to the fastening elements (4). It is characterized in that it comprises at least one turbulizer element (2), the waving element (1) between two fastening elements (4) is described as a regular waveform, determined by a function, and comprises at most one full wave period. The subject of the invention also includes the method for application of the apparatus.

A piezoelectric power apparatus wherein piezoelectric material forms one wall of a liquid-filled container. Water pressure within the container is made to rapidly vary either by a cam operated piston or a motor operated ball valve acting on a pressurized liquid flow. The piston reciprocates through a wall of the container to alternately increase and decrease the pressure in the liquid. The ball valve periodically interrupts the pressurized liquid flow to alternately increase and decrease the pressure in the liquid. In either case, the alternate increase and decrease in the pressure in the liquid creates pressure variations in the piezoelectric material.

A compressed gas energy harvesting system (CGEHS) for use in a gas delivery system is disclosed herein. The CGEHS comprises a gas control device connected to a compressed gas container and in fluid communication with a fluid within the compressed gas container. The gas control device comprising one or more electrical components. The CGEHS further includes a power storage device for providing power to the one or more electrical components and a potential energy converter coupled to the one or more electrical components, the potential energy converter for supplying power to at least one of the one or more electrical components and the power storage device by converting the potential energy retained by the compressed gas container into electrical energy.

An energy harvesting system can be used to exploit freely available flow energy with a piezoelectric device(s). The system may include a piezoelectric device and a flow disruptor, such as a blunt body that creates flow turbulence and flow characteristic randomization that can increase movement response from the piezoelectric device and enhance electrical power generation. Multiple piezoelectric devices may be linked to each other to enhance movement of a less-influenced piezoelectric device from translated movement of a more-influenced piezoelectric device and create more electrical power than a single piezoelectric device subjected to the same flowing fluid.

A vortex-induced vibration wind energy harvesting device, including an array consisting of a plurality of oscillators and a plurality of piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), is provided. An oscillator is mounted on each of the piezoelectric MEMSs. When any one of the oscillators is oscillated by and resonant with vortex shedding due to an incoming airflow, its vortices in the wake will enhance the oscillation of the downstream oscillators, so that overall oscillation of the oscillators in the array is strengthened. The piezoelectric MEMSs are deformed by the vibration of these oscillators to generate voltage and current to output. In the present invention, the oscillators are arranged closely. When the airflow passes the array, even weak airflow can generate periodic force and cause significant oscillation due to resonance. The MEMS can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and output it in order to achieve the purpose of wind energy harvesting.

The invention relates to an extinguishing nozzle of a fire extinguishing installation for selectively identifying and fighting fires in at least one protected area, and to an associated fire extinguishing installation and to a method for operating an extinguishing nozzle. The extinguishing nozzle comprises i) a communication unit which is configured for communicating with a fire detector and/or extinguishing control station of the fire extinguishing installation, ii) a control element which is configured for controlling the extinguishing nozzle, wherein the extinguishing nozzle is connectable to at least one fluid line and the control element is configured for selectively enabling and/or shutting off a passage of an extinguishing fluid, which is flowing in the fluid line, through the extinguishing nozzle, and iii) an energy harvester which is configured for providing energy for at least the communication unit and the control element by means of energy harvesting.

A piezoelectric power apparatus wherein piezoelectric material forms one wall of a liquid-filled container. Water pressure within the container is made to rapidly vary either by a cam operated piston or a motor operated ball valve acting on a pressurized liquid flow. The piston reciprocates through a wall of the container to alternately increase and decrease the pressure in the liquid. The ball valve periodically interrupts the pressurized liquid flow to alternately increase and decrease the pressure in the liquid. In either case, the alternate increase and decrease in the pressure in the liquid creates pressure variations in the piezoelectric material.