2D numerical analysis of energy harvesting in oscillating heat pipe using piezoelectric transducers

Abstract

Energy Harvesting is a powerful process that deals with exploring different possible ways of converting energy dispersed in the environment into more useful form of energy, essentially electrical energy. Piezoelectric materials are known for their ability of transferring mechanical energy into electrical energy or vice versa. Our work takes advantage of piezoelectric material’s properties to covert thermal energy into electrical energy in an oscillating heat pipe. Specific interest in an oscillating heat pipe has relevance to energy harvesting for low power generation suitable for remote electronics operation as well as low-power heat reclamation for electronic packaging. The aim of this paper is develop a 2D multi-physics design analysis model that aids in predicting electrical power generation inherent to an oscillating heat pipe. The experimental design shows a piezoelectric patch with fixed configuration, attached inside an oscillating heat pipe and its behavior when subjected to the oscillating fluid pressure was observed. Numerical analysis of the model depicting the similar behavior was done using a multiphysics FEA software. The numerical model consists of a threeway physics interaction that takes into account fluid flow, solid mechanics, and electrical response of the harvester circuit.