Piezoelectric energy harvesting from vortex shedding and galloping induced vibrations inside HVAC ducts

Abstract

This study focuses on the conceptual development, analytical modeling and experimental wind tunnel testing of a high efficiency energy harvesting (EH) device, based on piezoelectric materials, with an application for the sustainability of smart buildings. The device, harvests the airflow inside Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, using a piezoelectric component and an appropriate customizable aerodynamic appendix (“fin”) that takes advantage of specific airflow phenomena (vortex shedding and galloping), and can be implemented for optimizing the energy consumption inside buildings. Different relevant aspects are explored in wind tunnel testing, after a thoughtful investigation using analytical methods. Two different configurations for the fin (circular and T-section) are compared. Aspects of the electrical modeling for the EH circuit are provided (including issues on the EH induced damping), and the effective energy harvesting potential of the working prototype device in close-to-real conditions is assessed.