The feasibility design and modeling for thermo-mechanical ocean energy harvester using shape memory alloys

Abstract

In this paper a feasibility design of thermal energy harvester is proposed base on martensitic phase transformations in shape memory alloys (SMAs). Energy conversion from the thermal form to mechanical form via the martensite phase transformation in SMAs spring is modeled and analyzed. The phase transformation is induced thermally by the sea water temperature difference. In the proposed design, a macroscopic differential model of the two-way shape memory effects in one-dimensional SMA structure is employed to estimate the restoring force of the SMA spring. Power output is measured and found reasonable enough to be used. Thus the feasibility of the proposed design for ocean thermal energy harvesting is validated.