Energy harvesting from flutter instabilities of heavy flags in water through ionic polymer metal composites

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Giacomello ◽  
Maurizio Porfiri
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer ◽  
Polymer Metal

Energy Harvesting From Base Excitation of a Biomimetic Fish Tail Hosting Ionic Polymer Metal Composites

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngsu Cha ◽  
Matteo Verotti ◽  
Horace Walcott ◽  
Sean D. Peterson ◽  
Maurizio Porfiri
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Rectangular Cross Section ◽  
Base Excitation ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer ◽  
Polymer Metal ◽  
Fixed Axis ◽  
Large Amplitude Vibrations

In this study, we seek to understand the feasibility of energy harvesting from the tail beating motion of a fish through active compliant materials. Specifically, we analyze energy harvesting from the undulations of a biomimetic fish tail hosting ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs). The design of the biomimetic tail is specifically inspired by the morphology of the heterocercal tail of thresher sharks. We propose a modeling framework for the underwater vibration of the biomimetic tail, wherein the tail is assimilated to a cantilever beam with rectangular cross section. We focus on base excitation in the form of a superimposed rotation about a fixed axis and we consider the regime of moderately large–amplitude vibrations. In this context, the effect of the encompassing fluid is described through a nonlinear hydrodynamic function. The feasibility of harvesting energy from an IPMC attached to the vibrating structure is assessed and modeled via an electromechanical framework. Experiments are performed to validate the theoretical expectations on energy harvesting from the biomimetic tail.

scholarly journals Energy Harvesting of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites Based on Microcellular Foamed Nafion in Aqueous Environment

Actuators ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung Chul Kweon ◽  
Joo Seong Sohn ◽  
Youngjae Ryu ◽  
Sung Woon Cha
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Saturation Temperature ◽  
Aqueous Environment ◽  
Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer Metal Composites ◽  
Ionic Polymer ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Polymer Metal ◽  
Nafion Film ◽  
The Difference

The purpose of this study was to determine how to improve the energy-harvesting properties of polymer electrolyte membranes by varying their porosity. We achieved this by applying microcellular foaming process (MCP) to Nafion-based ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs). We manufactured an IPMC by forming a Pt electrode through an electroless plating method on the Nafion film, to which porosity was imparted by varying the foaming ratio and inducing deformation by vibrating the specimen using a prototype device that we developed ourselves. We attempted to harvest energy via fluid flow that occurred owing to displacement movement. When the Nafion film was foamed at a temperature of 140 °C or higher, it was observed that cells with size of approximately 1 µm or more were formed, and when the saturation temperature was lowered, a denser and larger number of cells were formed. Moreover, the cells formed on the electrolyte membrane allowed the retention of more water. Water retention generated charges contributed to the operational stability of IPMC. This was attributed to the difference in the amount of charge generated by changing only the internal morphology of the electrolyte membrane, without changing the substrate or the electrode material.

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