Title: Theoretical analysis and numerical study on a flexible piezoelectric wave energy converter

Authors: Chunrong Liu; Wenyu Yang

Addresses: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, China ' School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, China

Abstract: The mathematical model of a flexible piezoelectric wave energy converter (FPWEC) was presented. The interaction of the flexible membrane with waves was simulated numerically and the electric circuit was solved analytically. The behaviour of the flexible membrane under waves depends on a dimensionless number Eτ / Tm0. For smaller Eτ / Tm0, the strain variation amplitude of the membrane is higher and the variation frequency is two times of the wave frequency. For larger Eτ / Tm0, the variation frequency of the strain of the membrane can reach eight times of the wave frequency due to the nonlinear interaction of the waves and membrane. The order analysis method was used to estimate the output power of the FPWEC. As the ratio of the size of inductor DI to the width of the membrane Bm reaches 0.025, the output power of the FPWEC can reach MW lever.

Keywords: wave energy; piezoelectric material; flexible membrane; vibration; resonance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHM.2022.127043

International Journal of Hydromechatronics, 2022 Vol.5 No.4, pp.292 - 310

Received: 11 Apr 2022
Accepted: 30 Jul 2022
Published online: 18 Nov 2022 *

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