Novel Low-cost Energy Harvester Based on anArrangement of Piezoelectric Actuators

CARLOS ANDRES FERRARA BELLO Margarita Tecpoyotl Torres (2024, [Artículo])

This article provides the design, modeling, fabrication, and testing of an energy

harvester from mechanical vibrations, based on a piezoelectric material. This device

works on the principle of piezoelectric transduction, i.e., when mechanically

deformed, it generates electrical energy due to vibrations. The piezoelectric material

used in the fabrication was Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT), and brass as structural

base. In addition, finite element models were performed to predict the frequency of

the first vibration mode of the device, and experimental setups for validation. The

resonance frequency of the numerical model and the one obtained experimentally (19

Hz) show a deviation of 5.03% respectively. The generated power is 0.202 mW enough

to power low power devices such as basic calculators, wristwatches, and transistors, among others.

En este artículo se presenta el diseño, modelado, fabricación y pruebas de un cosechador de energía proveniente de vibraciones mecánicas, basado en un material piezoeléctrico. Este dispositivo trabaja bajo el principio de transducción piezoeléctrica, es decir que, al deformarse mecánicamente, debido a las vibraciones genera energía eléctrica. El material piezoeléctrico usado en la fabricación fue Zirconato Titanato de Plomo (PZT), y latón como base estructural. Además, se realizaron modelos de elemento finito para predecir la frecuencia del primer modo de vibración del dispositivo, y arreglos experimentales para su validación. La frecuencia de resonancia del modelo numérico y la obtenida experimentalmente (19 Hz) muestran una desviación de 5.03% respectivamente. La potencia generada es de0.202 mW suficiente para alimentar dispositivos de bajo consumo, tales como calculadoras básicas, relojes de pulsera y transistores, entre otros.

INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS Finite Element Method, low-energy devices, vibration, piezoelectric transducer

Low thermal conductivity solar domestic water heater

MIGUEL ANGEL PORTA GANDARA JOSE LUIS FERNANDEZ ZAYAS JUAN FRANCISCO VILLA MEDINA NORBERTO CHARGOY DEL VALLE (2022, [Artículo])

"Solar domestic water heaters (SWH) with thermosyphon circulation are the most common commercial applications of solar energy in Mexico. They are also becoming popular in the rest of the world, given their simplicity, good economic returns, and sustainability. Traditionally the solar collector, the piping, and the storage tank are built of copper and steel. However, wáter quality in many parts of the Mexican Northwest has high mineral contents and, when heated, results in early metal pitting corrosion of SWH parts. Short-lived water heaters are bad promoters of the technology. In this work, a SWH thermoplastic Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) is built and tested under real operating conditions in La Paz, BCS, Mexico. The optimal design is detected with the aid of a suitable numerical model. Results reveal that a full SWH-CPVC can be technically and economically convenient for the weather conditions of the Northwestern states of Mexico."

Low thermal conductivity solar water heater CPVC solar water heater Solar water heater cooper pitting corrosion Thermosiphon circulation INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS TECNOLOGÍA ELECTRÓNICA DISPOSITIVOS TERMOELÉCTRICOS DISPOSITIVOS TERMOELÉCTRICOS