Fanciful illustration created by photographers Rick Griffith and Michael Kiernan and designer Barbara Corbett
Energy harvesters – devices that convert other forms of energy to electricity -- are poised to replace batteries, providing limitless power to a wide range of low-power electronics – from medical implants to portable devices. Virginia Tech researchers have now developed an energy harvester that produces even greater electrical output than similar technology of the same size – slightly smaller than a credit card.
The new L-beam design provides more than twice the voltage of existing designs, according to Inventor Alper Erturk, a Ph.D. candidate in engineering science and mechanics at Virginia Tech. Erturk, of Eskisehir, Turkey, developed the L-beam energy harvester with co-inventors Jamil Renno of Saida City, Lebanon, a recent Ph.D. graduate, and Dan Inman of Blacksburg, Va., the George R. Goodson Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Intelligent Material Systems and Structures.
Just like the sparks made in lighters used to start barbecue grills and fireplaces, the piezoelectric material at the heart of this new technology turns vibrations into electricity. But this L-shaped harvester not only provides more voltage, it also scavenges electricity from a wide range of vibrational frequencies. "This ability significantly expands the applications where the L-beam harvester can be used," said Inman.
Funding has come from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and Inman notes that ongoing development will continue to increase the electrical output and enable tuning the harvester to the vibrations in a wider range of environments.
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc., the commercialization arm of Virginia Tech, will feature the L-beam energy harvester at the Mid-Atlantic Innovation Showcase in Tysons Corner, Va., on Nov. 14. Read more about the invention or contact John Geikler with VTIP at (540) 443-9228 or jgeikler@vtip.org.
About Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. (VTIP)
Formed in 1985 as an affiliated corporation of Virginia Tech, VTIP is passionate in its pursuit of excellence in technology commercialization, creating market opportunities from scientific innovation. We strive to make a positive contribution to society through our expertise in protecting, marketing and commercializing technology and innovation. Our goal is to pursue innovative strategies to help translate scientific progress into tangible products, while returning income to the inventor and Virginia Tech to support further research and education. VTIP facilitates the licensing of technology to companies, encourages new faculty startup ventures, works with publishers and distributors of software, and supports the transfer of research and knowledge to other universities, research institutes and companies. For more information about VTIP, visit http://www.vtip.org.