Energy harvesting eel

The current study examines the feasibility of placing a piezoelectric membr ane or "eel" in the wake of a bluff body and using the von Karman vortex st reet forming: behind the bluff body to induce oscillations in the membrane. The oscillations result in a capacitive buildup in the membrane that provi des a voltage source that can be used, far example, to trickle-charge a bat tery in a remote location. The aim of the hydrodynamic testing is to maximi ze the strain energy and mechanical power by coupling the unsteady flow fie ld with the vibration of the membrane. The requirement of optimal coupling is best defined as a resonance condition where the membrane has a negligibl e damping effect on the original von Karman vortex street. (C) 2001 Academi c Press.