12/10/2013
Harnessing energy from noise
The idea is to develop a way to use piezoelectric materials to harness the energy in loud sounds, potentially leading to quieter engines and new way to harness wind power.
First approach is to use a piezoelectric material to build a very thin, sensitive membrane of aluminum able to transform sound vibrations into enough electricity to power a small sensor. They it will be possible to attach the membrane to a liner that will quiet the sound of the engine by canceling out certain frequencies.
Second approach is to harvest the noise created by industrial hydraulic pumps and valves. The device will also be able to power sensors that will provide feedback at to the operational efficiency of the machines, which could also lead to ways to help dampen their noise.
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