JP2001275370A - Piezoelectric hydraulic power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized, light-weight piezoelectric hydraulic power generator of comparatively simpler structure utilizing a piezoelectric element, having satisfactory conversion efficiency. SOLUTION: This piezoelectric hydraulic power generator comprises a means for converting a hydraulic power into vibration energy, a means for converting the vibration energy into electrical power, a rectifying means for rectifying the generated electrical power, and a storage means for storing the rectified electrical power.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydraulic power generator capable of converting hydraulic power into electric power and storing the electric power, and more particularly to a piezoelectric hydraulic power generator using a piezoelectric element as a means for converting hydraulic power into electric power. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional hydroelectric power generator, an electromagnetic power generator is generally used, and is applied in various fields. In the electromagnetic power generator, the turbine is rotated by hydraulic power during power generation, and energy is taken out as electric power by the electromagnetic generator by this rotation. This electromagnetic power generator is a motor consisting of a rotor, magnet, etc.
It was composed of a reduction gear, and it was difficult to reduce the size and weight.

[0003]

The electromagnetic power generating apparatus is composed of a motor and a reduction gear composed of a rotor, a magnet, and the like, and is difficult to reduce in size and weight. There were restrictions on where to install.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem and to provide a hydroelectric power generator having a relatively simple structure, small size, light weight and high conversion efficiency.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diaphragm, and a piezoelectric element fixed to the diaphragm and converting vibration to the diaphragm into electric power. , A rectifying means for rectifying the generated power, and a power storage means for storing the rectified power.
Thus, it is possible to provide a hydroelectric power generator with good conversion efficiency. By constituting the diaphragm with the piezoelectric element itself, a more simplified hydraulic power generator can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of diaphragms having different resonance frequencies are used, it is possible to efficiently convert hydraulic power into electric power with respect to any vibration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the resonance frequency of the diaphragm is adjusted to be the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element mounted on the diaphragm, so that the electromechanical conversion efficiency of the piezoelectric element is optimized. It becomes possible. The resonance frequency is
Adjustment is possible by the shape and length of the piezoelectric element and the diaphragm.

The invention according to claim 4 has a vibration generating means which generates a vortex when receiving a water flow and the diaphragm vibrates efficiently in the longitudinal direction, so that hydraulic power is efficiently supplied. It can be converted to vibration energy. The vibration generating means may be provided with a means for vibrating on the side of the vibration plate, or may generate vibration by changing the water flow itself.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the vibration generating means is formed integrally with the diaphragm, loss when hydraulic power is converted into vibration energy can be reduced.

In the invention according to claim 6, since the vibration generating means is constituted by bending the diaphragm, the apparatus can be simplified.

In the invention according to claim 7, since the vibration generating means is formed in the flow path itself, the form of the power generation unit can be simplified. The vibration generating means can be realized by forming an arbitrary shape such as a protrusion or a rib in the flow path.

According to the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramics, it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency of converting vibration energy into electric energy. As the piezoelectric ceramic material, for example, a lead zirconate titanate-based material is used.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric single crystal, the strength of the piezoelectric element can be increased, so that the reliability can be improved. As a piezoelectric single crystal material,
For example, lithium niobate is used.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a ferroelectric polymer, the piezoelectric element itself can be formed into a flexible film, so that the flexibility of the diaphragm can be improved and the apparatus can be improved. Reliability can be improved. Further, since the vibration plate can be constituted by the piezoelectric element itself, further simplification is possible. As the ferroelectric polymer material, for example, polyfukkavinylidene is used.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a laminated piezoelectric element formed by laminating single-layer piezoelectric elements, the single-layer piezoelectric elements are connected in parallel, so that the power consumption can be increased. It becomes possible.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below using examples.

[0017]

1 is a block diagram of a piezoelectric hydroelectric power generator according to the present invention. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generation device 1 includes a power generation unit 4 installed in a flow path 2 and a rectification unit 8 that rectifies power generated by the power generation unit.
And a power storage unit 10 for storing the rectified power. The power generation unit 4 includes a vibration generation unit 7 that generates water vibration that vibrates the diaphragm 5 when receiving the water flow 3, and a piezoelectric element 6 fixed to the diaphragm 5. It is desirable that the diaphragm 5 be made of a material such as a metal that easily generates bending vibration. It may be made of synthetic resin other than metal.

Since the piezoelectric element 6 and the vibration generating means 7 have a waterproof structure covered with a silicone resin, there is no danger of electric leakage or electric shock even in a water environment. Here, it goes without saying that the material of the resin is not limited to silicone.

At one end of the diaphragm, there is provided a vibration generating means for generating vibration in the water flow. When receiving the water flow, the vibration generating means 7 changes the direction of the water flow along the inner surface of the vibration generating means 7. As a result, a vortex is generated in the vicinity of the vibration generating means 7, and the diaphragm 5 starts to bend along the length direction. When the diaphragm 5 starts to bend, the piezoelectric element 6 fixed to the diaphragm 5 converts the vibration into electric power. Piezoelectric element 6
It is desirable to use a device that efficiently converts vibration energy into electric energy. For example, lead zirconate titanate-based piezoelectric ceramics correspond thereto. In addition, a piezoelectric single crystal such as lithium niobate or a ferroelectric polymer represented by polyfukkavinylidene can be used.

The electric power generated by the piezoelectric element is rectified in a rectifier 8 composed of a diode 9. The rectified power is charged as power in the power storage unit 10 including the secondary battery 11. The power storage means is not limited to a secondary battery and may be constituted by a capacitor such as an electric double capacitor. As described above, the piezoelectric hydraulic power generation device of the present invention has a very simple structure and does not require a motor including a rotor or a magnet or a reduction device, so that the size and weight can be reduced.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a piezoelectric hydroelectric generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the vibration generating means 13 for generating vibration in the water flow
Is formed in the channel itself. Channel 12
The water flow collides with the vibration generating means by the convex vibration generating means 13 formed in the above, and a vortex is generated.
After that, power generation is performed on the same principle as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a piezoelectric hydroelectric generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, since the vibration plate 5 is configured to have an angle with respect to the water flow 3, the vibration plate 5 starts vibrating without providing a vibration generating means. After that, power generation is performed on the same principle as in the first embodiment.

In addition, the vibration generating means is provided even when the vibration plate 5 is configured to be parallel to the water flow 3 by disposing the power generation unit at the end of the water channel, for example, near the water outlet of the faucet. Without this, the diaphragm 5 can be vibrated.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. The piezoelectric hydroelectric power generating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a piezoelectric hydroelectric power generating apparatus, comprising: a vibration plate; a power generation unit including a piezoelectric element fixed to the vibration plate and converting vibration to the vibration plate into electric power; Since it is composed of a rectifying means for rectifying and a power storage means for storing the rectified power, it is possible to provide a hydraulic power generator having a relatively simple configuration, small size, light weight, and high conversion efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of diaphragms having different resonance frequencies are used, it is possible to efficiently convert hydraulic power into electric power with respect to any vibration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the resonance frequency of the diaphragm is adjusted to be the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element mounted on the diaphragm, so that the electromechanical conversion efficiency of the piezoelectric element is optimized. It becomes possible.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the diaphragm has the vibration means so that the diaphragm vibrates efficiently when the diaphragm receives a water flow, it is possible to efficiently convert hydraulic power into vibration energy. It becomes possible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the vibration generating means is formed integrally with the diaphragm, loss when hydraulic power is converted into vibration energy can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the vibration generating means is configured by bending the diaphragm, the apparatus can be simplified.

In the invention according to claim 7, since the vibration generating means is formed in the flow path itself, the form of the power generation unit can be simplified.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramics, it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency of converting vibration energy into electric energy.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric single crystal, the strength of the piezoelectric element can be increased, so that the reliability can be improved.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a ferroelectric polymer, the piezoelectric element itself is on a flexible film, so that the flexibility of the diaphragm and the reliability of the device are improved. Becomes possible.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the piezoelectric element is a laminated piezoelectric element formed by laminating single-layer piezoelectric elements, a single-layer piezoelectric element is connected in parallel, so that the power consumption can be increased. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment showing a piezoelectric hydraulic power generation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment showing a piezoelectric hydroelectric generator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment showing a piezoelectric hydraulic power generation device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Piezoelectric hydraulic power generation apparatus, 2 ... water channel, 3 ... water flow, 4 ... power generation part, 5 ... diaphragm, 6 ... piezoelectric element, 7 ... vibration generation means, 8
... Rectifier, 9 ... Diode, 10 ... Power storage unit, 11 ... Secondary battery, 12 ... Load, 13 ... Vibration generating means

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuichiro Kono 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka F-term (reference) 3T074 AA12 AA20 BB09 BB11 CC10 CC50

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A piezoelectric hydraulic power generator for generating electric power by a piezoelectric element based on hydraulic power, comprising: a rectifier for rectifying electric power generated by the piezoelectric element; and a power storage means for storing the rectified electric power. A piezoelectric hydroelectric power generator, comprising: a vibration plate for fixing an element, wherein power is generated by a piezoelectric element by vibration of the vibration plate. 2. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of diaphragms having different resonance frequencies are used. 3. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of the vibration plate is adjusted to be the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element. 4. The piezoelectric hydroelectric power generator according to claim 1, further comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the vibration plate by a water flow. 5. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means is formed integrally with the diaphragm. 6. The vibration generating means according to claim 1, wherein an end of said diaphragm is bent.
A piezoelectric hydroelectric power generator as described. 7. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating means is formed in a flow path. 8. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric ceramic. 9. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric single crystal. 10. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a ferroelectric polymer. 11. The piezoelectric hydraulic power generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a laminated piezoelectric element formed by laminating single-layer piezoelectric elements.