Maximizing piezoelectric power generation using acoustic resonance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025070689-A1
Application number	US-202318238010-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2023
Priority date	Aug 25, 2023
Publication date	Feb 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An embodiment adjusts a position of a piezoelectric generator within a hollow cylindrical tube, the position adjusted to cause the tube to vibrate at a first resonant frequency in response to an acoustic stimulus, the piezoelectric generator configured to close one end of the tube, the tube further comprising an open end disposed at an opposite end of the tube from the piezoelectric generator. An embodiment adjusts, by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric generator, a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator, the adjusting changing the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator to the first resonant frequency.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
adjusting a position of a piezoelectric generator within a hollow cylindrical tube, the position adjusted to cause the tube to vibrate at a first resonant frequency in response to an acoustic stimulus, the piezoelectric generator configured to close one end of the tube, the tube further comprising an open end disposed at an opposite end of the tube from the piezoelectric generator; and adjusting, by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric generator, a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator, the adjusting changing the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator to the first resonant frequency.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating, using an expected temperature range at a power generation site comprising the tube, an operational tube length range of the tube.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using a measurement of a current air temperature in a region comprising the tube.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using an air temperature forecast for a region comprising the tube.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using test data, the test data comprising a previous acoustic stimulus and a previous vibration of the tube in response to the previous acoustic stimulus.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric generator generates electricity in response to a vibration of the tube.

7 . A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
adjusting a position of a piezoelectric generator within a hollow cylindrical tube, the position adjusted to cause the tube to vibrate at a first resonant frequency in response to an acoustic stimulus, the piezoelectric generator configured to close one end of the tube, the tube further comprising an open end disposed at an opposite end of the tube from the piezoelectric generator; and adjusting, by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric generator, a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator, the adjusting changing the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator to the first resonant frequency.

8 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the stored program instructions are stored in a computer readable storage device in a data processing system, and wherein the stored program instructions are transferred over a network from a remote data processing system.

9 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the stored program instructions are stored in a computer readable storage device in a server data processing system, and wherein the stored program instructions are downloaded in response to a request over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage device associated with the remote data processing system, further comprising:
program instructions to meter use of the program instructions associated with the request; and program instructions to generate an invoice based on the metered use.

10 . The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising:
calculating, using an expected temperature range at a power generation site comprising the tube, an operational tube length range of the tube.

11 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using a measurement of a current air temperature in a region comprising the tube.

12 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using an air temperature forecast for a region comprising the tube.

13 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using test data, the test data comprising a previous acoustic stimulus and a previous vibration of the tube in response to the previous acoustic stimulus.

14 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric generator generates electricity in response to a vibration of the tube.

15 . A computer system comprising a processor and one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
adjusting a position of a piezoelectric generator within a hollow cylindrical tube, the position adjusted to cause the tube to vibrate at a first resonant frequency in response to an acoustic stimulus, the piezoelectric generator configured to close one end of the tube, the tube further comprising an open end disposed at an opposite end of the tube from the piezoelectric generator; and adjusting, by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric generator, a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator, the adjusting changing the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric generator to the first resonant frequency.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
calculating, using an expected temperature range at a power generation site comprising the tube, an operational tube length range of the tube.

17 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using a measurement of a current air temperature in a region comprising the tube.

18 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using an air temperature forecast for a region comprising the tube.

19 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the position of the piezoelectric generator is performed using test data, the test data comprising a previous acoustic stimulus and a previous vibration of the tube in response to the previous acoustic stimulus.

20 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the piezoelectric generator generates electricity in response to a vibration of the tube.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Rakshit Sarbajit K
• Hazra Jagabondhu
• Padmanaban Manikandan

Classifications

• H02N2/188 Primary

  adapted for resonant operation · CPC title

• H10N30/30 Primary

  with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors · CPC title