Acoustic energy harvesting from vortex-induced tonal sound in a baffled pipe

Abstract

Energy of high-amplitude sound that often appears in acoustic resonators with mean flow can be harnessed and converted into electricity for powering sensors and other devices. In this study, tests were conducted in a simple setup consisting of a pipe with a pair of baffles and a piezoelement. Tonal sound, corresponding to the second acoustic mode of the resonator, was excited due to vortex shedding/impinging on baffles in the presence of mean flow. Generated sound energy was partially converted into electrical energy by a piezoelement. About 0.55 mW of electric power was produced on a resistive electric load at acoustic pressure amplitudes in the pipe about 170 Pa and mean flow velocity 2.6 m/s.