Electrical, micro-power generation using a fluidic oscillator

This paper presents a fluidic device capable of generating electrical micro-power from a steady air pressure source. The Fluidic Driven Piezoelectric Generator (FDPG) relies on a fluidic pressure-controlled oscillator, a fluidic linear proportional amplifier with its output ports connected to its input ports, to convert a steady air pressure into an oscillating air pressure. The piezoelectric device then converts the oscillating air pressure into an AC electrical voltage that is available for rectification and subsequent source of electrical power. This project has demonstrated that the FDPG produces 0.55W of electrical power, with an air pressure supply of 2.0 psig. This translates to an efficiency of 35%. This paper compares the predicted power level output of an analytical model to the proof-of-concept plastic model. The fluidic oscillator model was implemented in an equivalent electrical circuit using PSPICE. This approach has applications in remote or portable pneumatic applications where intelligent instrumentation and control are needed yet no battery or auxiliary electrical power is available to drive an electronic microcontroller.