Energy harvesting from air conditioning condensers with the use of piezoelectric devices

Abstract

Several on-campus air conditioning units were used to determine potential sources of waste energy found in an air conditioning condenser unit, and energy harvesting methods are devised. These methods of energy harvesting are called vibration and airflow-driven energy harvesting using piezoelectric devices. The objective is to generate power from the exhaust airflow (analogous to jet engine afterburners, but on a much smaller scale). For the piezoelectric device, the idea is to make the device vibrate to generate power. Students and faculty in an engineering technology program studied air conditioning units to determine potential sources of waste energy. Measurements were made to determine operational time based on seasons, vibration levels, and exhaust fan flow from a condenser. Measurements were taken and compared to calculated potential power to be harvested from the condenser. This undergraduate research project is one of several campus-wide efforts to promote energy conservation and to investigate the use of clean renewable energy resources.