ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0002-6545-3452

Graduation Semester and Year

2018

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Hyejin Moon

Abstract

This research proposes a new concept of energy harvesting with the help of oscillating slugs of ferrofluid in microchannels. Ferrofluids are colloidal suspension of paramagnetic nanoparticles which get magnetized in the presence of magnetic field. They can conform to any shape and can be injected easily in intricate spaces. A change in the magnetic flux through the solenoid area produces electromotive force per Faraday’s law. To prove the concept of harvesting energy by having a change in magnetic flux with the help of ferrofluids, several ferrofluid slugs were made to pass through a multi turn solenoid wound around a glass micro channel with the help of a fluid dispensing pump. Various parameters affecting the generation of the electromotive force are studied with the help of numerical study. A comparison between the experimental data and the results of finite element analysis using COMSOL Software has also been done. With progress in development of different energy harvesting device, using microfluidics for energy scavenging is still a novel concept which has a wide scope for advancement. The applications of the device proposed in this research include low wind energy harvesting.

Keywords

Energy harvesting, Ferrofluids, Microchannels, Low wind

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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