Introduction

This project was originally to build a hydroplane energy harvester that would oscillate up and down in a high speed flow similar to the Stingray, developed by The Engineering Business LTD. Piezo electrics would then have been streamed behind the hydroplane to harvest lost energy coming from the trailling edge of the hydroplane.

Affectionately named the "Wu-Ray," This idea never came to life.

This idea, while interesting has some major complications especially when considering the velocities possible in the available flume. The expected maximum lift generated would not have overcome the expected frictional loss of the system.

Objectives
Analyze the possibility of piezoelectric energy harvesting in coastal engineering. Two approaches were pursued.

1. Flexible "eel" coupled to turbulent flow.
2. Thin flexible floating beam with wave induced oscillations.