Patent ID: 9590534
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: H02N

Claim:
1. A method of generating electric power comprising the steps of: providing a non-piezoelectric resonating element; attaching one side of a piezoelectric element to a proximal end of said non-piezoelectric element, attaching an opposing side of said piezoelectric element to a base; heating a working fluid in proximity to a distal end of said non-piezoelectric resonating element; directing repeatedly said heated working fluid to expand toward and apply pressure to a distal end of said non-piezoelectric resonating element to cause a distal end of said non-piezoelectric resonating element to oscillate; deforming said piezoelectric element with repeated oscillations of said distal end of said non-piezoelectric resonating element to create a deformed piezoelectric element; transferring electrical current generated by said deformed piezoelectric element to the electrical load; and heating said working fluid to coincide with said distal end of said non-piezoelectric resonating element moving away from said expanding working fluid, a duration of said heating does not exceed one half of a period of resonant oscillations of said non-piezoelectric resonating element.