A review of collecting ocean wave energy based on piezoelectric energy harvester

Abstract

The ocean wave energy resource has great potential for development as a renewable energy source. In the vast ocean environment, many monitoring sensors are needed to monitor the state of the ocean environment. The piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) can collect the ocean wave energy and convert it into electrical energy to realize the self-power of the ocean monitoring sensors. This paper reviews the current research progress of collecting ocean wave energy based on the PEH and classifies the PEH. The materials and basic principles of the PEH are introduced. According to the different excitation mechanisms, the PEH that collects ocean wave energy is classified into the following four categories: direct-coupling, frequency-increasing, flow-induced vibration (FIV), and multi-mechanism composite. Each type is analyzed in detail and the application scenarios of the PEH in the ocean environment are expounded. The shortcomings of the existing PEHs in collecting ocean wave energy are discussed, and the directions of future research are pointed out. This review will help researchers understand techniques for collecting ocean wave energy using the PEH to efficiently convert ocean wave energy into electrical energy.