Effect of placement of piezoelectric material and proof mass on the performance of piezoelectric energy harvester

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the effect of placement of piezoelectric material over the length of a cantilever beam based energy harvester. The effect of the material, volume, shape, size and placement of the proof mass were also analysed using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3a. The distance between the piezoelectric material and the fixed end was varied over the length of the beam. Maximum power was produced, while the piezoelectric material was placed near to the fixed end. The resonant frequency of the beam is decreased, when the distance between the piezoelectric material and the fixed end is increased. The resonant frequency of the energy harvester and the voltage output at various conditions were numerically and experimentally verified. From the numerical analysis, it was found that the material and volume of the proof mass does not have any significant effect on the power output and resonant frequency of the beam. The size of the proof mass has 1.9% and 0.8% effect on the power output and resonant frequency of the beam respectively. The placement of the proof mass has a 10.9% effect on the resonant frequency of the beam and shape of the proof mass has 1.9% effect on the power output.