Hybrid acoustic, vibration, and wind energy harvester using piezoelectric transduction for self-powered wireless sensor node applications

Abstract

Energy harvesters are considered to be a promising solution for long lasting operation of wireless sensor nodes, moreover, make these power-sustainable in hazardous, implantable, remote, harsh, embedded, and abandoned environments where frequent battery replacement is a challenge. Existing energy harvesters utilize only one or two ambient energy sources, however, in this paper, we developed a novel piezoelectric-based energy harvester that converts three ambient energies (acoustic, vibration, and wind) simultaneously into electrical energy. The developed harvester comprises a Helmholtz resonator, a unimorph piezoelectric composite plate, and a cambered aerofoil connected with a piezoelectric plate using a base support. Acoustic, vibration, and wind induced deformation in the harvester’s piezoelectric plate and intrun electrical energy is produced based on piezoelectric phenomena. The harvester showed two peaks (at 802 and 1417 Hz frequencies) when subjected to a forward frequency sweep (FFS) which corresponds to its resonant frequencies. Under resonance, in the acoustic and vibrations environment, the harvester produced a maximum power of 210.6 µW, and 1.38 mW on excitation at 130 dB sound pressure level (SPL) and 0.8 g base acceleration, respectively. Furthermore, the harvester produced maximum power of about 285 µW when exposed to 8 m/s wind speed. The developed harvester can be a potential power source for self-powered wireless sensors used for the structural health monitoring of bridges, tall buildings, and railway tracks.