Abstract
In order to solve the problem of sustainable energy supply for low-power electronic products used in low-frequency vibration environment, the mathematic model was established based on the theory of piezoelectricity and Euler-Bernoulli beam. Also, the effects of different parameters of PZT unimorph beams such as the length, width, and tip mass on generating capacity were studied by FEM. The results show that the energy harvester with PZT unimorph beam and tip mass is suitable for low-frequency vibration environment. Increasing the length or reducing the width of the beam can significantly lower the first-order modal frequency of energy harvester when other conditions remain the same. Within certain range, the first-order modal frequency of the beam also gradually reduced as the tip mass increasing. When the size of the PZT unimorph beam is 60x60x0.33mm, the tip mass is 8.92g and an exciting force of 0.01N is applied to it along z axis, an output of 8.1V can be obtained. Meanwhile, the PZT unimorph beam is under the first vibration mode and the resonant frequency is 16.296Hz.
Highlights
With the development of MEMS technology, wide application of small electronic components and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), many disadvantages of the traditional way using chemical battery as the main energy supply have been revealed, one of the biggest defects is the short service life, which means that batteries are difficult to fundamentally solve the problem of providing sustainable energy supply [1]
Through the establishment of mathematic model and FEM, the paper studied the influence on the first-order modal frequency and power generating capacity of the piezoelectric energy harvester, when the PZT beams has different length, width and tip mass with the aim of better meeting the requirements for energy supply using in lowfrequency vibration ambient environment
The energy harvester designed which based on the PZT unimorph beam can effectively convert the mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy in low-frequency vibration environment
Summary
With the development of MEMS technology, wide application of small electronic components and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), many disadvantages of the traditional way using chemical battery as the main energy supply have been revealed, one of the biggest defects is the short service life, which means that batteries are difficult to fundamentally solve the problem of providing sustainable energy supply [1]. [5,6], compared with the other two methods, the piezoelectric power generator based on vibration has long life, simple in structure, easy to miniaturize, no electromagnetic interference and clean environment It can provide and meet the electric energy demand for low power electronic products and WSNs working in low-frequency vibration ambient environment. The vibration energy is very limited and the frequency is relatively low in the environment Under this circumstances, in order to make the piezoelectric energy harvester has good capacity to meet the power demand of small electronic components and WSNs working in low-frequency vibration environment (10-30Hz), we must adjust the structure and shape parameters of the piezoelectric vibrator to reduce the first-order modal frequencies. Through the establishment of mathematic model and FEM, the paper studied the influence on the first-order modal frequency and power generating capacity of the piezoelectric energy harvester, when the PZT beams has different length, width and tip mass with the aim of better meeting the requirements for energy supply using in lowfrequency vibration ambient environment
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