Multimodal Multidirectional Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester by U-Shaped Structure with Cross-Connected Beams

Hongbo Qin,Xin Jiang,Siyao Shang,Yan Liu,Shuting Mo,Peng Wang

doi:10.3390/mi13030396

Hongbo Qin, Xin Jiang + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13030396

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Abstract

This paper proposes a multidirectional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester based on an improved U-shaped structure with cross-connected beams. Benefitting from the bi-directional capacity of U-shaped beam and additional bending mode induced by cross-connected configuration, the proposed structure can well capture the vibrations in 3D space at the frequencies lower than 15 Hz. These features are further validated by finite element analyses and theorical formulas. The prototype is fabricated and the experiments under different conditions are carried out. The results show that the proposed harvester can generate favorable voltage and power under multidirectional vibrations at a low operating frequency. Practical applications of charging capacitors and powering a wireless sensor node demonstrate the feasibility of this energy harvester in supplying power for engineering devices.

Highlights

Energy Harvester by U-ShapedThe large-scale use of fossil fuels is causing serious impacts on the global climate in the past few decades
A piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters (PEVHs) can be constructed by a proof mass to capture the vibration, a piezoelectric plate to convert the energy and a substrate to support the mass and plate [14]
This paper proposed a PVEH based on an improved U-shaped structure for effectively harvesting energy from the multidirectional, inconstant vibrations in daily life

Summary

Introduction

The large-scale use of fossil fuels is causing serious impacts on the global climate in the past few decades. Lowering carbon emission has become a critical task for the global to pursue carbon neutrality. Harvesting energy from ambient vibrations, such as winding, human motion, vehicles, machines and buildings, etc., have been reorganized as a feasible solution to supply green energy to wireless sensor nodes [1–6], which can be implemented by using electromagnetic [7,8], electrostatic [9]. Piezoelectric [10,11] transduction mechanisms to convert mechanical energies into electricity. Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters (PEVHs) have been highlighted because of its high-power density, ease of implementation and miniaturization [5,12,13]. A PEVH can be constructed by a proof mass to capture the vibration, a piezoelectric plate to convert the energy and a substrate to support the mass and plate [14]

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