Abstract
Our 21st century faces to a “sustainable society”, which enhances (a) usage of non-toxic materials, (b) disposal technology for existing hazardous materials, (c) reduction of contamination gas, (d) environmental monitoring system, (e) new energy source creation, and (f) energy-efficient device development in the piezoelectric area. With reducing their size, the electromagnetic components reduce their efficiency drastically. Thus, piezoelectric transducers with much less losses are highly sought recently. Piezoelectric devices seem to be all-around contributors and a key component to the above mentioned five R&D areas. Some of the efforts include: (a) Since the most popular piezoelectric lead zirconate titante ceramics will be regulated in European and Asian societies due to their toxicity (Pb2+ ion), lead-free piezoelectrics have been developed. (b) Since hazardous organic substances can easily be dissolved by the ultrasonic irradiation in water, a new safe disposal technology using piezoelectric transducers has been developed. (c) We demonstrated an energy recovery system on a hybrid car from its engine’s mechanical vibration to the rechargeable battery. (d) Micro ultrasonic motors based on piezoelectrics demonstrated 1/20 reduction in the volume and a 20-time increase in efficiency of the conventional electromagnetic motors. This paper introduces leading piezoelectric materials, devices, and drive/control methods, relating with the above “sustainability” technologies, aiming at further research expansion in this area.
Highlights
Change in Product Planning Strategy After the wars, mass production technologies were sought for the reconstruction and recovery of the country, and a sort of “Econo-Engineering” revived under the direction of the political leaders until 1990s in Japan
Our 21st century faces to a “sustainable society”, which enhances (a) usage of non-toxic materials, (b) disposal technology for existing hazardous materials, (c) reduction of contamination gas, (d) environmental monitoring system, (e) new energy source creation, and (f) energy-efficient device development in the piezoelectric area
Some of the efforts include: (a) Since the most popular piezoelectric lead zirconate titante ceramics will be regulated in European and Asian societies due to their toxicity (Pb2+ ion), lead-free piezoelectrics have been developed. (b) Since hazardous organic substances can be dissolved by the ultrasonic irradiation in water, a new safe disposal technology using piezoelectric transducers has been developed. (c) We demonstrated an energy recovery system on a hybrid car from its engine’s mechanical vibration to the rechargeable battery. (d) Micro ultrasonic motors based on piezoelectrics demonstrated 1/20 reduction in the volume and a 20-time increase in efficiency of the conventional electromagnetic motors
Summary
Kenji Uchino1* 1 Int’l Center for Actuators and Transducers, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA * Kenji Uchino, Int’l Center for Actuators and Transducers, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Received: August 18, 2019 Accepted: September 8, 2019 Online Published: September 11, 2019 doi:10.22158/se.v4n4p181
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