Piezoelectric sensors application in causing inductive vibrations by external fluid flow around the porous micro-beam and energy harvesting

Abstract

One of the new methods to provide energy for low-power electrical systems in different industries is the use of the mechanical wave energy. In this method, by using piezoelectric transducer, the energy caused by fluid flow is converted into electricity. In the literature, studies are conducted on energy harvesting from sea waves, but no study is conducted on energy harvesting by considering inductive vibrations caused by external fluid flow around the porous micro-beam. Accordingly, in the current study, by considering structural and fluid interaction as well as large deformations, nonlinear coupling microelectromechanical equations governing the behavior of the porous micro-beam transverse vibrations exposed to external fluid flow will be extracted. Porous micro-beam that is equipped with two piezoelectric layers has been considered as energy harvester, and after numerical solution of the governing nonlinear equations, the effect of different parameters on the generated energy will be investigated. The results showed that porous distribution has a considerable effect on the lock-in area and the harvested energy by the porous micro-beam, and this area for micro-beam with symmetrical porosity distribution (hardness in the wall), asymmetrical porosity distribution, and uniform porous distribution is at the rates of u = 0.85, u = 0.62, and u = 1, respectively. Moreover, in these areas, energy harvesting by micro-beam shows its maximum amount.