Abstract
In order to minimize the requirement of external power source and maintenance for electric devices such as wireless sensor networks, the energy harvesting technique based on vibrations has been a dynamic field of studying interest over past years. Researchers have concentrated on developing efficient energy harvesters by adopting new materials and optimizing the harvesting devices. One important limitation of existing energy harvesting techniques is that the power output performance is seriously subject to the resonant frequencies of ambient vibrations, which are often random and broadband. This paper reviews important vibration-to-electricity conversion mechanisms, including theory, modelling methods and the realizations of the piezoelectric, electromagnetic and electrostatic approaches. Different types of energy harvesters that have been designed with nonlinear characteristics are also reviewed. As one of important factors to estimate the power output performance, the energy conversion efficiency of different conversion mechanisms is also summarized. Finally, the challenging issues based on the existing methods and future requirement of energy harvesting are also discussed.
Highlights
The field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years due to the increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended lifespan (Koestel et al, 1996)
In the case of wireless sensors that are to be placed in remote locations, the sensor must be accessible or of a disposable nature to allow the device to function over extended periods of time
Radio frequency harvesters use a direct consequence of our current lifestyle. This type of harvesters exploits the electromagnetic waves which are emitted by different sources, but largely unused (Williams and Yates, 1996)
Summary
The field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years due to the increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended lifespan (Koestel et al, 1996). Current portable & wireless devices must be designed to include electrochemical batteries as the power source. The use of batteries can be troublesome due to their limited lifespan, necessitating their periodic replacement. Energy scavenging devices are designed to capture the ambient energy surrounding the electronics & convert it into usable electrical energy (Zhu et al, 2001). A number of sources of harvestable ambient energy exist, including thermal energy, sound energy, radio frequency, light, mechanical energy & wind energy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
