Piezoelectric Harvester Research Articles

Improving Energy Harvesting from Cantilever-like Structures Based on Beam Geometry

Abstract Purpose Power gain from piezoelectric harvesters depends on several parameters and one of them is to design the substructure as to increase the mechanical strain occurred in the piezoelectric material. In this study, the effect of geometrical modification of the beam on the harvested power was investigated and new geometries were offered for increased power response from cantilever type energy harvesters. Method First, the effectiveness of auxetic structures on harvested power was investigated to see the effect of the negative Poisson’s ratio on harvested power. These structures are very popular in recent years on energy harvesting applications; however, their performances were generally compared to plain structures which is not a fair comparison. Rather, in this study, their performances were compared to non-auxetic nonlinear structures as well as plain geometry. Then, three new shapes inspired by re-entrant auxetic structure were presented for increased power response, and harvested power from these structures were evaluated under different conditions. Results It was shown that the power gain from auxetic structures is very high compared to plain structures; however, this increase in power could also be achieved using a non-auxetic simple rectangular structure in some cases. On the other hand, new geometries offered in this study performed better than the auxetic and non-auxetic geometries in most cases.

A Survey on Methods to Optimize Power Harvesting in Drones

This paper explores the challenges associated with limited battery capacity in drones and presents a comprehensive analysis of strategies to optimize energy harvesting and extend flight durations. Various energy generation methods, including piezoelectric and solar harvesting, are discussed, along with electrical circuit generation for wireless charging and communication-enabled energy delivery. The interdisciplinary nature of drone technology is highlighted, emphasizing the need for ongoing research in renewable energy models and innovative solutions like laser charging. The paper concludes with recommendations for further exploration and refinement of these strategies to enhance the future of UAVs.

Energy generation through a hybrid energy harvester under random excitation

This manuscript analyses a multi-frequency based coupled piezo-electromagnetic hybrid vibration energy harvester. Most of the energy harvesting devices discussed in the literature are based on the assumption that the base excitation is harmonic. However, in general, energy harvesting devices are deployed in an ambient environment, which is random in nature. Hence, in this regard, the manuscript discusses the power harvesting capabilities of the hybrid energy harvester under random base excitation using analytical and experimental studies. Acceleration with band limited Gaussian noise has been provided as an input to the base of the harvester. Comparative studies are also made to understand the performance of the hybrid harvester over conventional standalone piezoelectric and electromagnetic harvesters under the same support excitation. Thus, the novelty of the present work is to analyse a novel design of a hybrid harvester to improve harvesting performance across a wide range of frequencies under random base excitation compared to conventional harvesters. The results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid energy harvester can yield sufficient power over a wide range of frequencies. In addition, parametric studies have also been performed to characterize the system parameters in order to enhance the performance of the harvester. Studies show that the harvested power can be enhanced by maximizing the values of mass ratio, frequency ratio, non-dimensional electromechanical coupling coefficient and minimizing the values of structural damping ratios. Finally, practical applications of the proposed device have also been reported.

Maximizing Electric Power Recovery through Advanced Compensation with MPPT Algorithms

The present investigation introduces an advanced methodology for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) applied to a piezo harvester scheme. A comprehensive rectifier circuit, equipped with an embedded MPPT component, is established to optimize energy production by monitoring a DC-DC inverter connected to the rectifier. Furthermore, the system’s sensitivity error has been finely tuned to dynamically adjust its impedance unit in real time, thereby optimizing load acquisition. This innovative approach seamlessly integrates the MPPT algorithm into the piezo harvester circuit. Moreover, the vehicle’s road handling is significantly augmented through the incorporation of a robust steering front and an active differential control system. Leveraging the MPPT module, the rectifier consistently achieves a power recovery efficiency exceeding 85%, independent of varying load conditions. Additionally, a DC-DC converter circuit has been seamlessly integrated to finely adjust the output voltage to meet specified levels. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the harvesting scheme, extracting a substantial output power of 90 W with an overall efficiency of 70%. The improved MPPT approach, employing angles of arrival (AoA) DV-Hop control strategies, minimizes the system’s power consumption based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). The utilization of Harris Hawks optimization (HHO) and the generation of quadrants in the four-quadrant operation mode of DC motors in the wireless sensor network (RCSFs) have been significantly enhanced in this study. Simulations reveal that, at a velocity of 50 km/h, shock absorbers utilizing the received signal strength indication (RSSI) can harvest between 60 and 90 W on a class C road, based on the time of arrival (TOA). Striking a balance in ride comfort using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) as a trade-off constitutes approximately 30% of the piezoelectric harvester (PEH) system’s power consumption when operating in active suspension mode, optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO).

The future of tire energy: a novel one-end cap structure for sustainable energy harvesting

Piezoelectric energy harvesting is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly solution to harvest energy from tire deformation for tire condition monitoring systems in vehicles. Traditional piezoelectric harvesters, such as cymbal and bridge structures, cannot be used inside tires due to their design limitations. The wider adoption of renewable energy sources into the energy system is increasing rapidly, reflecting a global attraction toward the utilization of sustainable power sources (Aljendy et al. in Int J Power Energy Convers 12(4): 314–337, 2021; Yesner et al. in Evaluation of a novel piezoelectric bridge transducer. In: 2017 Joint IEEE International Symposium on the Applications of Ferroelectric (ISAF)/International Workshop on Acoustic Transduction Materials and Devices (IWATMD)/Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). IEEE, 2017). The growing interest in capturing energy from tire deformation for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) aligns with this trend, providing a promising and self-sustaining alternative to traditional battery-powered systems. This study presents a novel one-end cap tire strain piezoelectric energy harvester (TSPEH) that can be used efficiently and reliably inside a tire. The interaction between the tire and energy harvester was analyzed using a decoupled modeling approach, which showed that stress concentration occurred along the edge of the end cap. The TSPEH generated a maximum voltage of 768 V under 2 MPa of load, resulting in an energy output of 32.645 J/rev under 1 MPa. The computational findings of this study were consistent with previous experimental investigations, confirming the reliability of the numerical simulations. The results suggest that the one-end cap structure can be an effective energy harvester inside vehicle tires, providing a valuable solution for utilizing one-end cap structures in high-deformation environments such as vehicle tires.

A Contactless Coupled Pendulum and Piezoelectric Wave Energy Harvester: Model and Experiment

Wireless monitoring systems for the marine environment are important for rapidly growing subsea developments. The power supply of wireless sensor nodes within the monitoring systems, however, is a major challenge. This study proposes a novel piezoelectric wave energy converter (pWEC) device to power the wireless sensing nodes. Unlike previous studies, the proposed device utilizes contactless pWEC technology in which a spring pendulum provides a two-stage frequency amplification of 3.8 times for low-frequency wave environments. The pWEC device consists of a floating body, inner pendulum, spring pendulum, magnets and piezoelectric sheets. In order to harvest the energy from relatively low frequency ocean waves, the pWEC device is designed to have an enhanced energy-capturing frequency. The effects of internal pendulum mass, spring pendulum weight, pendulum length and spring stiffness on wave energy absorption are investigated using theoretical and numerical analysis combined with laboratory experiments. The slider that drives the motion of the piezoelectric sheet vibrates at up to 3.8 times the wave frequency. To test the piezoelectric generators in the laboratory environment, a mechanical structure is set up to simulate the motion of the external floating body and the internal wave energy converter under the action of waves. When the four piezoelectric plates are arranged horizontally, the average output power per plate is increased by 2.4 times, and a single piezoelectric plate can generate an average of 10 mW of power. The proposed piezoelectric wave energy converter device has the potential to provide long-term energy supply for small ocean monitoring platforms at remote locations with reasonable wave energy resources.

Energy Harvesting from Water Flow by Using Piezoelectric Materials

As a promising energy‐harvesting technique, an increasing number of researchers seek to exploit the piezoelectric effect to power electronic devices by harvesting the energy associated with water flow. In this emerging field, a variety of research themes attract interest for investigation; these include selection of the excitation mechanism, oscillation structure, piezoelectric material, power management interface circuit, and application. Since there has been no comprehensive review to date with respect to the harvesting of water flow using piezoelectric materials, herein relevant work in the last 25 years is reviewed. To ensure that key aspects of the water‐flow energy harvester are overviewed, they are discussed in the context of energy‐flow theory, which includes the three stages of energy extraction, energy conversion, and energy transfer. The development of each energy‐flow process is reviewed in detail and combined with meta‐analysis of the published literature. Correlations between the harvesting processes and their contribution to the overall energy‐harvesting performance are illustrated, and directions for future research are also proposed. In this review, a comprehensive understanding of water‐flow piezoelectric energy harvesting is provided and it is aimed to guide future research and the development of piezoelectric harvesters for water‐flow‐powered devices is promoted.

Piezoelectric generator harvesting bike vibrations energy to supply portable devices

With the decrease in energy consumption of portable electronic devices, the concept of harvesting renewable energy in human surrounding arouses a renewed interest. In this context, we have developed a piezoelectric generator that harvests mechanical vibrations energy available on a bicycle. Embarked piezoelectric transducer, which is an electromechanical converter, undergoes mechanical vibrations therefore produce electricity. A static converter transforms the electrical energy in a suitable form to the targeted portable application. Values of generated electrical power are reported and commented.

Biomimetic Exogenous "Tissue Batteries" as Artificial Power Sources for Implantable Bioelectronic Devices Manufacturing.

Implantable bioelectronic devices (IBDs) have gained attention for their capacity to conformably detect physiological and pathological signals and further provide internal therapy. However, traditional power sources integrated into these IBDs possess intricate limitations such as bulkiness, rigidity, and biotoxicity. Recently, artificial "tissue batteries" (ATBs) have diffusely developed as artificial power sources for IBDs manufacturing, enabling comprehensive biological-activity monitoring, diagnosis, and therapy. ATBs are on-demand and designed to accommodate the soft and confining curved placement space of organisms, minimizing interface discrepancies, and providing ample power for clinical applications. This review presents the near-term advancements in ATBs, with a focus on their miniaturization, flexibility, biodegradability, and power density. Furthermore, it delves into material-screening, structural-design, and energy density across three distinct categories of TBs, distinguished by power supply strategies. These types encompass innovative energy storage devices (chemical batteries and supercapacitors), power conversion devices that harness power from human-body (biofuel cells, thermoelectric nanogenerators, bio-potential devices, piezoelectric harvesters, and triboelectric devices), and energy transfer devices that receive and utilize external energy (radiofrequency-ultrasound energy harvesters, ultrasound-induced energy harvesters, and photovoltaic devices). Ultimately, future challenges and prospects emphasize ATBs with the indispensability of bio-safety, flexibility, and high-volume energy density as crucial components in long-term implantable bioelectronic devices.

Development and characterization of acoustic energy harvesters for low power wireless sensor network

Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs) have developed significantly over the years and have a significant potential in diverse applications in the fields of science and technology. The inadequate energy accompanying with WSNs is a key constraint of WSN skills. To overwhelm this main restraint, the development and expansion of effective and reliable energy harvesting systems for WSN atmospheres are being discovered. In this research, low power acoustic affordable and clean energy harvesters are designed and developed by applying different techniques of energy transduction from the sound available in the surroundings. Three acoustic energy harvesters were developed based on piezoelectric phenomenon, electromagnetic transduction & Hybrid respectively. The CAD modelling, lumped modelling and Finite Element Analysis of the harvesters were carried out. The voltages were obtained using FEA for each Acoustic Harvester. Characterization of all the three harvesters were carried out and the power generated by piezoelectric harvester, electromagnetic harvester and Hybrid Acoustic Energy harvester are 2.25x10-9W, 0.0533W and 0.0232W respectively.

Employing Piezoelectricity to Generate Sustainable Energy with Green Harmonics

This paper examines the potential of piezoelectric substances in presenting sustainable and renewable energy solutions, that specialize in energy harvesting and self-maintaining smart sensing mechanisms inside numerous systems. Highlighting the inefficacy of conventional construction substances like simple cement paste in energy capture, this study delves into current methodologies that expand the piezoelectric abilities of cement-based composites through innovative admixtures and physical treatments. Additionally, the research explores the broader utilization of piezoelectric materials across various sectors together with healthcare, environmental tracking, and consumer electronics, propelled by using the need for wireless sensing nodes and embedded microsystems to have a reliable power source. Emphasizing the environmental advantages, this paper affords a comparative analysis of cutting-edge developments, challenges, and future possibilities within the area of piezoelectric power harvesting (PEH), which include the exploration of lead-free substances and the advancement in hybrid energy harvesting devices.

Experimental admittance-based system identification for equivalent circuit modeling of piezoelectric energy harvesters on a plate

Equivalent circuit modeling is a useful tool for piezoelectric energy harvesters to analyze the electromechanical response of the system especially when complex host structure geometries and nonlinear circuits are used in the harvesting systems. Previous studies have used analytical and finite element models to estimate the equivalent circuit model (ECM) of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) on beam- and plate-like structures. However, those methods require accurate analytical and/or numerical representation of the PEH. Here, we present an experimental admittance-based system identification method that allows us to identify the multi-modal ECM without prior knowledge of the host plate's geometry and/or physical properties of the piezoelectric patches. Using the proposed experimental method, we obtain the electromechanical frequency–response admittance of the PEH system at each vibration mode, and thereby, we calculate the equivalent system parameters. Additionally, a novel experimental technique is presented for the identification of the equivalent voltage sources associated with each LCR branch of the ECM. The derived ECM is experimentally validated for single and multiple piezoelectric patch harvesters on a plate. The electrical frequency response of the system has been validated for standard AC and rectifier circuits using SPICE software. Overall, the proposed admittance-based system identification is an accurate and robust method to identify the equivalent system parameters, making it a practical and reliable tool for modeling piezoelectric energy harvesting systems.

Finite element modeling of piezoelectric cantilever-beam energy harvester

Piezoelectric energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations has attracted considerable attention during the last decade. The homogeneous harvesters were studied experimentally or numerically by various models such as single degree of freedom (SDOF) modeling, finite element (FE) modeling as well as using analytical solutions. In this work, FE models for simulating a piezoelectric beam bimorph power harvester consisting of a laminated piezoelectric beam, a proof mass, and an electrical load (series or parallel connections) configurations are developed. The effects of the material and size of the substrate, the proof mass have been studied on the resonance frequencies and the output parameters of the piezoelectric generator (PEG). Numerical results obtained using the proposed procedure for piezoelectric bimorph power harvesters are in good agreement with the experimental data available in the literature. The proposed method can be used for modeling accurately this class of energy harvesting devices.

Power enhancement of piezoelectric energy harvester using ZnOnf-PDMS composite with PVDF filler

This work aims to fabricate a piezoelectric energy harvester using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with Zinc Oxide nanoflower (ZnOnf) and Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). ZnOnf is synthesised via the hydrothermal method by varying the reaction time. The long nanoflowers resulting from the reaction time of 2 h are utilized to prepare the piezoelectric composite. Two energy harvesters are fabricated: ZnOnf-PDMS (ZP) and ZnOnf-PVDF-PDMS (ZPP), to harvest mechanical energy. The incorporation of PVDF into the ZnOnf-PDMS composite enhances the active polar β-phase of PVDF, leading to improved piezoelectric activity. The output voltage of the piezoelectric harvesters is measured under various impact forces applied using a self-designed impact force setup. The addition of PVDF to the ZnOnf-PDMS composite results in an increase in the dielectric constant and, consequently, in the energy harvester's output. Thus, at an applied impact force of 2.64 N, the output power harvested is 11.4 µW for ZP, and is amplified to 14.27 µW for ZPP. Furthermore, the incorporation of PVDF enhances the thermal stability and delays the decomposition temperature of the energy harvester.

Design, simulation and experiment for a piezoelectric energy harvester based on fluid pressure pulsation in water hydraulic system

Water hydraulic pump is an essential component of water hydraulic system, and periodic pressure pulsation is generated during its operation. A hydraulic piezoelectric energy harvester (HPEH) with excellent sealing and insulation performance is proposed to recover the vibrational energy from pressure pulsation. The energy harvesting performance of HPEH is investigated through simulation and experiment under different parameter combinations. The results show that the transient voltage and transient pressure exhibit the same fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Higher pressure amplitude is favorable for deformation and can lead to higher electric energy generation, but the static pressure has little effect on the energy harvesting performance. Although the voltage increasing with increasing the resistance, the average power increases first and then decreases. Compared with the existing piezoelectric energy harvesters, the present HPEH has advantages in voltage and power density. The root mean square voltage, average power and power density can reach up to 9.9 V, 791.7 μW and 2.067 μW/(bar·mm3), respectively. Moreover, 42 LEDs connected in parallel are lighted to demonstrate the feasibility of using the HPEH as a power source. This study can lay a foundation for driving low-power components using piezoelectric harvesting energy from pressure pulsation in water hydraulic system.

Modeling and Dynamic Design of a Piezoelectric Cantilever Energy Harvester with Surface Constraints

Modeling and Dynamic Design of a Piezoelectric Cantilever Energy Harvester with Surface Constraints

Harvesting low-speed wind energy by bistable snap-through and amplified inertial force

One of current research focuses in wind energy harvester (WEH) design is improving electric output in low-speed wind environments. A desired WEH should work efficiently and produce large output in low-speed wind conditions. For this aim, a novel piezoelectric harvester is presented, which introduces multi-stability and applies amplified inertial forces on the piezoelectric material to improve the WEH's performance for low-speed wind. Under the action of wind, galloping will drive the cantilever beam to oscillate, and multi-stability will increase its response amplitude. Finally, the resulted inertial force will be amplified by two branches and act on the piezoelectric sheets to produce electric outputs. The theoretical model is established, and corresponding analyses are carried out. The results prove that a desired potential energy function can be obtained by adjusting the distances between magnets. The validation experiments are conducted in a wind tunnel. The experimental results prove that the harvester can start the snap-through motion from a relatively low wind speed of 1.30 m/s and keeps it in a low-speed area (1.30 m/s-1.85 m/s). Especially, the force's acting mode on piezoelectric material and the attraction between magnets can improve the harvester's reliability and sustainability.

VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF A TWIN-SCREW COMPRESSOR AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY HARVESTING

The paper presents the vibration spectra of a twin-screw compressor driven at various functioning regimes. The tests are performed to assess the potential of this rotary bladed machine as energy harvesting source. It is sought to determine the optimum spots on the compressor skid where piezoelectric harvesters can be placed, meeting the operational conditions. Like most of the industrial machinery, compressors exhibit inherent vibrations and heating during operation. The pulsatory effects of the compressed air trapped between the compressor’s male and female rotors inside the compressor also give birth to harmonics. It is important to evaluate the temperatures as well since piezoelectric harvesters should preferably operate close to room temperature so as not to deteriorate the material and avoid thermal hysteresis, which can ultimately lead to the loss of piezoelectric properties. The study herein involves acquiring vibrational data and representing it graphically as vibration spectra. An analytical model is also presented for calculating the main frequencies of the compressor, validated by the experimental data measurements. We also present laboratory tests with the piezoelectric harvester tuned near the male rotor’s frequency for achieving resonance conditions. The male rotor frequency was the most stable, with the highest amplitudes and of convenient value (~83 Hz) for the tip mass required for decreasing the piezoelectric cantilever’s resonant frequency from ~210 Hz.

A piezoelectric wave energy harvester equipped with a sequential-drive rotating mechanism and rotary piezoelectric harvesting component

This study developed a sequential rotary-driven piezoelectric wave energy harvester (SRD-PWEH), comprising a cylindrical buoy, sequential-drive rotating mechanism based on a pair of one-way bearings, and rotary piezoelectric harvesting component. The harvesting component was based on a circumferentially arranged piezoelectric composite cantilever beam array. The one-way bearings converted the repetitive rotary motion of an input shaft into a unidirectional rotational motion without reverse rotation to drive the rotary piezoelectric harvesting component. Considering that the rotary-driven process is kind of noncontact-driven, it can effectively reduce the risk of damage to the piezoelectric composite cantilever beam structure. The SRD-PWEH was tested in a wave flume under two wave amplitudes and five wave periods. Results showed that the experimental condition of the wave amplitude and period of 75 mm and 0.9 s, respectively, achieved the highest electrical power. The root-mean-square voltage and maximum average power with the fault diagnosis rate filter circuit were 2.46 V and 0.49 mW, respectively.

An Inertial Noncontact Piezoelectric Rotary Energy Harvester with Linear Reciprocating Motion

Herein, an inertial noncontact piezoelectric rotary energy harvester with linear reciprocating motion (L‐PREH) is presented. The existing piezoelectric rotary harvester employing gravity excitation has limited performance when the rotation speed is high due to the negative influence of centrifugal force. L‐PREH translates rotational motion into linear motion via the transmission chain and employs inertial force excitation to overcome high‐speed performance limitations. Using the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the motion governing equations of piezoelectric transducers have been derived, and an electromechanical coupling model has been constructed. Moreover, the piezoelectric transducer is simulated and analyzed. The control variable approach is used to explore the key parameters impacting output performance. When the mass is positioned in symmetrical method, the guide rod is fixed in noncentral place, the limiter is fixed in longest distance, the distance between the mass's center and the main frame is the maximum, and the rotating speed is 450 RPM, the maximum peak‐to‐peak output voltage of an L‐PREH single transducer is 24 V. The highest power of two piezoelectric transducers linked in parallel with a load resistance of 400 kΩ is 0.27 mW, which can light up more than 70 light‐emitting diodes. The L‐PREH can drive low‐power devices.