A Coupled Finite Element—Circuit Simulation Model for Analyzing Piezoelectric Energy Generators

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niell G. Elvin ◽  
Alex A. Elvin
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Circuit Simulation ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Solution Technique ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Non Linear

A coupled finite element method (FEM) and circuit simulation approach for analyzing piezoelectric energy harvesters is presented. The advantage of the proposed method is that the mechanical analysis of the generator can be done using available FEM packages, while the circuit analysis can be performed using standard circuit simulation software (e.g., SPICE). The electromechanical coupling between the two physical domains is achieved by applying equivalent piezoelectric loads in the mechanical model, and equivalent electrical voltages in the electric model. This approach allows for the modeling of complex mechanical geometries and sophisticated, non-linear circuits. The solutions of two example problems are presented: (1) a beam generator with a resistive load, which is compared to an existing analytical solution, and (2) a plate generator with a non-linear diode bridge circuit. Though relatively easy to implement, the explicit solution technique presented in this article can be computationally expensive for complicated models with long simulation time-histories.

Three-dimensional formulation of a strain-based geometrically nonlinear piezoelectric beam for energy harvesting

2021 ◽  
pp. 1045389X2098879
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Beltramo ◽  
Balakumar Balachandran ◽  
Sergio Preidikman
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Strain Tensor ◽  
Additional Term ◽  
External Loading ◽  
Geometrically Nonlinear ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Piezoelectric Beam ◽  
Highly Nonlinear

In this paper, the authors introduce a model of a strain-based geometrically nonlinear piezoelectric beam for modeling energy harvesters. A nonlinear shear-underfomable 3-D Rayleigh’s beam theory is used to model the displacement fields and can be considered as an interesting alternative to linear and highly nonlinear models commonly presented in the literature. The nonlinearities are introduced to reproduce the behavior of the flexible structure, since moderate to large displacements can occur in response of external loading conditions. The finite element method is used to model the piezolaminated bimorph configuration. Each finite element consists of two piezoelectric energy harvesters embedded or perfectly bonded to an elastic substrate. The electromechanical coupling includes axial and flexural effects as well as additional term that comes from the nonlinearity incorporated into the strain tensor. Additionally, the authors explore briefly two topics for linear harvesters: the influence of the electric domain on the structural properties and, the performance of the harvester near resonance in term of electric power output of a purely resistive network. As a validation case, a cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvester under base excitation is modeled. Alongside, the response to gust of a harvester embedded in a wing structure is analyzed.

Non-Linear Modeling and Analysis of Composite Helicopter Blade for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wander G. R. Vieira ◽  
Fred Nitzsche ◽  
Carlos De Marqui
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Modeling And Analysis ◽  
Helicopter Blade ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Non Linear

Converting aeroelastic vibrations into electricity for low-power generation has received growing attention over the past few years. Helicopter blades with embedded piezoelectric elements can provide electrical energy to power small electronic components. In this paper, the non-linear modeling and analysis of an electromechanically coupled cantilevered helicopter blade is presented for piezoelectric energy harvesting. A resistive load is considered in the electrical domain of the problem in order to quantify the electrical power output. The non-linear electromechanical model is derived based on the Variational-Asymptotic Method (VAM). The coupled non-linear rotary system is solved in the time-domain. A generalized-α integration method is used to guarantee numerical stability, adding numerical damping at high frequencies. The electromechanical behavior of the coupled rotating blade is investigated for increasing rotating speeds (stiffening effect).

scholarly journals Performance Assessment and Comparison of Two Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters Developed for Pavement Application: Case Study

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Chenchen Li ◽  
Shifu Liu ◽  
Hongduo Zhao ◽  
Yu Tian
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Modulus ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Bridge Structure ◽  
Wheel Load ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Conversion Coefficients ◽  
Electromechanical Conversion

To advance the development of piezoelectric energy harvesters, this study designed and manufactured bridge-unit-based and pile-unit-based piezoelectric devices. An indoor material testing system and accelerated pavement test equipment were used to test the electrical performance, mechanical performance, and electromechanical coupling performance of the devices. The results showed that the elastic modulus of the pile structure device was relatively higher than that of the bridge structure device. However, the elastic modulus of the two devices should be improved to avoid attenuation in the service performance and fatigue life caused by the stiffness difference. Furthermore, the electromechanical conversion coefficients of the two devices were smaller than 10% and insensitive to the load magnitude and load frequency. Moreover, the two devices can harvest 3.4 mW and 2.6 mW under the wheel load simulated by the one-third scale model mobile load simulator, thus meeting the supply requirements of low-power sensors. The elastic modulus, electromechanical conversion coefficients, and electric performance of the pile structure device were more reliable than those of the bridge structure device, indicating a better application prospect in road engineering.

Equivalent impedance and power analysis of monostable piezoelectric energy harvesters

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (14) ◽  
pp. 1697-1715
Author(s):  
Chunbo Lan ◽  
Yabin Liao ◽  
Guobiao Hu ◽  
Lihua Tang
Keyword(s):  
Equivalent Circuit ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Closed Form Solutions ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Power Limit

Nonlinearity has been successfully introduced into piezoelectric energy harvesting for power performance enhancement and bandwidth enlargement. While a great deal of emphasis has been placed by researchers on the structural design and broadband effect, this article is motivated to investigate the maximum power of a representative type of nonlinear piezoelectric energy harvesters, that is, monostable piezoelectric energy harvester. An equivalent circuit is proposed to analytically study and explain system behaviors. The effect of nonlinearity is modeled as a nonlinear stiffness element mechanically and a nonlinear capacitive element electrically. Facilitated by the equivalent circuit, closed-form solutions of power limit and critical electromechanical coupling, that is, minimum coupling to reach the power limit, of monostable piezoelectric energy harvesters are obtained, which are used for a clear explanation of the system behavior. Several important conclusions have been drawn from the analytical analysis and validated by numerical simulations. First, given the same level of external excitation, the monostable piezoelectric energy harvester and its linear counterpart are subjected to the same power limit. Second, while the critical coupling of linear piezoelectric energy harvesters depends on the mechanical damping ratio only, it also depends on the vibration excitation and magnetic field for monostable piezoelectric energy harvesters, which can be used to adjust the power performance of the system.

scholarly journals Design and Analysis of a Magnetically Coupled Multi-Frequency Hybrid Energy Harvester

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (14) ◽  
pp. 3203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenlong Xu ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Huawei Ci ◽  
Maoying Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Peak Output Power ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Operating Bandwidth ◽  
Frequency Sweep Test ◽  
Hybrid Energy Harvesting

The approach to improve the output power of piezoelectric energy harvester is one of the current research hotspots. In the case where some sources have two or more discrete vibration frequencies, this paper proposed three types of magnetically coupled multi-frequency hybrid energy harvesters (MHEHs) to capture vibration energy composed of two discrete frequencies. Electromechanical coupling models were established to analyze the magnetic forces, and to evaluate the power generation characteristics, which were verified by the experimental test. The optimal structure was selected through the comparison. With 2 m/s2 excitation acceleration, the optimal peak output power was 2.96 mW at 23.6 Hz and 4.76 mW at 32.8 Hz, respectively. The superiority of hybrid energy harvesting mechanism was demonstrated. The influences of initial center-to-center distances between two magnets and length of cantilever beam on output power were also studied. At last, the frequency sweep test was conducted. Both theoretical and experimental analyses indicated that the proposed MHEH produced more electric power over a larger operating bandwidth.

A Distributed Parameter Electromechanical Model for Cantilevered Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Erturk ◽  
D. J. Inman
Keyword(s):  
Electromechanical Coupling ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Exact Analytical Solution ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Distributed Parameter ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Cantilevered Beams ◽  
Power Outputs

Cantilevered beams with piezoceramic layers have been frequently used as piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters in the past five years. The literature includes several single degree-of-freedom models, a few approximate distributed parameter models and even some incorrect approaches for predicting the electromechanical behavior of these harvesters. In this paper, we present the exact analytical solution of a cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvester with Euler–Bernoulli beam assumptions. The excitation of the harvester is assumed to be due to its base motion in the form of translation in the transverse direction with small rotation, and it is not restricted to be harmonic in time. The resulting expressions for the coupled mechanical response and the electrical outputs are then reduced for the particular case of harmonic behavior in time and closed-form exact expressions are obtained. Simple expressions for the coupled mechanical response, voltage, current, and power outputs are also presented for excitations around the modal frequencies. Finally, the model proposed is used in a parametric case study for a unimorph harvester, and important characteristics of the coupled distributed parameter system, such as short circuit and open circuit behaviors, are investigated in detail. Modal electromechanical coupling and dependence of the electrical outputs on the locations of the electrodes are also discussed with examples.

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