A Fractal-Inspired Multi-Frequency Piezoelectric Energy Converter: Design and Experimental Characterization

2012 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Davide Castagnetti
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Experimental Characterization ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Modal Response ◽  
Harvesting Technique ◽  
Piezoelectric Converter ◽  
Physical Prototype ◽  
Converter Design

A promising harvesting technique, in terms of simplicity and efficiency, is the conversion of ambient kinetic energy through piezoelectric materials. This work aims to design and investigate a piezoelectric converter conform to a fractal-inspired, multi-frequency structure previously presented by the author. A physical prototype of the converter is built and experimentally examined, up to 120 Hz, in terms of modal response and power output. Three eigenfrequencies are registered and the power output is particularly good at the fundamental eigenfrequency. Also the effect of the resistive load applied to the converter is investigated.

Experimental Comparison Between a Fractal-Inspired Multi-Frequency Piezoelectric Energy Converter and a Traditional Converter

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Castagnetti
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Experimental Comparison ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Ambient Vibrations ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Piezoelectric Converter ◽  
Specific Output Power

Harvesting energy from ambient vibrations in order to power autonomous sensors is a challenging issue. The aim of this work is to compare the power output from an innovative multi-frequency fractal-inspired piezoelectric converter to that from a traditional multi-cantilever piezoelectric converter. The converters are designed in order to give the same eigenfrequencies in a given range and a prototype of both is built using commercial materials. The experimental tests investigate both the effect of the acceleration and of the resistive load applied to the converters for each of the three eigenfrequencies in the range between 0 and 120 Hz. The fractal-inspired converter exhibits a significantly higher specific output power at the first and third of the eigenfrequencies investigated.

A Fractal-Inspired Multi-Frequency Piezoelectric Energy Converter: Computational and Experimental Characterization

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Castagnetti
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Physical Prototype ◽  
Self Powered ◽  
Resistive Loads ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

In order to develop self-powered wireless sensor nodes, many energy harvesting devices, able to convert freely available ambient energy into electrical energy, have been proposed in the literature. A promising technique, in terms of simplicity and high conversion efficiency, is the harvesting of ambient kinetic energy through piezoelectric materials. The aim of this work is to design and investigate the modal response and the power output of a fractal-inspired, multi-frequency, piezoelectric energy converter, previously presented by the author. Two are the steps of the work. First, a computational modal analysis of the converter is performed. Second, a physical prototype of the converter is built and its eigenfrequencies and power generation under different resistive loads are experimentally examined in the range between 0 and 120 Hz. The converter exhibits three eigenfrequencies and a good power output, in particular at the first eigenfrequency.

Comparison Between a Wideband Fractal-Inspired and a Traditional Multicantilever Piezoelectric Energy Converter

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Castagnetti
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Ambient Vibrations ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Energy Converter ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Piezoelectric Converter ◽  
Specific Output Power ◽  
Input Acceleration

Harvesting energy from ambient vibrations in order to power autonomous sensors is a challenging issue. The aim of this work is to compare the power output from an innovative wideband fractal-inspired piezoelectric converter to that from a traditional multicantilever piezoelectric energy converter. In a given frequency range, the converters are tuned on the same eigenfrequencies. The effect of the input acceleration and of the resistive load applied to the converters is investigated experimentally for each of the three eigenfrequencies in the range between 0 and 120 Hz. The fractal-inspired converter exhibits a significantly higher specific output power at the first and third of the eigenfrequencies investigated.

Experimental Modal Analysis of Fractal-Inspired Multi-Frequency Piezoelectric Energy Converters

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Castagnetti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Thin Plates ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Modal Response ◽  
Piezoelectric Converter

An important issue in the field of energy harvesting through piezoelectric materials is the design of simple and efficient structures which are multi-frequency in the ambient vibration range. This paper deals with the experimental assessment of four fractal-inspired multi-frequency structures for piezoelectric energy harvesting. These structures, thin plates of square shape, were proposed and numerically analyzed, with regard to their modal response, in a previous work by the author. The aim of this work is twofold. First, to assess the modal response of these structures through an experimental investigation. Second, to evaluate, through computational simulation, the performance of a piezoelectric converter prototype relying on one of these fractal-inspired structures. The four fractal-inspired structures are examined experimentally in the range between 0 and 100 Hz, both with regard to eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes. In the same frequency range are investigated the modal response and power output of a converter prototype.

Mechanistic Modeling and Economic Analysis of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Potential in Airport Pavements

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (11) ◽  
pp. 64-75
Author(s):  
Jingnan Zhao ◽  
Hao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Mechanistic Modeling ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy

This study investigated the feasibility of applying piezoelectric energy harvesting technology in airfield pavements through mechanistic modeling and economic analysis. The energy harvesting performance of piezoelectric transducers was evaluated based on mechanical energy induced by multi-wheel aircraft loading on flexible airfield pavements. A three-dimensional finite element model was used to estimate the stress pulse and magnitude under moving aircraft tire loading. A stack piezoelectric transducer design was used to estimate the power output of a piezoelectric harvester embedded at different locations and depths in the pavement. The aircraft load and speed were found to be vital factors affecting the power output, along with the installation depth and horizontal locations of the energy harvester. On the other hand, the installation of the energy module had a negligible influence on the horizontal tensile strains at the bottom of the asphalt layer and compressive strains on the top of the subgrade. However, the near-surface pavement strains increased when the edge ribs of the tire were loaded on the energy module. Feasibility analysis results showed that the calculated levelized cost of electricity was high in general, although it varies depending on the airport traffic levels and the service life of the energy module. With the development of piezoelectric materials and technology, further evaluation of energy harvesting applications at airports needs to be conducted.

scholarly journals A State-Of-The-Art Review of Car Suspension-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doaa Al-Yafeai ◽  
Tariq Darabseh ◽  
Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Dissipated Energy ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Harvesting Technique ◽  
Harvesting Systems

One of the most important techniques for energy harvesting is the clean energy collection from the ambient vibration. Piezoelectric energy harvesting systems became a hot topic in the literature and attracted most researchers. The reason behind this attraction is that piezoelectric materials are a simple structure and provide a higher power density among other mechanisms (electromagnetic and electrostatic). The aim of this manuscript is to succinctly review and present the state of the art of different existing vibrational applications utilizing piezoelectric energy harvesting technique. Meanwhile, the main concentration is harvesting energy from a vehicle suspension system. There is a significant amount of dissipated energy from the suspension dampers that is worthy of being harvested. Different mathematical car models with their experimental setup are presented, discussed, and compared. The piezoelectric material can be mounted in different locations such as suspension springs, dampers, and tires. The technique of implementing the harvester and the amount of power harvested from each location are analyzed. The evaluation of the electrical harvesting circuits and different storage devices for the harvested power are also discussed. The paper will also shed light on the variety of potential applications of the harvested energy.

Enhancing the Output Power of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester by Reducing the Effect of the Internal Capacitance Using Inductance

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahita Zargarani ◽  
S. Nima Mahmoodi
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Inductive Load ◽  
Electrical Circuits ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Innovative Method ◽  
Piezoelectric Beam ◽  
Power Outputs ◽  
Piezoelectric Harvester

This paper describes an innovative method for enhancing the power output of a piezoelectric energy harvester. The proposed approach is adopting inductance to reduce the effect of the internal capacitance of the piezoelectric harvester to boost the power output. Four electrical circuits for a piezoelectric beam harvester are studied; Simple Resistive Load (SRL), Inductive Load (IL), Standard AC-DC, and Inductive AC-DC circuits. An inductor is added to the SRL and standard AC-DC circuits to build the new IL and Inductive AC-DC circuits respectively. The power outputs of the four circuits are then studied. The results show that the adaptation of inductor enhances the power output. The IL circuit enhances the power output comparing to the SRL circuit. The Inductive AC-DC circuit also avails the standard AC-DC circuit.

Modeling of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Mounted on a Quick-Return Mechanism

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haileyesus Endeshaw ◽  
Fisseha Alemayehu ◽  
Stephen Ekwaro-Osire
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Maximum Power Output ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy

Piezoelectric materials are being used to harvest mechanical energy from ambient vibration and convert it to electrical energy. They are mainly used to power miniature wireless sensors such as accelerometers, tachometers and proximity probes, which are commonly used for machine monitoring applications. However, exciting a piezoelectric cantilever with its resonance frequency for maximum power output remains to be a challenge. This is because the natural frequency of piezoelectric cantilevers is much higher than the common ambient vibrations. This study answers the research question: “Does a quick-return mechanism enhance the power output of a piezoelectric energy harvester?” For this purpose, analytical methods were employed to model a piezoelectric energy harvester mounted on a quick-return mechanism. The proposed mechanism was able to generate approximately 13.5mW of power, which is 35%–75% greater than the existing designs. A study on the working frequency range of the harvester for maximum power output was employed by varying the dimensional parameters of the quick-return mechanism. It was determined that by varying the dimensions of the quick return it is possible to harvest maximum power at a range of excitation frequencies. It was demonstrated that the system can effectively produce the maximum power when excited at frequencies ranging from 2rad/s to 46rad/s.

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