Performance Enhancement of a Multiresonant Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Low Frequency Vibrations

Iman Izadgoshasb, Yee Yan Lim, Ricardo Vasquez Padilla, Mohammadreza Sedighi and Jeremy Paul Novak
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Iman Izadgoshasb: School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
Yee Yan Lim: School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
Ricardo Vasquez Padilla: School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
Mohammadreza Sedighi: School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
Jeremy Paul Novak: School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Harvesting electricity from low frequency vibration sources such as human motions using piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) is attracting the attention of many researchers in recent years. The energy harvested can potentially power portable electronic devices as well as some medical devices without the need of an external power source. For this purpose, the piezoelectric patch is often mechanically attached to a cantilever beam, such that the resonance frequency is predominantly governed by the cantilever beam. To increase the power generated from vibration sources with varying frequency, a multiresonant PEH (MRPEH) is often used. In this study, an attempt is made to enhance the performance of MRPEH with the use of a cantilever beam of optimised shape, i.e., a cantilever beam with two triangular branches. The performance is further enhanced through optimising the design of the proposed MRPEH to suit the frequency range of the targeted vibration source. A series of parametric studies were first carried out using finite-element analysis to provide in-depth understanding of the effect of each design parameters on the power output at a low frequency vibration. Selected outcomes were then experimentally verified. An optimised design was finally proposed. The results demonstrate that, with the use of a properly designed MRPEH, broadband energy harvesting is achievable and the efficiency of the PEH system can be significantly increased.

Keywords: piezoelectric energy harvesting; renewable energy; low frequency; multiresonant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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