A Piezoelectric Wave Energy Harvester Using Plucking-Driven and Frequency Up-Conversion Mechanism

Shao-En Chen, Ray-Yeng Yang, Zeng-Hui Qiu and Chia-Che Wu
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Shao-En Chen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
Ray-Yeng Yang: Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
Zeng-Hui Qiu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
Chia-Che Wu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: In this study, a plucking-driven piezoelectric wave energy harvester (PDPWEH) consisted of a buoy, a gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism, and an array of piezoelectric cantilever beams was developed. The gear train frequency up-conversion mechanism with compact components included a rack, three gears, and a geared cam provide less energy loss to improve electrical output. Six individual piezoelectric composite beams were plucked by geared cam to generate electrical power in the array of piezoelectric cantilever beams. A sol-gel method was used to create the piezoelectric composite beams. To investigate PDPWEH, a mathematical model based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory was derived. The developed PDPWEH was tested in a wave flume. The wave heights were set to 100 and 75 mm, the wave periods were set to 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 s. The maximum output voltage of the measured value was 12.4 V. The maximum RMS voltage was 5.01 V, which was measured by connecting to an external 200 kΩ resistive load. The maximum average electrical power was 125.5 μw.

Keywords: wave energy; piezoelectric composite beam; frequency up-conversion; wave energy harvester (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: 2021
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