Integration of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems into Building Envelopes for Structural Health Monitoring with Fiber Optic Sensing Technology

Alessandro Pracucci (), Laura Vandi, Francesco Belletti, Amanda Ramos Aragão Melo, Marios Vlachos, Angelos Amditis, Maria Teresa Calcagni and David Seixas Esteves
Additional contact information
Alessandro Pracucci: Focchi S.p.A., 47824 Poggio Torriana, Italy
Laura Vandi: Focchi S.p.A., 47824 Poggio Torriana, Italy
Francesco Belletti: Focchi S.p.A., 47824 Poggio Torriana, Italy
Amanda Ramos Aragão Melo: CeNTI—Centro De Nanotecnologia E Materiais Tecnicos, Funcionais E Inteligentes, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Marios Vlachos: ICCS—Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, 15773 Athens, Greece
Angelos Amditis: ICCS—Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, 15773 Athens, Greece
Maria Teresa Calcagni: Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
David Seixas Esteves: CeNTI—Centro De Nanotecnologia E Materiais Tecnicos, Funcionais E Inteligentes, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-31

Abstract: This paper presents a study about the integration of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems (PE-EHSs) into building envelopes for powering Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, enabling efficient and low-consumption monitoring with the objective of leveraging structural health monitoring (SHM). The research includes preliminary tests conducted in a real environment to validate the PE-EHS when fully integrated into a ventilated façade, capturing mechanical vibrations generated mainly by wind loads. Based on these activities, the final configuration of PE-EHSs is defined to provide a complete system for façade monitoring. This integrated system includes the piezoelectric generator (PEG), supercapacitor (SC), Power Conditioner Circuit (PCC), Fiber Optic Sensing (FOS) interrogator, and the IoT gateway transmitting measurement data within an Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring platform. This configuration is tailored to address the challenges related to the structural integrity of building envelopes. Results demonstrate a potential for a stand-alone solution in the façade sector but raise issues for certain limitations, requiring further investigation. In particular, the study emphasizes constraints related to the energy production of PE-EHSs for façade integration. It highlights the necessity to carefully consider these limitations within the broader context of their applicability, providing insights for the informed deployment of piezoelectric energy harvesting technology in building envelope monitoring.

Keywords: piezoelectric energy harvesting systems; structural health monitoring; fiber Bragg grating sensors; building envelopes; façade integration; energy production; stand-alone system (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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