Connected Vibrating Piezoelectric Bimorph Beams as a Wide-band Piezoelectric Power Harvester

Yang, Zengtao; Yang, Jiashi

doi:10.1177/1045389x08100042

Cited by 105 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Using the basic concept proposed in [24], the present study focuses on an advanced system based on three identical bimorphs bonded on three different cantilever beams with different end masses that are connected by various springs. A schematic drawing of the harvester is presented in Figure 1.…”

Section: The Analytical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Damping is included in the analytical model by allowing the elastic compliance to have complex values. Therefore,

s_{11}

(see Equation (A1) in Appendix A) will be replaced by

s_{11} = s_{11} (1 - i Q^{- 1})

(see a discussion in [24,41]), where Q is the quality factor of the bimorph (assumed to be Q = 100, as used in preliminary calculations). …”

Section: The Analytical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The angle between the two bimorphs might, in a future work, be changed and thus can control the natural frequency. Connecting the free end of the cantilever bimorph beams by a spring is proposed in [24]. By a proper design of the spring, the end masses and the stiffness of the two beams carrying each a bimorph, a wideband frequency might be achieved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrary to the rigid connection or multi frequency beam array designs, the use of a spring as a connector between the end masses of the bimorphs beams enables the tuning of the natural frequency by changing the spring constant. Reference [24] presents an analytic solution accompanied by numerical results for a certain case having a natural frequency of 20 KHz. Those frequencies are not realistic for ambient mechanical vibrations, which are normally below 500 Hz.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A latter publication in the form of a Master of Science thesis [25] based on [24] contains experimental results without comparison to the analytic model. Moreover, the bimorphs end masses amplitudes were not measured.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis and Experimental Validation of a Piezoelectric Harvester with Enhanced Frequency Bandwidth

Abramovich

Har-nes

2018

Materials

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The use of a single bimorph as a harmonic oscillator aimed at harvesting vibrational energy is not effective due to its inherent narrow frequency bandwidth stemming from the need to adjust the natural frequency of the harvester to the platform excitation frequencies. Therefore, the present research focuses on the development, manufacturing, and testing of an advanced system based on three bimorphs, capable of adjusting their natural frequencies using tip end masses, and interconnected by springs, thus enlarging the system’s bandwidth. An analytical model was developed for three bimorphs interconnected by two springs with three end masses. The model can predict the output generated voltage from each bimorph, and then the total output power is measured on a given outside resistor as a function of the material properties, the geometric dimensions of the vibrating beams, the end-masses, and the spring constants. The analytical model was then compared with data in the literature, yielding a good correlation. To further increase the reliability of the model, a test set-up was designed and manufactured that included three bimorphs with three end-masses connected by two springs. The system was excited using a shaker, and the output voltage was measured for each bimorph for various configurations. Then, the analytical model was tuned based on the test results by introducing two factors, the quality and the stiffness factors, and the predictions of the calibrated analytical model were compared with the experimental results, yielding a good correlation. The calibrated analytical model was then used to perform a comprehensive parametric investigation for two and three bimorphs systems, in which the influences of various parameters—like spring constant, mass value, thickness, and width and length of the bimorph and the substrate beam—on the output generated power were investigated. The main conclusion from this parametric investigation was that by correctly choosing the geometric sizes of the cantilevers, the adequate tip end masses, and the ratio between constants of the springs, the frequency bandwidth is expanded yielding a higher harvested power. Typical harvested power of the present designed system can reach up to 20 mW at the first natural frequency and up to 5 mW for the second natural frequency.

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Section: The Analytical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Damping is included in the analytical model by allowing the elastic compliance to have complex values. Therefore,