Electrical Response Analysis of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Power Source Based on Electromechanical Parameters

Abstract

A piezoelectric energy harvester generator is a device capable of transforming environmental mechanical energy into electrical energy. The piezoelectric electromechanical parameters determine the maximum electrical power which is able to be transferred to an electric load. In this research work, an exhaustive study of the electromechanical parameters related to the piezoelectric material is carried out, modeling them as components of an electrical circuit, in order to analyze their influence on the transmitted power. On the other hand, some electrical loads are simulated to determine different matrix scenarios for a model developed by state-space equations in the Laplace transform domain. The results obtained have allowed to know how the piezoelectric material properties and mechanical characteristics influence the electrical power output of the energy harvester generator and the energy transmission behavior for different electric loads. The conclusions show how the different electromechanical parameters are related to each other, and how their combination transforms the mechanical environmental energy into the required electrical energy. The novelty of this research is the presentation of a model capable of obtaining the optimized working point of the harvester, taking into account not only the electric loads and current demands but also the piezoelectric material parameters.

Overview of Energy Harvesting Technologies Used in Road Vehicles

“…A piezoelectric energy harvester is a device that converts the mechanical energy of a given environment into electrical energy [153,162]. In 1880, Pierre and Jacques Curie first described a piezoelectric material [163]; it consists of a solid material that is able to accumulate an electric charge as a result of mechanical deformation [164,165].…”

Physics-informed neural network for parameter identification in a piezoelectric harvester

“…One notable advantage of this approach is its ability to facilitate circuit simulations for the harvester device when connected to advanced nonlinear harvesting circuits. 39 However, the key to successfully employing this method lies in accurately determining the model circuit parameters, including equivalent RLC parameters, voltage source, and effective piezoelectric capacitance. Various methods in the literature address the estimation of these effective parameters at the device level.…”