Verified nonlinear model of piezoelectric energy harvester

Abstract

Energy harvesting is an important topic today. Complex monitoring systems with many nodes need energy sources and vibration energy harvesters (VEHs) could be one type of them. Mathematical model of the VEH is necessary instrument to estimate possible harvested power. This paper deals with piezoelectric VEH in setting as cantilever beam with tip mass. Traditional linear model of this type of VEH is simple, however, it represents the VEH only in one operating point and in another one (another amplitude of excitation vibrations) it could return wrong results. The nonlinear model of VEH is introduced in this paper with its parameters estimation. The nonlinear model is compared with linear model and experiment to demonstrate difference between them in amplitude frequency characteristics. Finally, the average harvested power from harmonic vibrations is measured experimentally and compared with prediction from linear and nonlinear model.

Crack Protective Layered Architecture of Lead-Free Piezoelectric Energy Harvester in Bistable Configuration

“…In comparison with PZT energy harvesters, the designed lead-free harvester generates lower power due to significantly lower piezoelectric parameters. Commonly used commercial solution Midé V21BL [ 37 ] in the resonance operation frequency 40 Hz provides maximal power 0.9 mW upon excitation of 0.5 g. Presented and designed lead-free harvester provides output power around 0.5 mW, operated at 47 Hz for the same excitation of 0.5 g. Dimension of the Midé solution is 64 mm in length with a tip mass 4.8 g. The designed lead-free VEH is 100 mm long with a tip mass 5 g. The resonance frequencies are a slightly different, and this difference could be compensated by longer beam or thinner piezoceramic layers which decrease the natural frequency.…”

“…A model of piezoelectric cantilever structure can be used successfully for development of a specific design of energy harvesting system. The cantilever resonator commonly operates in a nonlinear manner but for a specific operation it can be linearised [ 13 ]. For a strong nonlinearity a model of Duffing energy harvester [ 14 ] could be used.…”

Energy Harvesting Technologies for Structural Health Monitoring of Airplane Components—A Review

“…However, in addition to the mentioned technological complexity, such systems clearly demonstrate an additional potential drawback, i.e., the magnitude of the vibratory response amplitudes can vary considerably, which can be far from optimal for the considered EH applications in airplanes. It is worth noting here also that, while the modelled response of the most common form of PEH cantilever resonators can be approximately linearized for specific operating conditions [74], this linear bimorph beam model can be extended to a nonlinear (coloured noise excitation) one by considering the influence of the forces of the permanent magnets used in the here described design configurations. The resulting load, causing a nonlinear stiffening effect influencing the obtained displacements, is also a significant source of additional potential energy for the EH system.…”