Array Configurations for Higher Power Generation in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

概要

論文の詳細を見る
To realize a piezoelectric energy-harvesting device with higher volume energy density, the energy conversion efficiencies of different array configurations were investigated. The energy conversion efficiencies of the energy-harvesting element with several array configurations were calculated by finite element analysis (FEA). For the same volume of $22 \times 19 \times 1$ mm3, one array configuration has two large cantilevers ($18 \times 9.5 \times 1$ mm3) and one has eight small cantilevers ($9 \times 4.25 \times 1$ mm3). One-mm-thick piezoelectric zirconate titanate (PZT) elements were attached on the surface of each aluminum cantilever. A harmonic vibration was applied and the electric power generated was measured by connecting a load resistance. A higher volume energy density was obtained with the smaller array configuration. A maximum output power of 2.8 mW and a conversion efficiency of 8.1% were achieved for a vibration velocity of 0.7 mm/s and a load resistance of 51 k$\Omega$.
2010-07-25