Research On Energy Harvesting Based On Piezoelectric Materials

Energy is the key to the technology development. Throughout history, major advancements in technology were always duo to the new energy's discover or methods improvement for energy utilization. Harvesting, conserving and using the wasted energy in nature are very significant for environment protection, which has strong real application fields.In this paper, firstly, the energy output of the piezoelectric cantilever structure is analyzed under a sinusoidal excitation; then a design of the piezoelectric power generation element is given and the PZT-Metal composite structure is fabricated; finally, experimental study is carried on the base of that, and energy harvesting circuit which is appropriate to the low frequency application is studied. Main research contents and results are as the following:1. The basic principle of the electric charge'appearance and the voltage's output is studied when the piezoelectric power generation element is the force inspirit. The equivalent circuit model used for the harvest of the energy is analyzed.2. Academic analysis of the energy harvest for the piezoelectric cantilever is made according to the vibration equation and the dynamic limit condition. Results show that piezoelectric cantilever is an efficient energy harvest structure. And it is very appropriate to be applied in the low frequency environment.3. The design scheme of one piezoelectric cantilever structure for energy harvest is given, and it is also fabricated. Experimental study is made to analyze the relation between the energy output and the inspired force.4. The circuit design of the PEG's (PiezoElectric power Generators) power transition is given and the experimental test is also made. The results show that piezoelectric cantilever element has a good performance if it is applied in a steady and durative vibration environment. And the stored micro power in capacitance can be employed, which realized the fundamental aim in this research...