Development of a pavement block piezoelectric energy harvester for self-powered walkway applications

Abstract

We propose a pavement block piezoelectric energy harvester (PBPEH) that can be installed in an actual walkway. We developed an Internet of Things (IoT) system that can power the walkway signal indicator (delineator) and also collect environmental data (such as humidity and temperature) near the walkway utilizing the PBPEH, without a battery. A highly integrated module with 24 piezoelectric devices were fixed inside the PBPEH. Under maximum weight condition, that is, in case of a person weighing 100 kg passing over the module, an output voltage of 38.52 Vmax, current of 3.85 mAmax, and power of 148.3 mWmax (3.7 W/m2) were generated at a load resistance of 10 kΩ. Energy storage test as applied to realistic conditions, that is, when a 60 kg person (average weight condition) passes over the module 10 times it charged a capacitor (1000 μF) to 55.6 mJ. As a result, it successfully turned on a delineator installed on an actual walkway after 4.8 s and powered the IoT sensor system without an external energy source.