Hybrid-type (d(33) and d(31)) impact-based piezoelectric hydroelectric energy harvester for watt-level electrical devices

Abstract

Impact-based piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are used to generate electricity from pulse kinetic energy. Compared with operation in a single mode, utilizing both the d(31) and d(33) modes of the piezoelectric structure increases the power density of impact-based PEHs. In this study, a d(31) and d(33) hybrid-type impact-based PEH was designed and practically demonstrated as a power source for watt-level electrical devices requiring less than 10W. We presented more detailed FEM analysis of the d(31) and d(33) effect of secondary impacter. The numerical simulations results show the strains in 33-direction of piezoelectric material in presented system are larger than those from the conventional impact-type PEH. As a result, the presented system is expected to generate more power than the d(33) mode only PEH. The experimental results from a hydroelectric application consisting of a water turbine, 240 piezoelectric modules, and a multi-array rectifying circuit show that the peak output power generated from the hybrid-type impact-based PEH is 7.24 times higher than that of the conventional impact-type PEH. The proposed system was experimentally developed and it generates 20 V and 4.3 W of output power at optimum load conditions. Another advantage of the watt-level energy harvester is that no impedance matching circuit (such as buck-boost or flyback converter) is required; because the output matched impedance is very low i.e. 100 Omega. In experimentally demonstrated hydroelectric application conditions, the presented system was used as a direct power source to drive the 3.2W commercial LED bulb. The system efficiency and performance are evaluated, and overall power conversion efficiency of 4.1% is achieved.