Vibration-based energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials has gained considerable attention over the past decade. Currently, most piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are single resonance frequency based. The performance of a single-resonance PEH is often limited to only one resonance frequency. This paper discusses the possibility of improving the performance of a bimorph PEH by tuning the PEH using a spring-mass system attached to the bimorph’s free end. Through adding the spring-mass system, the PEH’s resonance frequency can be tuned to match the ambient vibration frequency, and its voltage/power-generating capability can be improved. An electromechanical model of the PEH is derived based on the Lagrange multiplier method. The model is then used in a harmonic base excitation case study, and the coupled electromechanical outputs are discussed. Simulation results show that the spring-mass attachment can create two resonant frequencies, making the PEH capable of working efficiently at two different frequencies in a low-frequency level. It is also shown that by properly selecting the spring stiffness and the mass, the voltage and power output of the PEH can be greatly increased as compared to a single bimorph without the spring-mass system.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
August 12–15, 2012
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division
- Computers and Information in Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4500-4
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Improving the Performance of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Using a Tip Spring-Mass System
Yang Zhu,
Yang Zhu
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Oumar Barry,
Oumar Barry
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Weijiun Su,
Weijiun Su
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Jean Zu
Jean Zu
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Yang Zhu
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Oumar Barry
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Weijiun Su
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Jean Zu
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Paper No:
DETC2012-70220, pp. 1129-1135; 7 pages
Published Online:
September 9, 2013
Citation
Zhu, Y, Barry, O, Su, W, & Zu, J. "Improving the Performance of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Using a Tip Spring-Mass System." Proceedings of the ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 1: 24th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise, Parts A and B. Chicago, Illinois, USA. August 12–15, 2012. pp. 1129-1135. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2012-70220
Download citation file:
13
Views
Related Articles
Topology Optimization of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Skin Using Hybrid Cellular Automata
J. Mech. Des (March,2013)
Modeling and Analysis of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Beams Using the Dynamic Stiffness and Analytical Modal Analysis Methods
J. Vib. Acoust (February,2011)
The Power and Efficiency Limits of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting
J. Vib. Acoust (April,2014)
Related Chapters
Research on Autobody Panels Developmental Technology Based on Reverse Engineering
Proceedings of the 2010 International Conference on Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Technologies (MIMT 2010)
Fluidelastic Instability of Tube Bundles in Single-Phase Flow
Flow-Induced Vibration Handbook for Nuclear and Process Equipment
An Adaptive Fuzzy Control for a Multi-Degree-of-Freedom System
Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks, Volume 17