Energy Harvesting from Wind by Piezoelectric for Autonomous Remote Sensor

Abstract

Reduction in fossil fuels sources in earth has caused the humans to think about using renewable energies such as wind. Collecting precise data from wind and particularly its speed is the most important step in using the wind energy as power plants. In this article, a system has been designed, analyzed, and fabricated to use wind energy by applying a piezoelectric convertor to supply the required power for a remote sensor network and wind measurement. Thus, the efficiency of the system is analyzed by performing some practical experiments. The developed system in this experiment is capable of producing 245 microwatt of energy per 200 kilo ohm resistance in an 11 m/s wind speed by using only one single piezoelectric convertor. Piezoelectric Sensor with two piezoelectric needs more force to reach the piezoelectric break point and optimized wind speed value is equal or greater than 14 m/s. In this case, the internal resistant value for piezoelectric is doubled (400 kilo ohms) and the value of produced electrical power at wind speed of 14 m/s and resistant load of 400 kilo ohms is equal to 483 microwatt. Also, it works as a sensor for measuring wind speed by producing pulses in different speeds. Therefore, it would be possible to measure wind speeds in remote areas and also wind speeds higher than the threshold level and to send alarms in warning systems in cases of thunderstorms.