Optimizing a Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting System

Abstract

Abstract The piezoelectric effect, through which some materials can convert mechanical stress to electrical energy and vice versa, sees a wide array of applications due to its ease of implementation and effectiveness at smaller scales. Piezoelectric materials have emerged in applications such as structural health monitoring and piezo-based smart structures. One such application is energy harvesting; piezoelectric materials can be used to provide power for micro scale devices, in part due to their high efficiency. However, the significantly lower power output of these transducers limits their applicability. This study focuses on comparing different configurations of a piezoelectric energy harvesting system for a motor. By modelling several configurations, this study aims to identify the configuration with the highest sustainable power output.