This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (19) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sodano, H. A. Articles by Park, G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Comparison of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices for Recharging Batteries

Department of Mechanical Engineering Energy Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; hsodano{at}vt.edu

Daniel J. Inman

Center for Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Gyuhae Park

Engineering Sciences and Applications, Weapons Response Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA

Piezoelectric materials can be used as a means of transforming ambient vibrations into electrical energy that can then be stored and used to power other devices. With the recent surge of microscale devices, piezoelectric power generation can provide a convenient alternative to traditional power sources used to operate certain types of sensors/actuators, telemetry, and MEMS devices. However, the energy produced by these materials is in many cases far too small to directly power an electrical device. Therefore, much of the research into power harvesting has focused on methods of accumulating the energy until a sufficient amount is present, allowing the intended electronics to be powered. In a recent study by Sodano et al. (2004a) the ability to take the energy generated through the vibration of a piezoelectric material was shown to be capable of recharging a discharged nickel metal hydride battery. In the present study, three types of piezoelectric devices are investigated and experimentally tested to determine each of their abilities to transform ambient vibration into electrical energy and their capability to recharge a discharged battery. The three types of piezoelectric devices tested are the commonly used monolithic piezoceramic material lead–zirconate–titanate (PZT), the bimorph Quick Pack (QP) actuator, and the macro-fiber composite (MFC). The experimental results estimate the efficiency of the three devices tested and identify the feasibility of their use in practical applications. Different capacity batteries are recharged using each device, to determine the charge time and maximum capacity battery that can be charged. The results presented in this article provide a means of choosing the piezoelectric device to be used and estimate the amount of time required to recharge a specific capacity battery.

Key Words: power harvesting • energy scavenging • piezoelectric • macro-fiber composite • MFC • self-powered

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 16, No. 10, 799-807 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1045389X05056681


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Chengliang Sun, Lifeng Qin, Fang Li, and Q.-M. Wang Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting using Single Crystal Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O 3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT) Device Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, March 1, 2009; 20(5): 559 - 568. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Cook-Chennault, N. Thambi, M. A. Bitetto, and E.B. Hameyie Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting: A Green and Clean Alternative for Sustained Power Production Bulletin of Science Technology Society, December 1, 2008; 28(6): 496 - 509. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M.J. Guan and W.H. Liao Characteristics of Energy Storage Devices in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, June 1, 2008; 19(6): 671 - 680. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. A. Sodano, G. E. Simmers, R. Dereux, and D. J. Inman Recharging Batteries using Energy Harvested from Thermal Gradients Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, January 1, 2007; 18(1): 3 - 10. [Abstract] [PDF]