Acoustic Energy Harvesting Through Multilayer Piezoelectric Harvester Model

Abstract

Low-power requirements of contemporary sensing technology attract research on alternate power sources that can replace batteries. Energy harvesters’ function as power sources for sensors and other low-power devices by transducing the ambient energy into usable electrical form. Energy harvesters absorbing the ambient vibrations that have potential to deliver uninterrupted power to sensing nodes installed in remote and vibration rich environments motivate the research in vibrational energy harvesting. Piezoelectric bimorphs have been demonstrating a pre-eminence in converting the mechanical energy in ambient vibrations into electrical energy. Improving the performance of these harvesters is pivotal, as the energy in ambient vibrations is innately low. In this paper, we propose a mechanism namely Multilayer-PEHM (Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Model) which helps in converting the waste or unused energy into the useful energy. Multilayer-PEHM contains the various layer, which is placed one over the other, each layer is placed with specific element according to their properties and size, the size of the layer plays an important part for achieving efficiency. Furthermore, this paper presents an audit of the energy available in a vibrating source and design for effective transfer of the energy to harvesters, secondly, design of vibration energy harvesters with a focus to enhance their performance, and lastly, identification of key performance metrics influencing conversion efficiencies and scaling analysis for these acoustic harvesters. Typical vibration levels in stationary installations such as surfaces of blowers and ducts, and in mobile platforms such as light and heavy transport vehicles, are determined by measuring the acceleration signal. The frequency content in the signal is determined from the Fast Fourier Transform.