Energy harvesting with a cymbal type piezoelectric transducer from low frequency compression

• Published in: Journal of electroceramics Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 214 - 219
• Main Authors: Palosaari, Jaakko, Leinonen, Mikko, Hannu, Jari, Juuti, Jari, Jantunen, Heli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-06-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Battery; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Compressing; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Discs; Disks; Electrochemistry; Electronics; Glass; Harvesters; Materials Science; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Piezoelectricity; Structural steels; Energy harvesting; Cymbal; Piezoelectric
• ISSN: 1385-3449; 1573-8663
• DOI: 10.1007/s10832-012-9713-8

In this paper a piezoelectric energy harvester based on a Cymbal type structure is presented. A piezoelectric disc ∅35 mm was confined between two convex steel discs ∅35 mm acting as a force amplifier delivering stress to the PZT and protecting the harvester. Optimization was performed and generated voltage and power of the harvester were measured as functions of resistive load and applied force. At 1.19 Hz compression frequency with 24.8 N force a Cymbal type harvester with 250 μm thick steel discs delivered an average power of 0.66 mW. Maximum power densities of 1.37 mW/cm
3
and 0.31 mW/cm
3
were measured for the piezo element and the whole component, respectively. The measured power levels reported in this article are able to satisfy the demands of some monitoring electronics or extend the battery life of a portable device.