Nonlinear interface between the piezoelectric harvesting structure and the modulating circuit of an energy harvester with a real storage battery

This paper studies the performance of an energy harvester with a piezoelectric bimorph (PB) and a real electrochemical battery (ECB), both are connected as an integrated system through a rectified dc-dc converter (DDC). A vibrating PB can scavenge energy from the operating environment by the electromechanical coupling. A DDC can effectively match the optimal output voltage of the harvesting structure to the battery voltage. To raise the output power density of PB, a synchronized switch harvesting inductor (SSHI) is used in parallel with the harvesting structure to reverse the voltage through charge transfer between the output electrodes at the transition moments from closed-to open-circuit. Voltage reversal results in earlier arrival of rectifier conduction because the output voltage phases of any two adjacent closed-circuit states are just opposite each other. In principle, a PB is with a smaller, flexural stiffness under closed-circuit condition than under open-circuit condition. Thus, the PB subjected to longer closed-circuit condition will be easier to be accelerated. A larger flexural velocity makes the PB to deflect with larger amplitude, which implies that more mechanical energy will be converted into an electric one. Nonlinear interface between the vibrating PB and the modulating circuit is analyzed in detail, and the effects of SSHI and DDC on the charging efficiency of the storage battery are researched numerically. It was found that the introduction of a DDC in the modulating circuit and an SSHI in the harvesting structure can raise the charging efficiency by several times.     

Analysis of a piezoelectric bimorph plate with a central-attached mass as an energy harvester

This article analyzes the performance of a piezoelectric energy harvester in the flexural mode for scavenging ambient vibration energy. The energy harvester consists of a piezoelectric bimorph plate with a central-attached mass. The linear piezoelectricity theory is applied to evaluate the performance dependence upon the physical and geometrical parameters of the model bimorph plate. The analytical solution for the flexural motion of the piezoelectric bimorph plate energy harvester shows that the output power density increases initially, reaches a maximum, then decreases monotonically with the increasing load impedance, which is normalized by a parameter that is a simple combination of the physical and geometrical parameters of the scavenging structure, the bimorph plate, and the frequency of the ambient vibration, underscoring the importance for the load circuit to have the impedance desirable by the scavenging structure. The numerical results illustrate the considerably enhanced performances by adjusting the physical and geometrical parameters of the scavenging structure.     

基于并联电感同步开关控制的振动能量回收方法研究

针对振动能量回收使用的并联电感同步开关(SSHI)控制方法研究中未考虑的控制损耗、储能负载和激励环境等问题,设计了一种基于电流监控、比较器、单片机和双向电子开关的低功耗回收控制电路。单片机通过比较器产生的中断信号控制双向开关适时闭合,成功实现了并联SSHI回收控制电路的功能。以储能装置为负载时,分析了整流电压、振子电容、激励幅值和频率对并联SSHI回收电路控制效果的影响,结果表明该方法在整流电压值较高、振子电容较大、激励频率较高、激励力较小时能够更有效地提高回收效率,为并联SSHI控制方法的应用奠定了一定的理论基础。     

Time and frequency domain analysis of piezoelectric energy harvesters by monolithic finite element modeling

The successful design of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices relies upon the identification of optimal geometrical and material configurations to maximize the power output for a specific band of excitation frequencies. Extendable predictive models and associated approximate solution methods are essential for analysis of a wide variety of future advanced energy harvesting devices involving more complex geometries and material distributions. Based on a holistic continuum mechanics modeling approach to the multi‐physics energy harvesting problem, this article proposes a monolithic numerical solution scheme using a mixed‐hybrid 3‐dimensional finite element formulation of the coupled governing equations for analysis in time and frequency domain. The weak form of the electromechanical/circuit system uses velocities and potential rate within the piezoelectric structure, free boundary charge on the electrodes, and potential at the level of the generic electric circuit as global degrees of freedom. The approximation of stress and dielectric displacement follows the work by Pian, Sze, and Pan. Results obtained with the proposed model are compared with analytical results for the reduced‐order model of a cantilevered bimorph harvester with tip mass reported in the literature. The flexibility of the method is demonstrated by studying the influence of partial electrode coverage on the generated power output.     

Consideration of impedance matching techniques for efficient piezoelectric energy harvesting

This study investigates multiple levels of impedance-matching methods for piezoelectric energy harvesting in order to enhance the conversion of mechanical to electrical energy. First, the transduction rate was improved by using a high piezoelectric voltage constant (g) ceramic material having a magnitude of g33 = 40 x 10(-3) V m/N. Second, a transducer structure, cymbal, was optimized and fabricated to match the mechanical impedance of vibration source to that of the piezoelectric transducer. The cymbal transducer was found to exhibit approximately 40 times higher effective strain coefficient than the piezoelectric ceramics. Third, the electrical impedance matching for the energy harvesting circuit was considered to allow the transfer of generated power to a storage media. It was found that, by using the 10-layer ceramics instead of the single layer, the output current can be increased by 10 times, and the output load can be reduced by 40 times. Furthermore, by using the multilayer ceramics the output power was found to increase by 100%. A direct current (DC)-DC buck converter was fabricated to transfer the accumulated electrical energy in a capacitor to a lower output load. The converter was optimized such that it required less than 5 mW for operation.     

A system of two piezoelectric transducers and a storage circuit for wireless energy transmission through a thin metal wall

A system to wirelessly convey electric energy through a thin metal wall is proposed in the paper, where 2 piezoelectric transducers are used to realize energy transformation between electric and mechanical, and a rechargeable battery is employed to store the transmitted energy. To integrate them as a whole, an interface of a modulating circuit is applied between the transducer system and the storage battery. In addition, a synchronized switch harvesting on inductor in parallel with the transducer system is introduced to artificially extend the closed interval of the modulating circuit. The process of transmitting energy is computed, and the performance of the transducer system is optimized in detail for a prescribed external electric source. The results obtained are useful for understanding and designing wireless energy supply systems.     

悬臂梁压电振动能采集器的集总参数模型和实验验证

压电振动能采集器是无线传感节点的一种理想电源,近年来受到广泛关注．考虑质量块和逆压电效应影响,建立了在基础激励作用下的悬臂梁压电振动能采集器的集总参数运动微分方程,得到了采集器固有频率的解析表达式．引入了2个反映压电层连接方式的常数,建立了对单压电层、双压电层并联和双压电层串联的悬臂梁压电振动能采集器均适用的耦合电路方程．求解以上方程,得到了简谐基础激励下的输出电压表达式．实验结果表明,固有频率和输出电压表达式的相对误差分别小于10％和20％．     

水润滑轴承水膜压力无线监测节点供电方法研究

针对水润滑轴承水膜压力无线监测节点的供电问题,提出一种旋转能量收集方法并设计能量收集装置。旋转能量收集方法应用永磁发电机将转轴旋转产生的机械能转化为电能,并由能量收集装置(整流、降压、充电管理电路与锂电池)将电能进行转换与存储后为节点在线供电。首先对能量收集装置中的各电路进行仿真,然后建立节点能量模型并对节点能耗进行分析,最后进行旋转能量收集试验。研究结果表明:轴转速是影响能量收集效果的主要因素,转速为1200 r/min时,锂电池充电时间低于节点工作时间,充电过程中电池电能逐渐变大,电压逐渐上升,但进入恒压阶段后充电功率逐渐降低,转速1200 r/min比1000 r/min条件下充电效果更加显著。     

多方向压电振动能量收集装置及其优化设计

摘要：为实现对不同方向环境振动能量的收集,提出了一种新颖的多方向振动能量收集装置的设计结构,装置的换能部分采用了一种Rainbow型压电结构。为提高多方向振动能量收集装置收集能量的效果,以多方向振动能量收集装置输出的总电能为目标函数,综合考虑金属弹性基片的强度、装置振动的固有频率及装置的尺寸空间要求等多种因素,采用序列二次规划法对能量收集装置的结构参数进行了优化。该多方向振动能量收集装置经过优化后,在Y向激励时,其输出的总电能为37.146μJ,比优化前提高了30.82%,当沿装置体对角线方向激励时,结构装置输出的总电能为58.715μJ,比优化前提高了29.24%,装置的能量收集效果得到了明显提高。分析结果为多方向振动能量收集装置的设计、制造及应用提供了技术依据。     

Novel zero voltage switching dual-switch forward converter with ripple current cancellation

A zero voltage switching (ZVS) dual-switch forward converter with ripple current cancellation is presented. In the proposed converter, active clamp circuit is used to clamp the voltage stresses and to realise ZVS of all switching devices. Active clamp boost converter with power factor correction is used in the front stage of the proposed converter to draw a sinusoidal line current from the AC source and to maintain a constant voltage at the DC bus. The second stage of the proposed converter is a dual-switch forward converter with current doubler rectifier to obtain the isolated low output voltage. Active clamp circuit used in the DC/DC converter can recycle the energy stored in the leakage inductor and magnetising inductor so that the voltage stresses on the switches are limited and the ZVS feature is realised. The current doubler rectifier offers the ripple current cancellation at the output capacitor and reduces the current stress of the transformer secondary winding. The circuit configuration and principle of operation are analysed and discussed in detail. Experimental results with a laboratory prototype based on a 90-260 V_rms input and 12 V/30 A output were provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.     

Simulation Guided Coaxial Electrospinning of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Hollow Fibers with Tailored Piezoelectric Performance

Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric fibers have high potential applicability in mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing owing to their high electromechanical coupling capabilities. Strategies for tailoring fiber morphology have been the primary focus for realizing enhanced piezoelectric output. However, the relationship between piezoelectric performance and fiber structure remains unclear. This study fabricates PVDF hollow fibers through coaxial electrospinning, whose wall thickness can be tuned by changing the internal solution concentration. Simulation analysis demonstrates an increased effective deformation of the hollow fiber as enlarging inner diameter, resulting in enhanced piezoelectric output, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental results. This study is the first to unravel the influence mechanism of morphology regulation of a PVDF hollow fiber on its piezoelectric performance from both simulation and experimental aspects. The optimal PVDF hollow fiber piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) delivers a piezoelectric output voltage of 32.6 V, ≈3 times that of the solid PVDF fiber PEH. Furthermore, the electrical output of hollow fiber PEH can be stably stored in secondary energy storage systems to power microelectronics. This study highlights an efficient approach for reconciling the simulation and tailoring the fiber PEH morphology for enhanced performances for future self-powered systems.     

Low-frequency meandering piezoelectric vibration energy harvester

The design, fabrication, and characterization of a novel low-frequency meandering piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is presented. The energy harvester is designed for sensor node applications where the node targets a width-to-length aspect ratio close to 1:1 while simultaneously achieving a low resonant frequency. The measured power output and normalized power density are 118 μW and 5.02 μW/mm(3)/g(2), respectively, when excited by an acceleration magnitude of 0.2 g at 49.7 Hz. The energy harvester consists of a laser-machined meandering PZT bimorph. Two methods, strain-matched electrode (SME) and strain-matched polarization (SMP), are utilized to mitigate the voltage cancellation caused by having both positive and negative strains in the piezoelectric layer during operation at the meander's first resonant frequency. We have performed finite element analysis and experimentally demonstrated a prototype harvester with a footprint of 27 x 23 mm and a height of 6.5 mm including the tip mass. The device achieves a low resonant frequency while maintaining a form factor suitable for sensor node applications. The meandering design enables energy harvesters to harvest energy from vibration sources with frequencies less than 100 Hz within a compact footprint.     

宽频压电振动能量采集器的力-电输出特性分析

压电振动能量采集器是一种新型的力(加速度)-电耦合转换输出器件,为了提高单自由度悬臂梁压电振动能量采集器的输出功率和工作频带,通过在单自由度悬臂梁压电振动能量采集器模型基础上增加一个弹性放大器的方法,构造形成了具有两自由度的宽频压电振动能量采集器。利用ANSYS有限元软件建立了宽频压电能量采集器的有限元力-电耦合模型,数值分析了模型中各参数(如质量比、阻尼比以及负载电阻等)对系统力特性(速度、加速度等)和电输出特性(电压、电流、输出功率等)的影响。研究结果表明：大的质量比和小的阻尼比能够提高压电悬臂梁能量采集器的输出功率并拓展其工作频带;短路谐振状态下的匹配电阻能够使能量采集器产生较大的输出电流,而开路谐振状态的匹配电阻能够使能量采集器产生较大的输出电压,优化后的短路谐振和开路谐振最大输出功率分别达到4386.5 mW/g2和4263.4 mW/g2。频带宽度达到10 Hz,且是SDOF系统的5倍。     

磁力非线性耦合的I-L组合压电梁俘能器发电性能试验研究EI北大核心CSCD

针对线性的压电振动俘能器俘能频带过窄,输出较低等问题,提出了一种磁力非线性耦合的I-L组合压电梁俘能器。俘能器由带永磁铁的I型压电梁和L型压电梁组成,可通过调节两永磁铁间的水平距离,得到不同的非线性磁力耦合效应。试验结果表明:存在最优电阻使压电俘能系统的输出功率最大;对比无磁力系统,磁力耦合的I-L组合压电梁俘能器共振频率发生了明显的偏移:I型压电梁向左偏移,L型压电梁向右偏移,拓宽了系统的俘能频带;当激励加速度为0.2 g水平距离为20 mm、激振频率为18.4 Hz时,俘能器最大可得到1.2 mW的输出功率。     

被动湍流控制圆柱驰振能量收集的等效电路研究

为更好的预测驰振压电能量收获机的性能,首先建立了等效电路仿真模型(ECM)并通过实验验证,最大误差不超过10%。采用该方法分析了被动湍流控制(PTC)下圆柱驰振压电能量收集的仿真模型,且该方法可将驰振能量转化系统的质量-弹簧-阻尼(M-C-K)控制方程中各参数用等效电路的电子元件来表示,从而可以分析过往仿真手段所不能解决的直流电路耦合问题。其次,从能量收集效率角度分析了交流-直流等效电路中临界风速(Ucr)随外接载荷的变化规律,及输出电压与功率随不同风速和外界载荷的变化规律。结果表明,交流电路中Ucr随载荷的增大先增大后减小,直流电路中Ucr随载荷的增大逐渐减小。当风速达到Ucr的最大值时,驰振在任一电阻下均会发生。U≥Ucr时,驰振出现锁定现象,输出电压和功率均随着风速的增大而增大。当风速过大时,增长率有减小趋势。输出电压均随着电阻的增大而增大,功率随电阻的增大先增大后减小。相比于交流电路,直流电路的最佳负载由1.1 MΩ提高到2.0 MΩ,同时功率峰值从0.08 mW降低到0.04 mW。     

Electromechanical analysis of piezoelectric bimorph actuator in static state considering the nonlinearity at high electric field

This article contains electromechanical analysis of a piezoelectric bimorph actuator at high electric field by incorporating second-order constitutive equations of piezoelectric material. Tip deflection, block force, block moment, block load, output strain energy, output energy density, input electrical energy, and energy efficiency are analytically derived for the actuator at high electric field. The analysis shows that output energy and energy density increase more rapidly at high electric field, compared to the prediction by the linear model. The analysis shows energy efficiency depends on electric field. Some analytical results are validated with the published experimental results.     

A portable multifunctional power box

In this study, we used a microcontroller to provide and control power to multiple sources using the highly efficient energy storage provided by the direct current (DC) bus of a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery. Through multiple loops, high-efficiency buck and boost conversion, and DC-to-alternating current (AC) conversion, the power box can quickly and simultaneously provide three sets of voltage outputs, 5-V DC, 19–22-V DC, and 110-V AC, to different electronic devices. Multiple sets of conversion output voltages were achieved using multiple sets of conversion circuits, in parallel to the DC bus. Compared with a single conversion output voltage, the multiple sets of conversion output voltages from the energy storage battery had a higher practicability. For a single output voltage, the battery provided a suitable voltage to different electric devices via a substage converter, thus lowering the overall conversion efficiency. For practical applications such as camping, blackouts, long journeys, emergencies, and rescues, the multiple sets of converted voltage outputs offer substantial functional convenience. For safety control, we used a single-chip controller to quickly detect various overcurrent situations.     

Electromechanical modeling and analytical investigation of nonlinearities in energy harvesting piezoelectric beams

Piezoelectric materials are extensively applied for vibrational energy harvesting especially in micro-scale devices where other energy conversion mechanisms such as electromagnetic and electrostatic methods encounter fabrication limitations. A cantilevered piezoelectric bimorph beam with an attached proof (tip) mass for the sake of resonance frequency reduction is the most common structure in vibrational harvesters. According to the amplitude and frequency of applied excitations and physical parameters of the harvester, the system may be pushed into a nonlinear regime which arises from material or geometric nonlinearities. In this study nonlinear dynamics of a piezoelectric bimorph harvester implementing constitutive relations of nonlinear piezoelectricity together with nonlinear curvature and shortening effect relations, is investigated. To achieve this goal first of all a comprehensive fully-coupled electromechanical nonlinear model is presented through a variational approach. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations of the proposed model are order reduced and solved by means of the perturbation method of multiple scales. Results are presented for a PZT/Silicon/PZT laminated beam as a case study. Findings indicate that material nonlinearities of the PZT layer has the dominant effect leading to softening behavior of the frequency response. At the primary resonance, different frequency responses of the extracted power can be distinguished according to the excitation amplitude, which is due to harmonic generation as a result of piezoelectric nonlinearity. The extracted power is analytically computed and validated with a good agreement by a numerical solution.     

Triboelectric-generator-driven pulse electrodeposition for micropatterning

By converting ambient energy into electricity, energy harvesting is capable of at least offsetting, or even replacing, the reliance of small portable electronics on traditional power supplies, such as batteries. Here we demonstrate a novel and simple generator with extremely low cost for efficiently harvesting mechanical energy that is typically present in the form of vibrations and random displacements/deformation. Owing to the coupling of contact charging and electrostatic induction, electric generation was achieved with a cycled process of contact and separation between two polymer films. A detailed theory is developed for understanding the proposed mechanism. The instantaneous electric power density reached as high as 31.2 mW/cm(3) at a maximum open circuit voltage of 110 V. Furthermore, the generator was successfully used without electric storage as a direct power source for pulse electrodeposition (PED) of micro/nanocrystalline silver structure. The cathodic current efficiency reached up to 86.6%. Not only does this work present a new type of generator that is featured by simple fabrication, large electric output, excellent robustness, and extremely low cost, but also extends the application of energy-harvesting technology to the field of electrochemistry with further utilizations including, but not limited to, pollutant degradation, corrosion protection, and water splitting.     

Complex programmable logic device-based closed-loop implementation of switched-capacitor step-down DC?DC converter for multiple output choices

A complex programmable logic device (CPLD)-based closed-loop switched-capacitor (SC) step-down DC-DC converter is implemented for multiple output choices (9/5 V, 3.3, 2 V). For a variety of output choices, various Verilog-code control rules are designed and embedded into the CPLD-based controller for the closed-loop regulation of SC converter. Such a code-based approach makes controller design more flexible, simple and reliable. In fact, SC circuit needs no inductive element, so integrated circuit (IC) fabrication is promising for low-power VLSI applications. Here, an interleaved current-mode control is employed from battery interleaved charging to cell capacitors by two controlled current sources, so the continuous input current comes into being for lower EMI. Such a current-mode control possesses not only output robustness against source variation but also regulation capability of loading variation. Besides, the relevant theoretical analysis and control design are discussed, including conversion efficiency, lower bound of source, conversion ratio, ripple percentage, capacitance selection, closed-loop control and stability. Finally, the hardware experimental results are illustrated to show the efficacy of the CPLD-based converter.