A Topology and Design Optimization Method for Wideband Piezoelectric Wind Energy Harvesters

Published in: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics ( Volume: 63 , Issue: 4 , April 2016 )

Authors: Nasrin Rezaei-Hosseinabadi ; Ahmadreza Tabesh ; Rasoul Dehghani

Abstract—This paper presents a topology for wideband piezoelectric wind energy harvesting and a design optimization method for capturing maximum available energy considering the wind speed distribution model. The proposed device is useful for powering of wireless sensor nodes in smart monitoring applications. The device includes a piezoelectric beam that vibrates due to the interactions between miniaturized permanent magnets (PMs) embedded in a small turbine and a magnet at the tip of the beam. The design method determines the resonance frequency of the beam with respect to the wind speed distribution model. Compared to the conventional wideband topologies that includemultiple beams for resonating at different frequencies, the suggested topology uses a single beam and achieves the wideband feature via the arrangement of PMs within the turbine. This feature enhances the power density of the piezoelectric wind energy harvester. The wideband feature of the device is experimentally verified using a device prototype in which the beam resonance occurs at the fan rotational speeds of 155.0, 193.5, 257.9, and 387.0 rad/s. The maximum power density, maximum efficiency, and cut-in wind speed of the device are 0.59 mW/cm3, 24%, and 2.1 m/s, respectively.