Experimental Exploration of Forced Vibration Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting for Different Materials, Magnitudes, and Frequencies

Today, more than ever, energy needs are colossal and growing. Harvesting energy basing on piezoelectricity permits to supply various low energy consumption devices. In this context, we tried to recover the mechanical energy caused by forced vibration into electrical energy, through a piezoelectric transducer. An experimental setup is used to produce vibration and to harvest its energy. A plate is integrated to amplify the excitation magnitude, the plate material is varied to study its effect on the magnitude amplification. First, the plate vibration magnitude versus the excitation magnitude was examined, for the different plate materials (Steel, Aluminum, Copper) and for various excitation frequencies. This stage permits to characterize the vibration magnitude amplification. Second, the harvested electrical energy versus the plate vibration magnitude was considered, for the different frequencies and using a reference plate. This stage permits to characterize the piezoelectric transducer performance. Last, the recovered electrical energy versus the excitation magnitude was investigated, for the different materials and at the different frequencies. This stage permits to investigate the vibrating plate contribution. The obtained results are promising in piezoelectric energy harvesting for batteryless applications.