Modelling and design of highly coupled piezoelectric energy harvesters for broadband applications

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for designing highly coupled piezoelectric energy harvesters with broadband capabilities through nonlinear electrical tuning, combining analytical and FEM modeling to optimize performance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel design approach for broadband piezoelectric harvesters using nonlinear electrical techniques and optimization of a cantilever with PMN-PT patches.

Findings

Achieved a strong electromechanical coupling of 17.6%.

Demonstrated a bandwidth of 22% of the resonant frequency.

Validated the design with a prototype exhibiting high performance.

Abstract

This paper reports a method to design highly coupled piezoelectric energy harvesters with frequency tuning capabilities using nonlinear electrical techniques. A cantilever beam with two PMN-PT patches has been optimized thanks to both analytical modelling and Finite Element Methods (FEM). The built prototype exhibits a strong electromechanical coupling (k${}^2$=17.6%) and a figure of merit (km${}^2$Q=12.4) which allow a bandwidth corresponding to 22% of the resonant frequency value.