Optimal piezoelectric energy harvesting from wind-induced vibration

Harvesting energy from the environment is being considered as a viable option to replace the batteries for low powered electronic devices. To enhance the energy harvesting capability of the harvester using wind-induced vibration, a model taken into account the air flow, structural vibration and electrical response is developed. The amount of energy capable of being generated through piezoelectric energy harvesting can be calculated. It is performed to study the effects of the structural and material parameters of the energy harvester and the wind speed on the energy harvesting performance. An optimal design solution for the piezoelectric energy harvester is found through the analysis. The output electrical performance of the energy harvester prototypes was measured in a wind tunnel. The simulation results are validated by comparison with experimental data. This study presents a design tool for analysing and optimizing the piezoelectric energy harvesters.