Application of Piezoelectric Transducers as an Energy Harvester

in Vehicles

Andrey Kin C. Almonguera

Mary Jean Villar
Richard Vista

OCTOBER 2021
 Chapter I

Introduction

Background of the study

Vibrations is all around us. It is the most prevalent energy

present in the environment as everything vibrates. Harnessing

vibrations and converting this energy to electricity can be of

great opportunity to maximize renewable energy sources.

Piezoelectric materials have been one of the trend on

research studies as it has the ability to generate electricity

from vibrations or mechanical stresses. Piezoelectricity was

given birth when the brothers Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie

started studying the direct correlation between the potential

generated by temperature changes and the mechanical strain. They

discovered that applying pressure by compression to the various

crystals including quartz, topaz, tourmaline and Rochelle salt

produces electrical charges on the surface of these materials.

(aps.org)

A study was conducted by Guan et al. (2010) concerning the

cement-based piezoelectric materials for road power generation,

where the cement-based piezoelectric composites are manufactured

by pre-embedding piezoelectric ceramics. The result of the

experiment conducted by Xiong et al. (2012) shown that the

pavement deformation by vehicle processing and the vibration

caused by moving vehicles on the road can be used for the

collection of electric energy. Another research presided by Yuan

et al. (2014) founded that the use of piezoelectric transducers

as a piezoelectric energy harvester in the collection of track

vibration energy for railway safety driving could generate 30 MW

of power.

There are a lot of study nowadays regarding piezoelectric

(vibration energy harvester) however, most of this research

conducted focuses more on the system designs of piezoelectric

material and how it varies among commercialized one. There are

still a little studies that focuses on its application in the

community.

In contrast, this thesis focuses on the application of

piezoelectric transducer in moving vehicles, utilizing the

vibrations when the vehicles moved.

This prompted the researchers to conduct a study entitled,

“Application of Piezoelectric Transducer as an Energy Harvester

in Vehicles”
Statement of the Problem

Main Objective

Generally, this study aims to determine the efficacy of

Piezoelectric Transducer as an energy harvester applied in

vehicles that reduces the power cost and provides new way of

energy generation. It has the following specific objectives:

1. To interpret the optimal frequency needed for the

Piezoelectric Transducer in order to generate

electricity when applied in vehicles.

2. To solve the maximum charge that can be generated in

Piezoelectric Transducer when applied in vehicles.

3. To distinguish the maximum number of time it takes

light up a LED bulb using Piezoelectric Transducers.

4. To test the number of Piezoelectric Transducers needed

to light up the small to large LED bulb.

5. To analyze the effectiveness of the Piezoelectric

Transducer as an energy harvester applied in vehicles.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study is limited only to the application of

piezoelectric transducer as an energy harvester in vehicles and

to evaluate its performance, the optimal frequency, the maximum

charge generated, number of Piezoelectric Transducers needed to

light up a five watts LED bulb, the maximum voltage of the bulb

that can lighted up with a certain number of Piezoelectric

Transducers. This study focuses mainly on LED lights due to its

limited electricity generation capacity.

Significance of the Study

The results of this study will greatly benefit the

following:

Drivers.It would be easy for drivers to generate their own power

source for their LED lights hence, it will guarantee them a low

power cost.

Department of Energy. Results from this study will raise an

attention to the piezoelectric industry and will begin another

merit in the field of energy generation.

Future Researchers. This will be their reference in conducting

further piezoelectricity generation studies in the near future.

Definition of Terms

To have a better understanding and clarification of this

study, the following terms were defined conceptually and

operationally:

Piezoelectric transducers – area type of electroacoustic

transducer that convert the electrical charges produced by some

forms of solid materials into energy (americanpiezo.com), the

device used to convert vibration energy to electrical energy.

Vehicle - a machine, usually with wheels and an engine, used for

transporting people or goods, especially on land

(dictionary.cambridge.org), the medium being used to generate

vibration energy.

Electric charge - basic property of matter carried by some

elementary particles that governs how the particles are affected

by an electric or magnetic field (www.britannica.com), the

expected outcome of the vibration energy produced by the vehicle.

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents related readings, literature and

studies to provide additional background information that will

strongly support the rationale of the current study. This chapter

also presents the study’s synthesis and justification and

theoretical framework which will provide a thorough explanation

of the procedures and key terms essential to understanding the

study.

Related Readings

Road energy harvesting is an ingenious horizon for clean and

renewable energy production. The concept is very compatible with

current traffic trends and the ongoing depletion of natural

resources. Yet, the idea of harvesting roadway energy is still in

its genesis, and only a few real-time implementation projects

have been reported in the literature. (Walubita et al., 2017)

Having said that the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008” or an

act promoting the development, utilization and commercialization

of renewable energy resources and for other purposes was

implemented. Stated in the section two paragraph two of the said

law, it encourage the development and utilization of renewable

energy resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce

harmful emissions and thereby balance the goals of economic

growth and development with the protection of health and the

environment.(officialgazette.gov.ph, 2018)

Related Literature

A project study has been conducted by the researchers in

Batangas City that focuses on the piezoelectric effect. The

project will harvest energy by transforming mechanical energy to

electrical energy with the mechanical energy coming from the

footstep of people walking on it. When piezoelectric material was

placed under mechanical stress, a shifting of the positive and

negative charge centers in the material takes place, which then

results in an external electrical field. This project could be an

emergency power supply in times of power outage and good for the

environment because it uses renewable power source.( ijarp.org,

2019)

Fundamentally, energy harvesting involves the conversion of

ambient energy such as light, heat, or mechanical motion into

electrical energy that can directly power an external system or

be stored in battery cells for future use. If the energy source

is further limited to mechanical kinetic energy, or vibrations,

three main strategies of conversion dominate: piezoelectric,

magnetic, and electric. Magnetic conversion can be further

subcategorized into systems with varying inductance and systems

that employ moving permanent magnets. (Yen, B.C,2003)

Converting ambient mechanical energy to electricity, energy

harvesting, can power low-power sensors and microsystems. Ambient

vibration energy distributes over a wide frequency spectrum with

predominance of low frequency components [1, 2]. The linear

energy harvesting with a narrow response bandwidth does not show

reliable performance when the excitation frequency is far away

from the resonant frequency or under broadband vibration.

(Towfighian, S. et. al, 2018)

Related Studies

Building vibration energy harvesting will only provide very

small amount of power. Even with assumptions of un-realistic

ideal conditions, from wind drag forces with conventional

structural designs, building vibration energy harvesting can’t

provide feasible power as a common power source. In conclusion, for

promoting renewable energy electricity generations, vibration energy

harvesting could play a major role in the near future. A study

conducted by Zhe Qu Lu San Francisco, May 2018 entitled Vibration

Energy Harvesting.

The invention uses the pulse vibration of vehicle tail gas

to generate power. The piezoelectric power generation device

comprises a silencer in a vehicle exhaust system. The

piezoelectric power generation device divided into two resonance

cavity chambers; a plurality of groups of resonant cantilever

beam piezoelectric vibrators are arranged in each resonance

cavity chamber; two electrodes of the resonant cantilever beam

piezoelectric vibrators are lead out by leads. The advantages of

using piezoelectric power generation device is that it has a

simple structure, no heating, no electromagnetic interference, no

pollution, easiness for realizing the miniaturization of the

mechanism, integration and the like. (Zang, 2014)

An apparatus comprises piezoelectric transducers and spring

effect elements that enable the piezoelectric transducers to be

deformed and to recover their original shape; and electrodes for

transmitting energy, as well as elements for compressing and

attaching the apparatus. These devices and their variants can be

used together to generate energy from various sources, such as

vehicle wheels, a street or road, wind turbines, water turbines,

and even be included in various types of footwear. (24 Sep 2015 ·

AGUILLÓN José Humberto VILLASEÑOR)

Motorized vehicles and vessels electronic horn provided by

the invention, its electro-acoustic conversion efficiency is

high, improves energy utilization rate, is conducive to energy-

conserving and environment-protective. Piezoelectricity sensing

unit, drives the vibrating diaphragm vibration sounding of

loudspeaker unit for receiving the driving voltage of described

booster circuit generation, and produces the induced voltage with

frequency of oscillation; Feedback circuit, for receiving

described induced voltage, and sets up vibration break-make

according to described induced voltage, controls the duty of

described booster circuit; Loudspeaker unit, for being subject at

described piezoelectricity sensing unit under described driving

voltage driving, vibration sounding together with

piezoelectricity sensing unit; Wherein, in the time of work,

described feedback circuit is by frequency of oscillation break-

make under the control of described induced voltage, and

described booster circuit produces the driving voltage with

frequency of oscillation. (25 May 2016. Manko.Manko)

The utility model discloses a travelling vehicle load road

surface vibration energy piezoelectric power generation measuring

system. The measuring system comprises a piezoelectric energy

conversion unit, a control master module and a measurement master

module which are arranged on road surface; the piezoelectric

energy conversion unit converts road surface vibration energy

into electrical energy; the control master module performs speed

adjustment and load applying on travelling vehicles, and performs

electric parameter adjustment on output electric power; the

measurement master module measures the speed and load of the

vehicles, the stress and deformation of the road surface, the

current and voltage of alternating current captured by the

piezoelectric energy conversion unit and voltage and current

after conversion; generated electrical energy can be adopted as a

power supply which can be stored and utilized. The travelling

vehicle load road surface vibration energy piezoelectric power

generation measuring system has high academic value and social

value. (21 Aug 2013. Sun Chunhua Suzhou Vocational University)

A system which includes a power conditioning unit and

electrical conductors connecting said piezoelectric to said power

conditioning unit. A present invention relates to an apparatus

system and method for power harvesting on roads and highways

using a piezoelectric generator. The invention is to provide a

system and a method for power harvesting comprising a plurality

of piezoelectric devices embedded in a road and configured to

produce electrical power when a vehicle traverses their

locations. Harvested energy may be used locally in proximity to

the energy generation location, stored for later use or

transferred to be used in remote location. (13 Aug 2009 · Haim

Abramovich)

An energy harvester which includes, an energy conversion

device configured to convert vibrational energy to electrical

energy, a mass coupled to the energy conversion device, and at

least one biasing mechanism coupled to the mass. The biasing

mechanism is selectively adjustable and selectively adjusting the

biasing mechanism adjusts a resonance frequency of the energy

conversion device and the mass. (21 Oct 2014 · Alan Ruthven Wood)

One harvesting apparatus comprises a vibrational energy

harvester coupled to a substantially maximal vibrational

displacement node of the structural element of a vehicle, and

tuned to a frequency of vibration of the maximal vibrational

displacement node. The harvester may be one of a variety of

harvesting devices, such as piezoelectric devices. Methods are

also provided to locate structural elements which are appropriate

for vibrational energy harvesting. (14 Oct 2014 · Herbert

Hoffman)

An energy harvesting apparatus for deployment on a vehicle

having a frame includes a spring assembly coupled to the frame

and configured for compressions and extensions during vehicle

travel. A piezoelectric device is mounted on the spring assembly

for generating electrical energy in response to the strain

imposed thereon. A rectifier is coupled to the piezoelectric

device for converting AC electrical energy to DC. ( 27 Mar 2012 ·

Chandra S. Namuduri)

The measuring system of road vibration energy piezo-electric

generating under a Driving Loading, it is characterized in that:

this measuring system comprises the piezoelectric energy-

conversion unit that is arranged at the road surface, controls

total module and measure total module, and described

piezoelectric energy-conversion unit can be converted into

electric energy with road vibration. The alternating current that

total module captures the stress on the speed of vehicle and

load-carrying, road surface and distortion, piezoelectric energy-

conversion unit and the voltage and current after voltage and

conversion. The electric energy that produces can be used as a

kind of electric power supply and is stored and utilize. (22 May

2013Sun Chunhua Suzhou Vocational University)

Synthesis and Justification

The evaluation of Related studies and literature provided by

the researchers’ vast information on the the application of

Piezoelectric transducers as Energy harvester in vehicles. It

provided various concepts relevant and helpful particularly about

piezoelectricity. In addition, this information gave the

researchers a broader understanding about piezoelectricity.

Perhaps, some information about the aforementioned literature and

studies provides ideas and detailed application which therefore

gave enough knowledge on how to generate electricity from

piezoelectric transducer.

Although according to a study conducted by Zhe Qu Lu San

Francisco (2018), Building vibration energy harvesting will only

provide very small amount of power. Even with assumptions of un-

realistic ideal conditions, from wind drag forces with

conventional structural designs, building vibration energy

harvesting can’t provide feasible power as a common power source.

In conclusion, for promoting renewable energy electricity

generations, vibration energy harvesting could play a major role

in the near future.

This statement contradicts the third objective of our study

which is to identify the number of Piezoelectric Transducers

needed to light up a small LED bulb. However, we will be focusing

on the minimum number of Piezoelectric transducers and test

weather these transducers will power up small LED bulbs when

applied on vehicles. Supported by a project study conducted by

the researchers in Batangas City that focuses on the

piezoelectric effect. The project will harvest energy by

transforming mechanical energy to electrical energy with the

mechanical energy coming from the footstep of people walking on

it. When piezoelectric material was placed under mechanical

stress, a shifting of the positive and negative charge centers in

the material takes place, which then results in an external

electrical field. This project could be an emergency power supply

in times of power outage and good for the environment because it

uses renewable power source.( ijarp.org, 2019)

Moreover, from the study of Wei Yang and Shahrzad Towfighian

(2018), structure can improve the efficiency of vibration

harvesting in the low frequency range regardless of excitation

levels. Therefore, we concluded that the design of the energy

harvester also varies on how much voltage it will produced. Thus,

it is possible to generate electricity from Piezoelectric

Transducers when applied on vehicles.

Theoretical Framework

For a better result of the study, the Researchers explored

some principles, laws and theories that helps to formulate and

develop the validity of the idea of the study.

In 1880 brothers Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie while

working as laboratory assistants at the Faculty of Sciences of

Paris, discovered that applying pressure to crystals such as

quartz, tourmaline and Rochelle salt generates electrical charges

on the surface of these materials. This conversion of mechanical

energy into electrical energy is called the direct piezoelectric

effect. “Piezo” is derived from the Greek for “to press”.

(onscale.com-2020)

An apparatus comprises piezoelectric transducers and spring

effect elements that enable the piezoelectric transducers to be

deformed and to recover their original shape; and electrodes for

transmitting energy, as well as elements for compressing and

attaching the apparatus. These devices and their variants can be

used together to generate energy from various sources, such as

vehicle wheels, a street or road, wind turbines, water turbines,

and even be included in various types of footwear. (24 Sep 2015 ·

AGUILLÓN José Humberto VILLASEÑOR)

 That leads to conclude that vibration as the most prevalent

energy present in the environment can be utilize to energy

generation. Although according to a study conducted by Zhe Qu Lu

San Francisco (2018), Building vibration energy harvesting will

only provide very small amount of power.

Therefore, Piezoelectric transducers can be used to generate

electricity from vibrations in vehicle. The idea is building a

system that would include piezoelectric transducers, each

transducers have cantilever to maximize the force of vibration to

the transducers.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The comprehension of the proposed study was based on the

fundamental principles illustrated in the theoretical framework.

This study began with the application of piezoelectric

transducers as an energy harvester in vehicles. The possibility

of producing small amount of energy with the use of piezoelectric

transducers to light up LED bulbs.

Brainstormin and conceptualization of the design process of the

piezoelectric transducers as an energy harvester in vehicles.

Gathering of materials

Assembling and analyzing of the piezoelectric transducers as an energy

harvester in vehicles.

Figure 1
 Research Paradigm
Figure 1 shows the paradigm of the study for the

piezoelectric transducers as an energy harvester in vehicles. The

first stage was the conceptualization of the proposed study of

the design fabrication and development of the piezoelectric

transducers as an energy harvester in vehicles together with the

analysis of the planned design process. This study was anchored

in the idea of transforming mechanical energy to electrical

energy with the mechanical energy coming from the footstep of

people walking on it and making sure its outstanding quality is

the intended design of the project. This segment determined the

form of the layout approach and determined what appropriate

methods are important for the observation. It includes the three

stages of the layout procedure: conceptual layout and specific or

detailed layout. After analyzing the layout and critical

requirements for the piezoelectric transducers as an energy

harvester in vehicles such as the substances and specifications

of the task, the following procedure is the application. This

stage was the application or process of assembling of the

materials gathered for the piezoelectric transducers as an energy

harvester in vehicles. It is composed of the piezoelectric

transducers that will served as the focus of the development of

our study and the necessary materials such as the frame and

casing of piezoelectric transducers, elecrical wires, and LED

bulbs that will ensure the effectiveness and success of the

project.

After those stages, checking out the product was required.

This confirmed if the piezoelectric transducers as an energy

harvester in vehicles works properly, considering the anticipated

or perceived performance of the new design and product. In case

undesirable effects came about, the researchers might return to

the previous stages of the technique to identify the errors to

sooner or later correct the mistakes of the study.

Matrix of Related Literature and Related Studies

Title of the Author and Results/ Conclusion/

Study year Findings Recommendation

Vibration Energy Zhe Qu Lu The result shows In conclusion,

Harvesting San that building for promoting

Francisco, vibration energy renewable

California harvesting will energy

May 2018 only provide electricity

very small generations,

amount of power. vibration

Even with energy

assumptions of harvesting
 un-realistic could play a

ideal major role in

conditions, from the near

wind drag forces future.

with

conventional

structural

designs,

building

vibration energy

harvesting can’t

provide feasible

power as a

common power

source.
Lin The fundamental The piezo-
Progress in Zhong
principle of phototronic
Piezotronics and Wang,
piezotronics and effect is to
Piezo- February
piezo- use the
Phototronics 2012
phototronics piezopotential

were introduced to control the

by Wang in 2007 carrier

and 2010, generation,

respectively. transport,
 Due to the separation

polarization of and/or

ions in a recombination

crystal that has for improving

non-central the

symmetry in performance of

materials such optoelectronic

as the wurtzite devices, such

structured ZnO, as photon

GaN and InN, a detector,

piezoelectric solar cell and

potential LED.

(piezopotential)

is created in

the crystal by

applying a

stress.
Piezoelectric Hiba Najini, It was clear All renewable

Energy 2016 that the energy sources

Generation from piezoelectric were compared

Vehicle Traffic transducer with proposed

with design requires system

Technoeconomic about 8 to 16 methodology

Analysis PZT piles for and it was

 0.04 m2 road area concluded that

where the PZT the proposed

piles were of system has

round shape and better LEC in

multilayering comparison to

the structure of other

PZT was renewable

suggested to energies

decrease the present

electric in United Arab

potential on Emirates.

pavement

generator.
Power Generation Anup Chaple Whenever force Power

using et. al, 2018 is applied on generation

Piezoelectric piezoelectric using foot

Material crystals that step is

force is successfully

converted to tested and

electrical implemented

energy which can which is the

be used to drive best

dc loads and economical,

that minute affordable

 voltage which is energy

stored in the solution to

lead acid common people.

battery. The

battery is

connected to the

inverter. This

inverter is used

to convert the

12 volt D.C to

the 230 volt

A.C. This 230

volt A.C voltage

is used to

activate the

loads.
A Study on the Wei Li et. The simply The maximum

Power Generation al, (2016) supported beam generation

Capacity of fixation mode is power a PCP

Piezoelectric suitable for produces in

Energy environments in simply

Harvesters with which the supported beam

Different exciting fixation mode

Fixation Modes frequency is larger than

and Adjustment exceeds 50 Hz, that in

Methods while the cantilever

cantilever beam beam fixation

fixation mode mode

fits the

circumstance

where the

exciting

frequency is

below 50 Hz.
A Study on the Jaehoon Kim, The study Changing only

Energy- (2021) applied a non- one of the

Harvesting contact magnetic design factors

Device with a spring to a VEH in the

Magnetic Spring device using the magnetic

for Improved repulsive force spring VEH

Durability in of permanent device is

High-Speed magnets. The insufficient

Trains characteristics to meet the

of the generated target power

power were generation

studied using performance.

the magnetic

spring VEH
 device in a

highspeed train

traveling at 300

km/h.
Low frequency Wei Yang & The harvester The proposed

energy Shahrzad consists of two variable

harvesting with Towfighian, perpendicular potential

a variable (2018) cantilever beams function

potential with tip magnets energy

function under and one beam is harvester has

random vibration partially an optimal

covered by initial

piezoelectric distance

strips. At small between

distances magnets where

between magnets, a large output

the traditional in low

system is bi- frequencies

stable and at occurs under

large distances, Gaussian white

it is mono- noise. This

stable. The optimal

distance between distance does

the magnets can not change

 be set to an under various

optimum where noise levels,

the maximum which

output at low addresses the

frequencies limitation of

occurs. the

traditional

bi-stable

systems

enhancing the

vibration

energy

conversion

efficiency.
Piezoelectricity A. L. The orientation The sign of

and Crystal Kholkin, N. dependence of the strain S

Symmetry A. Pertsev the (elongation or

and A. V. longitudinal contraction)

Goltsev piezoelectric changes to the

(2008) response in opposite one

ferroelectric if the

single crystals direction of

is described. electric field

Then, the E is reversed.

effective Shear

piezoelectric piezoelectric

constants of effect (Fig.

polydomain 2.1c) is also

crystals, possible, as

ceramics, and it linearly

thin films and couples shear

their mechanical

dependence on stress or

crystal strain with

symmetry are the electric

discussed. As charge

follows from

thermodynamics,

all

piezoelectric

materials are

also subject to

a converse

piezoelectric

effect (Fig.

2.1b), i.e.,

they deform

under applied
 electric field.
Vibration-to- Bernard A working The harvester

Electric Energy Chih-Hsun vibration energy could start up

Conversion Using Yen, 2003 harvester from a

a Mechanically- comprising a reservoir

Varied Capacitor time varying voltage of 89

capacitor with a mV, suggesting

capacitance that the

ratio of 3.27 circuit can be

converted initiated by

sufficient an attached

energy to piezoelectric

sustain 6 V film.

across a 20 MQ

load. This

translates to an

average power of

1.8 pW. Based on

a theoretical

harvesting limit

of 40.67 pW, the

prototype

achieved a

conversion
efficiency of

4.43 %.
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