Piezoelectric micro power energy harvester from ocean waves for low powered remote applications

Abstract

Oceanographic data buoys along the coastal and deep ocean for remote newlinein-situ monitoring and measurement are typically enabled with batteries and newlinesolar panels to power up the data buoy sensors and microcontrollers. Owing to newlinethe harshness of the oceanic environment and extreme events during monsoon newlinethese solar power sources tend to face problems. To overcome these issues, this newlineresearch proposes the use of a piezoelectric micro energy harvester that can newlineconvert the mechanical energy from the sea waves into electric energy to power newlineup the onboard sensors. newlineThe harvester is designed using four piezo electric diaphragms; super newlineballs are used for excitation of the piezo material due to impact. The setup is newlineintegrated to a heaving moored buoy deployed in a wave flume of 1 m depth newlineand 30 m length. Regular waves are generated using automated LabVIEW newlinesoftware. The single-axis sensor-diaphragm responses under regular wave newlineconditions with varying wave heights were analyzed. A maximum power of 0.31 newlinemW is generated across a hragms newlinein the heaving buoy for the wave power of 23.19 W at the frequency of 0.81 Hz. newlineThe energy was processed using the suitable power converter circuit newlineconsisting of an efficient rectifier, booster and its switch control combinational newlinecircuits designed using LTspice newline ® newlinesoftware. The proposed boost converter circuit newlineincludes a rectifier, integrated power switches, boost converter, output newlinedisconnect circuit and Schottky diode. The maximum voltage, load current, and newlinepower that can be obtained from the implemented circuit for the maximum input newlineAC voltage (-1.5 V to 3.8 V) AC are 12.3 V, 26.6 mA and 148 mW respectively. newlineThe circuit performance is enabled using a negative-positive-negative (NPN) newlineboost control technique in this circuit produces very low ripple voltage which newlineincreases efficiency over extensive load current. newline