Single-phase AC voltage control circuit for flow-induced acoustic-vibration piezoelectric generator

Abstract

Energy harvesting from ambient excitation has attracted numerous interests with the purpose of implementing self-powered devices. The technology of piezoelectric energy harvesting from vibrations induced by airflow is innovative research in the field of energy harvesting. A new flow-induced acoustic-vibration piezoelectric generator (FAPG) without any mechanical moving parts using this technology is developed. It converts the vibration induced by acoustic wave of external airflow inside the pipe into electrical energy via a piezoelectric transducer. Based on the scheme of FAPG using short pipe at the inlet of airflow, an effective output power conditioning circuit is designed. Simulation and experiments show that with the new designed interface circuit, which can expand the conduction angle of the Alternating Current (AC) output by FAPG, the efficiency of energy harvesting is improved significantly. In the circumstance of high-speed inflow and impedance matching, the FAPG can get high output power at consistent impedance matching points under various inflow velocities with strong practicability and flexibility.