Harvesting Energy Using Piezoelectric Materials

摘要

The depletion in the conventional non-renewable energy sources has made research on harvesting energy from the alternative sources the need of the hour. Many researches are now being conducted to convert the mechanical form of energy generated by vibrations into electrical form using piezoelectricity. In the process of walking, a primary motion of human beings, some amount of energy is left behind with each step taken in the form of stray vibrations. The present study aims to explore the possibility of harvesting such mechanical energy and converting them into some usable electrical form. A simple prototype platform is developed and tested successfully using Piezo buzzer discs made of PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate). Therefore, this study potentially provides a simple but effective way to capture and store the energy generated by human footfalls and suggests proper circuitry to facilitate the same.