Split Cantilever Multi-Resonant Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Low-Frequency Application

This paper presents a new way to design a broadband harvester for harvesting high energy over a low-frequency range of 10-15 Hz. The design comprises a cantilever beam with two parallel grooves to form three dissimilar length parallel branches, each with an unequal concentrated tip mass. The piezoelectric material covers the whole length on both sides of the beam to form a bimorph. Appropriate geometry and mass magnitudes are obtained by a parametric study using the Finite Element Method. The design was simulated in COMSOL Multiphysics to study its response. The first three bending modes were utilized in energy harvesting, resulting in three power peaks at their respective fundamental frequencies. The adequate load resistance determined was 5.62 k ohm, at which maximum power can be harvested. The proposed harvester was compared to two other harvesters presented in the literature for validation: First, an optimized conventional harvester while the proposed harvester is operating at adequate load resistance. Second, a multimodal harvester, while the proposed harvester is operating at a 10 k ohm load. The suggested harvester proved to be more efficient by harvesting sufficiently higher broadband energy and is applicable in a wide range of vibration environments because of its adaptability in design.

Automated summary

This paper presents a new method of designing a broadband harvester for high energy harvesting in a low-frequency range of 10-15 Hz. The design includes a cantilever beam with parallel grooves forming three branches with unequal mass distributions, covered in piezoelectric material to form a bimorph. Through parametric study with FEM, appropriate geometry and mass sizes were obtained. Simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics showed that the harvester can efficiently harvest energy at specific load resistances.