Influence and optimization of the electrodes position in a piezoelectric energy harvesting flag

Abstract

Fluttering piezoelectric plates may harvest energy from a fluid flow by converting the plate's mechanical deformation into electric energy in an output circuit. This work focuses on the influence of the arrangement of the piezoelectric electrodes along the plate's surface on the energy harvesting efficiency of the system, using a combination of experiments and numerical simulations. A weakly non-linear model of a plate in axial flow, equipped with a discrete number of piezoelectric patches is derived and confronted to experimental results. Numerical simulations are then used to optimize the position and dimensions of the piezoelectric electrodes. These optimal configurations can be understood physically in the limit of small and large electromechanical coupling.

To appear in Journal of Sound and Vibration

References in corpus (3)

• Energy harvesting efficiency of piezoelectric flags in axial flows
• The origin of hysteresis in the flag instability
• The effect of non-uniform damping on flutter in axial flow and energy harvesting strategies

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Modelling of an actuated elastic swimmer
• Resonance-induced enhancement of the energy harvesting performance of piezoelectric flags
• Numerical Study on Flapping Dynamics of a Flexible Two-Layered Plate in a Uniform Flow
• Synchronized switch harvesting applied to piezoelectric flags
• Paper waves in the wind
• Electro-hydrodynamic synchronization of piezoelectric flags
• Fluid-solid-electric energy transport along piezoelectric flags