Energy Harvesting Characteristics from Water Flow by Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Device Using Cr/Nb Doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3 Bimorph Cantilever

Abstract

A water flow energy harvester, which can convert water flow energy to electric energy, was fabricated for its application to rivers. This harvester can generate power from the bending and releasing motion of piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers. A Pb(Zr0.54Ti0.46)O-3 + 0.2 wt% Cr2O3 + 1.0wt% Nb2O5 (PZT-CN) thick film and a 250-mu m-thick stainless steel were used as a bimorph cantilever. The electrical impedance matching was achieved across a resistive load of 1 k Omega. Four bimorph cantilevers can generate power from 5 to 105 rpm. The output powers were steadily increased by increasing the rpm. The maximum output power was 68mW by 105 rpm. It was found that the water flow energy harvester can generate 58mW by a flow velocity of (2 m/s) from the stream with the four bimorph cantilevers. (C) 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics