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ISBN: 378 - 26 - 138420 - 5

Electric power generation using piezoelectric crystal

P.BALAJI NAGA YASHWANTH, GAUTHAM KUMAR MOKA, DONEPUDI JASHWANTH

ANIL NEERUKONDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES

ABSTRACT

Key words: energy generation ,piezoelectric

crystals

The usefulness of most high technology

devices such as cell phones, computers, and
sensors is limited by the storage capacity of
batteries. In the future, these limitations will
become more pronounced as the demand for
wireless
power
outpaces
battery
development which is already nearly
optimized. Thus, new power generation
techniques are required for the next
generation of wearable computers, wireless
sensors, and autonomous systems to be
feasible. Piezoelectric materials are excellent
power generation devices because of their
ability to couple mechanical and electrical
properties. For example, when an electric
field is applied to piezoelectric a strain is
generated and the material is deformed.
Consequently, when a piezoelectric is
strained it produces an electric field;
therefore, piezoelectric materials can convert
ambient vibration into electrical power.
Piezoelectric materials have long been used
as sensors and actuators; however their use
as electrical generators is less established. A
piezoelectric power generator has great
potential for some remote applications such
as in vivo sensors,embedded MEMS devices,
and distributed networking. Developing
piezoelectric generators is challenging
because of their poor source characteristics
(high voltage, low current, high impedance)
and relatively low power output. This paper
presents a theoretical analysis to increase
the piezoelectric power generation that is
verified with experimental results.

INTRODUCTION
Mechanical stresses applied to piezoelectric
materials distort internal dipole moments and
generate electrical potentials (voltages) in
direct proportion to the applied forces. These
same crystalline materials also
lengthen or shorten in direct proportion to
the magnitude and polarity of applied
electric fields. Because of these properties,
these materials have long been used as
sensors and actuators. One of the earliest
practical applications of piezoelectric
materials was the development of the first
SONAR system in 1917 by Langevin
who used quartz to transmit and receive
ultrasonic waves. In 1921, Cady first
proposed the use of quartz to control the
resonant frequency of oscillators. Today,
piezoelectric sensors (e.g., force, pressure,
acceleration) and actuators (e.g., ultrasonic,
micro positioning) are widely available. The
same properties that make these materials
useful for sensors can also be utilized to
generate electricity. Such materials are
capable of converting the mechanical energy
of compression into electrical energy, but
developing piezoelectric generators is
challenging because of their poor source
characteristics (high voltage, low current,
high impedance). This is especially true at
low frequencies and relatively low power
output.

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ISBN: 378 - 26 - 138420 - 5

PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL?
The phenomenon of generation of a voltage
under mechanical stress is referred to as the
direct piezoelectric effect, and the
mechanical strain produced in the crystal
under electric stress is called the converse
piezoelectric effect.

The effect is explained by the

displacement of ions in crystals that
have a nonsymmetrical unit cell
When the crystal is compressed, the
ions in each unit cell are displaced,
causing the electric polarization of
the unit cell.
Because of the regularity of
crystalline structure, these effects
accumulate, causing the appearance
of an electric potential difference
between certain faces of the crystal.
When an external electric field is
applied to the crystal, the ions in
each unit cell are displaced by
electrostatic forces, resulting in the
mechanical deformation of the whole
crystal.

P = d x stress and E = strain/d

Piezoelectricity, discovered by Curie
brothers in 1880, originated from the Greek
word piezenin , meaning, to press.
MAKING

The piezoelectric axis is then the axis

of polarization. If the polycrystalline
material is poled as it is cooled
through its curie point, the domains
in the crystals are aligned in the
direction of the strong electric field.
In this way, a piezoelectric material
of required size, shape and
piezoelectric qualities can be made
within limits.
In a given crystal, the axis of
polarization depends upon the type of
stress. There is no crystal class in
which the piezoelectric polarization
is confined to a single axis. In several
crystal classes, however, it is
confined to a plane. Hydrostatic
pressure produces a piezoelectric
polarization in the crystals of those
ten classes that show piezoelectricity,
in addition to piezoelectricity.

displacement of electrical charge due

to the deflection of the lattice in a
naturally piezoelectric quartz crystal
The larger circles represent silicon
atoms, while the smaller ones
represent oxygen.
Quartz crystals is one of the most
stable piezoelectric materials.

ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS polycrystalline, piezoceramics are

man made materials which are forced
to become piezoelectric by applying
large electric field.
high charge sensitivity

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materials available which operate at

1000 F (540 C)
characteristics vary with temperature

ISBN: 378 - 26 - 138420 - 5

This help in reducing ripple in the

output waveform.
Here the output voltage produced is 2
to 3 volts.

CONFIGURATION:

Red indicates the crystal

Arrows indicate the direction of
applied force
the compression
design features
high rigidity, making it useful for
implementation in high frequency
pressure and force sensors.

FOOT
STEP
GENERATION:

The inverter circuit converts 12 v DC to 12 v

AC .
Now the obtained 12 v AC is connected to a
step up transformer.
Commercially available transformer to reach
is 12 v AC to 220 v AC.
Transformer step up 12 v AC to 220-230v
AC.
The obtained voltage can be used for many
applications.

POWER

When a piezoelectric material is put under

pressure it generates potential across the
other end.
This basic principal us used to produced
electrical supply.

By the ouput obtained a 12v battery

is charged .
Now the output of 12 v battery is
given to a inverter circuit.

The output obtained is a AC voltage.

This is the passed through a
rectifying circuit which converts AC
to DC voltage. The output is
connected to a rectifying circuit ,
which produce a pulsating dc.

APPLICATIONS:
The above method can be employed in many
ways like
1.railway station.
2. malls in cities.
3. escalators. Etc

To obtain pure DC we connect a

capacitor parallel to the load.

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The other applications where pressure can be

employed are:
1. In vehicles tire
2. In runway
3. Industries
4. Ships
5. In drilling machines.

ISBN: 378 - 26 - 138420 - 5

[4]-Gaur and Gupta Engineering Physicscrystal structure.[58.8]

CONCLUSION:
As the results shows that by using double
actuators in parallel we can reduce the
charging time of the battery and increase the
power generated by the piezoelectric device.
In second research where a piezoelectric
generator was put to the test and generated
some 2,000 watt-hours of electricity. The
setup consists of a ten-meter strip of asphalt,
with generators lying underneath, and
batteries in the roads proximity. So that it is
clear by using parallel combination we can
overcome the problems like of impedance
matching and low power generation. The
results clearly show that piezoelectric
materials are the future of electric power
generation.

Reference:
[1]- Piezoelectric Plates and Buzzers, Oct.
17,
2009.
[Online].
Available:
http://jingfengele.en.alibaba.com/product/50
91700650159415/Piezoelectric_Buzzer_Plates.html
[Accessed: Oct.17, 2009].
[2]- Anil Kumar(2011) Electrical Power
Generation Using Piezoelectric CrystalInternational Journal of Scientific &
Engineering Research- Volume 2, Issue 5,
May-2011.
[3]- www.BEProjectReport.com

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