Generating, Rectifying and Stepping Up the Voltage Output of Piezoelectric Plate

Abstract

Energy is required in all sectors that either supports or improves human life. However, some of the methods of power generation e.g. the fossils fuels are non-renewable and have byproducts that harms the environment. For example, they cause pollution that leads to greenhouse effect which will result in global warming hence causing climate change. There is a need for generation of electricity by methods where renewable/green energy sources can be used for generating electric power. Piezoelectric power is one such method where mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. A lot of mechanical energy is wasted when people move on the streets, pavements, gymnastic rooms and also by the movement of vehicles on the road. present work aimed at harvesting mechanical energy (for example from human footsteps, vehicle movements on roads and public gathering situations for clean and pollution free power generation. the general objective was to generate, rectify and step up the voltage output of the piezo electric plate. This study designed a portable kit comprising of the piezoelectric transducers either in parallel or series combination, together with a voltage step up and rectifier. The study experimented energy generation with the kit results using weights ranging from 10g-1000g. The results shows that the output voltage was directly proportional to the weights. The kit stepped up and the output of 1.5 v to 3 v. From the analysis the series combination of the PZT gives the highest output and thus for any designer who needs to generate power using PZT should consider the series configuration connected to the voltage doubler circuit.