Modeling bender-type piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) for power performance prediction from body movements

Abstract With the growing demand for small and wearable electronic devices, minimal energy is needed to power these gadgets. Consequently, energy harvesters designed for such applications are typically compact to facilitate integration and battery replacement. Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) are particularly suited for extracting energy from human motion due to their high-power density, broad vibration frequency range, and compact size. As PEHs become increasingly prevalent in real-world applications, developing reliable and accurate electromechanical mathematical models is crucial for effectively predicting the harvested energy. This study aims to develop a robust mathematical model for bender-type piezoelectric energy harvesters subjected to various input types, focusing on power generation prediction. The mathematical model for a bender-type PEH structural system subjected to harmonic base excitation, impacts, or arbitrary inputs is derived using Hamilton’s Principle for a coupled electromechanical system. Using MATLAB simulations, the model predicts the frequency response of the generated power under base excitation with results validated against existing literature. The model’s predictions align well with published data, demonstrating its validity. The model facilitates a parametric study to understand factors influencing system output power. The simplicity of our model allows for optimizing the performance of bender-type piezoelectric energy harvesters under diverse input conditions from body movements.