Tunable nonlinear piezoelectric vibration harvester

Abstract

Nonlinear piezoelectric energy harvesting generators can provide a large bandwidth combined with a good resonant power output. However, the frequency response is characterized by a strong hysteresis making a technical use difficult if the hysteresis cannot be compensated. We propose a tuning mechanism that allows both, a compensation of the hysteresis as well as maintaining the optimal work point. The compensation algorithm can reduce the hysteresis to a minimum of only 1.5 Hz and maintain a high energy oscillation in a large frequency window between 53.3 Hz and 74.5 Hz.