International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2011)

Wireless Electricity Transmission

(using acoustic resonance through piezoelectric crystals)
Prabhat Ranjan Tripathi, Abdullah Khan

This paper describes basic principles of working of a

piezoelectric crystal and their use in wireless electric power
transmission system. Piezoelectric crystal provides a method
to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and viceversa. Although energy density of piezoelectric crystals is not
as high as batteries, its durability, compactness and long shelf
life make it useful for application in this proposed paper[1].
As piezoelectric crystals have very low voltage and current
rating this paper also proposes an idea on how to combine
different piezoelectric crystals to get higher voltage and
current ratings. It also deals with proper combination of
piezoelectric crystals and the best suited electrical and
mechanical conditions required for getting best electrical
characteristics.

AbstractThis paper presents an idea of wireless electric power

transmission through piezoelectric crystals by acoustic resonance.
This will prove to be a boon to the present era where wireless data
transmission technologies are commonly used in electronic devices.
We need to connect them to wired devices for powering them, which
at times becomes irritating and lossy as they use batteries which need
recharging, replacements and maintenance. So to provide solution to
this problem, wireless electricity transmission is the best way which
not only promises the seamless power availability but also ensures
the power conservation by minimizing the transmission losses which
occur in wired arrangements. Wireless electric power transmission
can be achieved by many ways such as coupled magnetic resonance,
laser, microwaves etc. The proposed work recommends use of
acoustic resonance in piezoelectric crystals by virtue of their property
of piezoelectricity and inverse piezoelectricity.

KeywordsAcoustic resonance,
piezoelectricity, ultrasound.

inverse

II. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

piezoelectricity,

The piezoelectric effect is a special material property that

exists in many single crystalline materials [3]. Examples of
such crystalline structures are Quartz, Rochelle salt, Topaz,
Tourmaline, Cane sugar, Berlinite (AlPO ), Bone, Tendon,
4
Silk, Enamel, Dentin, Barium Titanate (BaTiO ), Lead
3
Titanate (PbTiO ), etc. There are two types of piezoelectric
3
effect, direct piezoelectric effect and inverse piezoelectric
effect. The direct piezoelectric effect is derived from materials
generating electric potential when mechanical stress is applied
and the inverse piezoelectric effect implies materials
deformation when an electric field is applied . The energy
transfer via ultrasound waves via piezoelectric crystal uses
both direct piezoelectric effect and inverse piezoelectric
effect. The phenomenon will be clear from the Fig.1

I. INTRODUCTION
IRELESS electricity transmission has been a research
topic since Tesla demonstrated the wireless illumination
of phosphorescent lamp of his design in 1893 [1]. Till
now many advancements has been made with the latest of
MITs witricity through coupled magnetic resonators, which
enables wireless electricity transmission through a nonradiating electromagnetic field [2]. But very little work has
been done regarding use of acoustic resonance in wireless
electric power transmission. Example of acoustic resonance is
the breaking of a flint glass kept at a distance by the opera
singer by his high pitch notes. This occurs only when the
frequency of the opera singer matches with the natural
frequency of the flint glass, this phenomenon is called as
resonance. At resonance there is a lossless power transmission
from the sender to the receiver. The resonance described
above was by sound waves but for electric power
transmission, this paper proposes use of ultrasound waves
which are more energetic than the sound waves and are of
higher frequency range.

Fig.1. Principle of piezoelectricity.

Now as already mentioned if a piezoelectric crystal is

subjected to an alternating current then there will be
successive attraction and repulsion between opposite parallel
faces, now if frequency of current applied matches with that
of the natural frequency of the crystal and if it is sufficiently
high i.e. in the range of 10 to 20 MHz then the crystal starts

Prabhat Ranjan Tripathi is UG Scholar, Electrical and Electronics

Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM University,
Kattankulathur, Chennai-603203. E-mail- iamprt@gmail.com
Abdullah Khan is UG Scholar, Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM University, Kattankulathur,
Chennai-603203. E-mail- sahiazmi@gmail.com.

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International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2011)

vibrating vigorously and ultrasound waves of the same

frequency as that of current supplied will be produced. Now if
another piezoelectric crystal of same natural frequency as that
of ultrasound is place at some distance (say 2 meters) then
ultrasound waves will produce the strain in the crystal now
this strain or deformation will be same as that produced in the
first crystal due to duality of piezoelectricity and inverse
piezoelectric effect thus the electric field produced across the
parallel faces will be same as that given to the first crystal thus
electric power is transferred without any considerable loss of
energy.
But the main problem is that the power produced is in range
of few milliwatts if a single crystal is used. The key point is to
select best optimization in combining the piezoelectric crystals
and to select the type, spatial arrangement of the crystal to
obtain higher wattage range.

IV. It has better frequency stability as well as reduced

effect of stray capacitors.

III. BLOCK DIAGRAM

Block diagram given below will clear the basic working of
the proposed work.

Fig.3. Clapp Oscillator using N-channel JFet.

Frequency of the output waveform is given by (1).

f = 1/ (2 l * c )

(1)

Where c is given by (2).

c= 1/ ((1/ c1) + (1/ c 2) + (1/ c3))

(2)

B. Piezoelectric Crystal
It is the most important part of this system. The
piezoelectric crystal selected should have the optimum
working characteristics. It can be selected based on the
application and configuration of device to which it supplies
load. Examples of piezoelectric crystals are salt, Rochelle salt,
bone, certain ceramics which show property of
piezoelectricity and inverse piezoelectricity [6]-[8].
Various constraints to be kept in mind while selecting the
piezoelectric crystal are as follows:-

Fig.2. Block diagram representing the real time model.

A. Oscillator circuit
It converts a dc voltage supply to an alternating current
supply of desired frequency. There are many types of
oscillators with their own advantages and disadvantages but
we are using the Clapp Oscillator [4], [5].
Reasons for using Clapp Oscillator are:I. Constant amplitude oscillations are generated.
II. Can be used for frequency range of 1 MHz to 500
MHz.
III. It uses tapped capacitors so is usually cheaper than
others.

a. Permittivity: - Measure of polarizability of the

material.
b. Piezoelectric Charge Constant: - Measure of electric
charge induced in response of applied mechanical force or
achievable mechanical strain.
c. Piezoelectric Voltage Constant: - Ratio of electric field
strength to effective mechanical stress.
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International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2011)

d. Elastic Constant: - Ratio of relative deformation to

mechanical stress.
e. Mechanical Quality Factor: - It characterizes the
sharpness of the resonance.
f. Coupling Factor: - It describes the ability of piezoelectric
material to transfer electrical energy to mechanical energy

switch off or if the loss in switching off and on the system is

more than desired value the power supply can be run in an idle
condition to charge the capacitor banks as explained in the
figure 5.

Fig.6. Energy Conservation Circuit.

IV. OPTIMIZATION FOR THE CRYSTAL

A. Optimization1
Piezoelectric crystals are usually specified in terms of their
free deflection and blocked force. Free deflection (X f ) refers
to displacement attained at the maximum recommended
voltage level when the actuator is completely free to move and
is not asked to exert any force. Blocked force (F b ) refers to the
force exerted at the maximum recommended voltage level
when the actuator is totally blocked and not allowed to move.
Deflection is at a maximum when the force is zero, and force
is at a maximum when the deflection is zero. All other values
of simultaneous displacement and force are determined by a
line drawn between these two points on a force versus
deflection line, as shown in Fig.7. Generally, a piezoelectric
crystal must move a specified amount and exert a specified
force, which determines its operating point on the force vs.
deflection line. A crystal is considered optimized for a
particular application if it delivers the required force at one
half its free deflections. All other crystals satisfying the design
criteria will be larger, heavier, and consume more power.

and vice-versa.
Fig.4. Relevance of strain produced in crystal and corresponding
electric field produced in the piezoelectric crystal.

The crystal is selected on basis of electrical and mechanical

characteristics.
C. Converter Circuit

Fig.5. AC to DC converter circuit for piezoelectric crystal.

This circuit converts the high frequency ac current to

appropriate dc voltage rating which is used by the device. This
voltage sensing switch if coupled with intelligent control
systems i.e. micro controlled system then it will be a huge
advantage as it will operate only when the device actually
needs the power. In case of absence of device we can either
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International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2011)

Fig.8.crystal performance (voltage versus current)

Fig. 7 crystal performance (force versus deflection)

V. COMBINATION OF CRYSTALS
It is known that power ratings of piezoelectric crystals are
in range of milliwatts in order to use it for higher power rating
applications it can be arranged in stacks as given in fig, 9

B. Optimization2.
Piezoelectric crystals are usually specified in terms of their
closed-circuit current (or charge) and open-circuit voltage.
Closed-circuit current, I CC , refers to the total current
developed, at the maximum recommended strain level and
operating frequency, when the charge is completely free to
travel from one electrode to the other, and not asked to build
up voltage.
Open-circuit voltage, Voc, refers to the voltage developed
at the maximum recommended strain level, when charge is
prohibited from traveling from one electrode to the other.
Current is at a maximum when the voltage is zero, and voltage
is at a maximum when the charge transfer is zero. All other
values of simultaneous current and voltage levels are
determined by a line drawn between these points on a voltage
versus current line, as shown in Fig.8.
Generally, a piezoelectric crystal must deliver a specified
current and voltage, which determines its operating point on
the voltage vs. current line.
Maximum power extraction for a particular application
occurs when the crystal delivers the required voltage at one
half its closed circuits current. All other generators satisfying
the design criteria will be larger, heavier, and require more
power input.

Fig.9 stack of piezoelectric crystals

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International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2011)

VI. CONCLUSION
The proposed work presents a convenient way of wireless
electricity transmission with negligible loss using acoustic
resonance in piezoelectric crystals. This idea can be well
applied starting from household appliances to the industrial
level. This paper presents a way to get rid of wires and losses
associated with them.
Further this idea if applied with sync from microcontroller
can be the best way to conserve the energy thus taking another
step toward sustainable development. This mechanism can be
used to transfer electricity through the pipelines which will
bring more advantages as attenuation of ultrasound waves in
water is very less as compared to the air or any other medium.
By wireless electricity transmission we hope to get a better
world free from losses, complexity of systems and a shock
proof life.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank my guide and mentor
Mr. C.Bharatiraja M.E, (PhD), Assistant professor,
Department of Electrical and Electronics, SRM University,
Chennai. Without his help this paper would not have been in
the form it is. I would like to extend my immense gratitude to
my HOD (EEE) Mr. S.S. Das and Director (E&T) Dr. C.
Muthamizhchelvan for their support.
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Roy choudry and Shail Jain, Linear Integrated Circuits, Wiley Eastern
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Maximum charge generation in a piezoelectric generator, Caroline S.
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