FALL 2008 MAE 589M FINAL PROJECT

KARTHIK TIRUTHANI
Motivation
Introduction
Motion based energy conversion model
Review
Comparison of energy harvesting techniques
Issues
Existing solutions
Proposed solution
Analysis and Conclusion

Increasingly intelligent
systems
Complexity of wiring
Increased costs of wiring
Reduced costs of
embedded intelligence
Increasing popularity of
wireless networks
Limitations of batteries
Limitations of power
management techniques

Energy Harvesting Mechanisms
Ambient radiation sources
Pyroelectric energy harvesting
Photonic energy harvesting
Energy harvesting using
Electroactive Polymers
Piezoelectric energy harvesting
Electrostatic energy harvesting
Electromagnetic energy
harvesting
Thermoelectric energy harvesting
Magnetostrictive energy
harvesting




Properties of energy harvesting devices
desired to power sensors
Small
Light weight
Long life
Inexpensive
Flexibility
High power density
Easy fabrication
Easy implementation with
microelectronics
Low wattage electronics without
parasitics


The equation for this
system is given by

The solution for the
system is given by


The power output is


Piezoelectric
Strain in piezoelectric material causes a
charge separation (voltage across capacitor)
Capacitive
Change in capacitance causes either
voltage or charge increase.

Vs
C Rs
Piezoelectric generator
Inductive
Coil moves through magnetic field
causing voltage in wire through Faradays
Law
Electromagnetic energy conversion device Amirtharajah et. al., 1998
Cross-Section of Micromachined Generator Williams et. al., 2001
Magnetostrictive
Strain induced on a MsM produces a
change in the magnetization of the
material(Villari Effect). Upon dynamic
or cyclic loading, this change in
magnetization is converted into
electrical energy using a pick-up coil
surrounding the magnetostrictive
layer. The constitutive equations are
and
MsM Energy harvesting device, Lei Wang 2007
Seebeck effect describes the potential
generated when the junction of two
dissimilar metals experiences a
temperature difference
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) use
the Seebeck effect to harvest energy.
ZT, called Figure of Merit is a very
convenient figure for comparing the
potential efficiency of different materials
for use in devices. Values of ZT=1 are
considered good.
A simple charging circuit is shown
Power output is calculated using
Seebeck Effect Illustration
Simple Charging Circuit
TYPE OF ENERGY HARVESTING ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
THERMOELECTRIC
1. No moving parts allow continuous
operation for many years.
2. Thermoelectrics contain no materials
that must be replenished.
3. Heating and cooling can be reversed
4. No separate external voltage source is
needed
1. Thermoelectric energy conversion has
low efficiency for small thermal
gradients
2. Irreversible effects in thermoelectric
materials limit their efficiency and
economy for power generation
applications
3. Seebeck coefficient can currently not be
increased beyond a necessary limit
ELECTROMAGNETIC
1. No separate external voltage source is
needed
2. No mechanical stops are needed
3. No smart materials are needed
1. Maximum voltage obtained is only 0.1V
2. Bulky size
3. Difficult to integrate with microsystems
4. Difficulty in fabricating coil
MAGNETOSTRICTIVE
1. High Coupling coefficient
2. No depolarization occurs
3. High flexibility
4. Suitable for high frequency processes
1. It is a non linear effect
2. Pick up coil is needed
3. Bias magnets are needed
4. Difficult to integrate with microsystems
ELECTROSTATIC
1. Easier to integrate with microsystems
and electronics.
2. Voltages of 2-10V are obtained
3. No smart material needed
1. Separate voltage source is sometimes
needed
2. Mechanical stops needed
3. Capacitance causes damping which
needs to be reduces motion
PIEZOELECTRIC
1. Voltages of 2-10V are obtained
2. No mechanical stops needed
3. High energy density
4. No separate external energy source
needed
5. Compatible with microfabrication
1. Microfabrication process not compatible
with standard CMOS processes
2. Piezo thin films have poor coupling
coefficient
3. It has depolarization and ageing
problems
4. Charge Leakage and high output
impedance
5. PZT is brittle material
Voltage required to be produced and energy density of the harvesting process for
example as supply voltage for a sensor or to charge a battery or capacitor
Low wattage circuitry and eliminating parasitic
Size of the device
Ease of fabrication
Ease of implementation with CMOS processes and microelectronics
Flexibility
Adaptability and maximization of power (Resonance Tuning)

Performance Characteristics
Synchronized switch
harvesting on inductor
Adaptive control technique for
the dcdc converter
DC-DC PWM Boost Converter
with feedforward and feedback
control
Piezoelectric nanogenerators
using aligned Zinc Oxide
nanowire (NW) arrays
Flexible Microfibrenanowire
hybrid structures for energy
scavenging
Tunable nanoresonators
constructed from telescoping
nanotubes


Piezoelectric Nanogenerator
Telescoping Nanotubes
Flexible nanogenerators
Multiple spring mass systems
Tuning the effective non-linear stiffness by
particular design of the electrostatic drive
combs and mechanical springs
Alter beam stiffness by changing the axial
preloads and causing buckling of beam
The apparent stiffness of a beam is
dependent on both the elastic constant of
the material, and the electric field across
the material. The stiffness of a structure can
be varied by changing field


Mass of the silicon structure
free to vibrate ~ 0.02 grams
(Assuming 2.33g/cc)
Mass of fluid filled in the
enclosure ~ 0.28 g
(Assuming 4.95g/cc)
Total proof mass can be
varied by varying the amount
of fluid in the enclosure
If the initial quantity of fluid
is a quarter of the enclosure
then the frequency can be
tuned by 100%
Wafer #1 Side and Top View
Wafer #2 Side and Top View
Wafer #3 Side View of
Microchannel
Assembled Microstructure
Displacement Profile under loading
Stress distribution profile under loading
Factor of Safety plot under loading
Minimum Factor of Safety for the design is 10.2
Maximum stress occurs at beam supports and it has
factor of safety 12
Designing the beams in a trapezoidal shape maximizes
the average strain on the beam thus increasing power
produced
Future research could focus on improving the
efficiency, implementing microstructures with
microelectronics, developing nanostructures,
improving properties like ZT, piezoelectric and
magnetostrictive constants, factor of coupling, etc