Piezo Electric energy harvesting project - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

lazcook · 24th November 2008, 11:29 PM

Its been a long time since I’ve posted on here, but I have a question for anyone familiar with piezo generation!

I am using piezo ceramic strips to generate energy from vibrations, with the aim of charging a battery over many hours that will eventually power an LED when there is enough power. A very small current is generated (0.1-0.2ma ) so to provide a constant flow I have built a step up circuit with 4 capacitors to build the output to a current of 1ma at 0.3-0.4 volts. My issue at the moment is trying to stored this constant flow of power over time to eventually power a single LED so any suggestions on how to store the current would be appreciated!

Question:
1. What type of supercapacitor would be suitable for this application? I have been speaking digikey and they have sent me these data sheets about super capacitors but I don’t really know what would work: I have uploaded them, please see the links: http://www.canterburyyoga.co.uk/elec...arch/P1543.pdf and http://www.canterburyyoga.co.uk/elec...arch/P1544.pdf

2. Can anyone suggest a particular LED that needs low current and voltage to operate?

Thanks in advance for your replies- I am a industrial design student doing a research project in Loughborough University!

Hero999 · 25th November 2008, 10:03 PM

How long do you want to power the LED for?

If the current in is only 0.2mA then you can't get 1mA continiously unless you reduce the voltage. Remember P = IV and there's no such thing as perpetual motion, useful energy out is always less than useful energy in.

lazcook · 25th November 2008, 10:11 PM

hi hero,

the project is a pavement slab that generates energy to power a light during darkness- so for around 7 hours. It will be in an busy urban area so will have constant power everytime someone walks over the piezo paving slab unit. I can use multiple units together and it looks like I will need a large number to generate the correct power, it could be 6 paving slabs each with 10 piezo units? thanks for your reply.

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24th November 2008, 11:29 PM	(permalink)
lazcook	Piezo Electric energy harvesting project Its been a long time since I’ve posted on here, but I have a question for anyone familiar with piezo generation! I am using piezo ceramic strips to generate energy from vibrations, with the aim of charging a battery over many hours that will eventually power an LED when there is enough power. A very small current is generated (0.1-0.2ma ) so to provide a constant flow I have built a step up circuit with 4 capacitors to build the output to a current of 1ma at 0.3-0.4 volts. My issue at the moment is trying to stored this constant flow of power over time to eventually power a single LED so any suggestions on how to store the current would be appreciated! Question: 1. What type of supercapacitor would be suitable for this application? I have been speaking digikey and they have sent me these data sheets about super capacitors but I don’t really know what would work: I have uploaded them, please see the links: http://www.canterburyyoga.co.uk/elec...arch/P1543.pdf and http://www.canterburyyoga.co.uk/elec...arch/P1544.pdf 2. Can anyone suggest a particular LED that needs low current and voltage to operate? Thanks in advance for your replies- I am a industrial design student doing a research project in Loughborough University!

25th November 2008, 10:03 PM	(permalink)
Hero999	How long do you want to power the LED for? If the current in is only 0.2mA then you can't get 1mA continiously unless you reduce the voltage. Remember P = IV and there's no such thing as perpetual motion, useful energy out is always less than useful energy in. __________________ I also post at the following sites: http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com Screen name: Aloone_Jonez And http://www.silicontronics.com, same screen name as here.

25th November 2008, 10:11 PM	(permalink)
lazcook	hi hero, the project is a pavement slab that generates energy to power a light during darkness- so for around 7 hours. It will be in an busy urban area so will have constant power everytime someone walks over the piezo paving slab unit. I can use multiple units together and it looks like I will need a large number to generate the correct power, it could be 6 paving slabs each with 10 piezo units? thanks for your reply.