Nonlinear Piezoelectric Energy Harvester: Experimental Output Power Mapping

In this paper, the output power map of a nonlinear energy harvester (PEH) made of a console beam and the membrane of a resonant vibration speaker is analyzed experimentally. The PEH uses two large piezoelectric patches (PZT-5H) bonded into a parallel bimorph configuration. The nonlinear response of the deformable structure provides a wider bandwidth in which power can be harvested, compensating for the mistuning effect of linear counterparts. The nonlinear response of the proposed PEH is analyzed from the perspective of its electrical performance. The proposed experimental method provides novelty by measuring the effects produced by the nonlinearity of the deformable structure on the output power map. The objective of this analysis is to optimize the size of the PZT patch in relation to the size of the console beam, providing experimental support for the design. The presentation of the most significant experimental results of a nonlinear PEH, followed by experimental mapping of the output power, ensured that the proposed objective was achieved. The accuracy of the experimental results was determined by the high degree of automation in the experimental setup, assisted by advanced data processing.