Energy harvesting
Energy harvesting devices convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. They are of great interest to supply small autonomous systems such as embedded sensors.
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES has developed several types of piezoelectric actuators displaying interesting properties for vibration and shock energy harvesting. Among them, Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators (APA®) combined with a mass operating in a proof mass mode are especially interesting piezoelectric generators :
- The APA® are able to bear large external vibrations because of their internal preload and their good high electromechanical coupling factor.
- The proof mass resonant frequency can be adjusted to the frequencies of the vibration source by selecting the appropriate APA® among a wide range of stiffnesses and by adapting the added mass.
Using this approach and its standard actuators, CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES can easily define customised piezo generators for vibration or shock energy harvesting.
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES has also developed complete energy harvesting devices including the electronics. One of the examples given hereafter consists in a piezo generator used to supply a sensor embedded on aircraft and its RF emitter to broadcast the sensor signal.
To learn more about our components and systems for Energy Harvesting see our related publications.
Vibration energy harvester (VEH) using amplified piezo actuators APA®
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES exploits patented bistable structures to realize broadband energy harvesting and improve energy-harvesting efficiency.
Applications
Energy Harvesting for security, transportation, healthcare, consumer electronics
STATUS
Prototype
Vibration Energy Harvesting with APA400M-MD
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES’s Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators are deemed candidate to harvest efficiently mechanical vibrations
Applications
Vibration Electric Energy Harvesting…
STATUS
Prototype
Shock Energy Harvesting with APA60SM
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES has conceived a complete mechanisme to transform shock energy into electrical energy, allowing to power a transmitter
Applications
Shock Electric Energy Harvesting Transmitter
STATUS
Prototype