The performance of multi-source energy harvesting systems based on piezoelectric nanogenerator configuration

The research aims to study the appropriate configuration in multi-source piezoelectric energy harvesting. This paper presents the connection configurations of a multi-source piezoelectric nanogenerator to extract high energy from ambient forces for powering up electronic devices. The configurations are optimized by applying a full-bridge rectifier (FBR) as an interface circuit to complete AC-DC transformation before powering up any devices. Nine pieces of 27 mm of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric transducer were connecting in parallel and series configuration and pushed under 28 N force. The experimental result shows the maximum power can be extracted from the series and parallel configuration are 103 µW and 149 µW without FBR and 145 µW and 500 µW with FBR. Moreover, the study also shows the FBR interface circuit plays a role not only for rectifying but more in enhancing the ability of the power extraction performance up to 70%.