Energy harvesting using a dynamic weighing system based on piezoelectric materials

Abstract

Road transport is one of the main energy-consuming sectors. Therefore, the concept discussed in this article is of great interest since it aims to transform this sector into a producer of clean and renewable energy by using piezoelectric conversion. The work carried out in this article concerns the study of the electrical power density recovered by a miniaturized dynamic weighing system using piezoelectric sensors inserted into the road surface and by varying the speed and the weight of the vehicle. The system studied in this article therefore offers the possibility of measuring and then controlling the load of a moving vehicle using the vibrations generated during its passage and then converting them into electricity by direct piezoelectric effect. A mathematical model representing the relationship between the weight of the vehicle and the voltage peaks generated by the passage of the latter over the piezoelectric sensors has been developed. This model was implemented on the Matlab software, which made it possible to carry out, based on several experimental tests, a study of the variation of the coefficients of proportionality according to the weight of the vehicle and its rolling speed. The power density collected by this application at different speeds and masses was then calculated. According to the tests carried out, the recovered power density is approximately 36.06 W/m3 for a travel speed of 0.52 m/s and a vehicle weight equal to 1150 g.