Energy Harvesting From A Piezoelectric Source To Power A Wireless System

Batteries are vital sources in many wireless embedded systems applications like the Tire Pressure Management System (TPMS) in the automobile industry. Also, the growth of electric cars will result in an increasing demand for batteries. Although batteries do not directly pollute the environment during their active life, the production phase and decomposition phase will contribute to pollution. The limited lifetime of batteries also emphasizes the need for a change to new technologies. Replacing batteries becomes difficult in applications on desolated places. Energy harvesting can be an attractive alternative solution. Techniques like electrostatic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric energy harvesting can convert the energy in the ambiance to an useful electrical energy. Piezoelectric energy harvesting can be useful as they have been proven vital in converting vibration energy to the required form. This research focuses on powering wireless systems like a TPMS in a car by piezoelectric energy harvesting. It provides the requirements and decisions involved in designing a circuit capable of transferring input energy to output in an efficient manner. The circuit rectifies the output of a piezoelectric material and provides an output of 3.3 V. Result showed that the circuit was able to power an LED for 5.8 s. By adjusting the circuit according to the power requirements, the circuit can be the source to low power wireless embedded systems