Energy Storage Characteristics of a Piezo-Generator using Impact Induced Vibration

This paper presents theoretical and experimental considerations of the energy storage characteristics of a piezoelectric generator developed previously by the authors. In this paper, the oscillating output voltage induced by mechanical impact via the piezoelectric effect is rectified, and the electrical energy is stored in a capacitor. The effect of the capacitance of the capacitor and the initial voltage is investigated using an equivalent circuit model. A maximum efficiency over 35% has been achieved with a prototype generator.