Device for Electrical Energy Harvesting from Mechanical Vibrations

Description: A novel device for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical vibrations using an enhanced mechanical system that ensures uniform bending of piezoelectric elements. The solution increases energy conversion efficiency and enables powering autonomous sensors and monitoring systems without batteries.

The invention presents an innovative device for electrical energy harvesting from ambient mechanical vibrations. The key problem addressed by this solution is the non-uniform deformation of piezoelectric elements in conventional systems, which significantly limits their energy conversion efficiency. The proposed design introduces a dedicated mechanical structure that amplifies motion and ensures more uniform bending of the piezoelectric elements along their entire length. The system operates by transferring vibration-induced motion to a main beam, followed by mechanical amplification, resulting in improved deformation characteristics and increased electrical output. The solution integrates two piezoelectric elements, enabling more stable operation and higher energy generation compared to standard configurations. This technology has strong application potential in autonomous and low-power systems, including IoT sensors, infrastructure monitoring, machine diagnostics, and distributed measurement systems. By eliminating or reducing the need for battery replacement, the invention contributes to sustainable and maintenance-free operation of electronic devices. The concept has been validated at the proof-of-principle level, with a developed prototype and 3D model. The technology readiness level is estimated at TRL 4, and the solution has already been presented in scientific publications.

Organisation: Lublin University of Technology, Polish Air Force University

Innovator(s): Bartłomiej Ambrożkiewicz, Zbigniew Czyż

Category: Energy

Country: Poland