Piezoelectric and electromagnetic hybrid energy harvesting with low-frequency vibrations of an aerodynamic profile under the air effect

In this study, a novel hybrid energy harvesting system consisting of a piezoelectric material and an electromagnetic induction device is experimentally inevstigated. Flow-induced vibrations can be considered as an aerodynamics air effect and can be converted to electrical energy. By connecting an airfoil profile to a beam element, vibrations are occurred on the proposed structure by creating an aerodynamic air effect. This aerodynamic air effect is controlled by using an Arduino board with a solenoid valve connected to the air line. A piezoelectric transduction is attached on the beam, and an electromagnetic-Lorentz induction is connected to the airfoil element at the end of this beam. Energy is simultaneously harvested by using electromagnetic induction and piezoelectric transduction with respect to the vibration motion of the beam. Within the scope of the study, the amount of energy obtained using the piezoelectric material and Lorentz actuator by connecting resistors of different sizes are measured with an oscilloscope. The experimental results show that the amount of energy obtained from the proposed structure is at promising levels that can be used to run small electronic units which commonly used in aerospace applications.