Analysis of AC low-voltage energy harvesting
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Authors
Shvets, Dmitry
Subjects
Renewable energy
Piezoelectric
buck converter
Energy harvesting
Piezoelectric
buck converter
Energy harvesting
Advisors
Julian, Alexander L.
Date of Issue
2014-09
Date
Sep-14
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Piezoelectricity is a material property that generates an electric charge proportional to the mechanical stress placed on
the material. This phenomenon was first discovered by the Curie brothers in 1880. This material property gives the
ability to turn vibrations into an electrical waveform, but power electronics is necessary to harness this low-level
energy.
AC power is often produced at the power plant level in modern society; however, low voltage AC power is widely
available in vibrational form. The U.S. Navy may be able to utilize piezoelectric technology to harness wasted
vibrational energy. Some of these applications include inserting a piezoelectric harvester in shoes to supply small
amounts of power to cell phones or utilizing motion energy to provide power to iPod chargers.
The power electronics that provides full bridge rectification and step down conversion, which achieves AC-DC power
harvesting, is discussed. Also discussed is a breakdown of possible applications for such a device as well as the
benefits of turning AC power into DC. A Linear Technology LTC-3588-1 integrated circuit was simulated in software
and demonstrated in hardware. The hardware experiment showed that the software accurately predicted the
performance of the chip.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.