Design of a piezoelectric energy harvesting system with perpendicular magnetic coupling double beams

This thesis focuses on the design and experimental analysis of a piezoelectric energy harvesting system with a double anchored beam and magnetic end masses. Piezoelectric materials generate an electrical voltage when mechanical stress is applied, or conversely, they undergo mechanical deformation when an electrical field is applied. The term "piezo" comes from the Greek word meaning "to press" or "to apply pressure," which reflects the fundamental principle of the piezoelectric effect. These materials are sensitive to environmental changes and are used to facilitate energy conversion. The piezoelectric effect occurs when the symmetry of the piezoelectric material's internal structure changes upon the application of an external force or electric field. This change affects the atomic charge distribution of the material and can be measured as an outward electrical signal. Energy generation using piezoelectric materials is a widely used method to prevent battery and cell pollution, and to obtain energy through mechanical vibrations instead of relying on expensive battery production. Piezoelectric materials have high operating frequencies and have become popular research topics in recent years. In this study, piezoelectric patches were bonded to two cantilever beams placed perpendicularly to each other. Magnets were attached to the free ends of the beams, and air was blown perpendicularly to one of the beams. The air flow was controlled using Arduino, programmed to switch on and off at specific intervals. Through a series of trials, the optimal interval was determined. During the optimal condition of 0.3 seconds on and 0.3 seconds off, the vibrations of the beams and the voltage values generated were examined. Furthermore, in order to investigate the system in a setup resembling a wind turbine, a DC motor was used to rotate a shaft. The magnet attached to the end of the shaft interacted with the magnets placed at the free ends of the beams, and the resulting vibrations as well as the voltage values obtained from the piezoelectric patches were analyzed. The operation of the system was examined using two different experimental setups, and the studies were also simulated through a finite element analysis program setups, and the studies were alsa simulated using a finite element analysis program.