TY - JOUR

T1 - Analysis of piezoelectric harvester with multi-array configuration for ultra-low power sensor nodes

AU - Schott, Lydia

AU - Bouattour, Ghada

AU - Fromm, Robert

AU - Strakosch, Florian

AU - Kanoun, Olfa

AU - Derbel, Faouzi

PY - 2025/9/27

Y1 - 2025/9/27

N2 - Autonomous wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been identified as playing a crucial role in monitoring applications in hard-to-access and industrial environments. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of multi-piezoelectric configurations, including series, parallel, and hybrid configurations, for vibration-based energy harvesting in wake-up receiver (WuRx) nodes, with a particular focus on the gearbox of bucket wheel excavators. A novel analytical model has been developed to predict the electrical behaviour and power output of identical piezoelectric elements under various connection schemes and operating conditions. The experimental validation of the model yielded maximum deviations of Image 1 in the load power and Image 2 in the impedance estimates, thereby underscoring the model's reliability. A total of ten distinct configurations were evaluated, each comprising four piezoelectric elements. The four-in-parallel (0S4P) arrangement was found to demonstrate superior performance by enabling supercapacitor power peaks of Image 3, representing the peak instantaneous power stored in the capacitor and sustained over Image 4. These outcomes emphasise the potency of optimised piezoelectric configurations in facilitating autonomous, self-sufficient WuRx-enabled sensor nodes. The findings offer critical insights for designing resilient, energy-autonomous WSNs tailored for predictive maintenance and monitoring in high-vibration industrial environments.

AB - Autonomous wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been identified as playing a crucial role in monitoring applications in hard-to-access and industrial environments. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of multi-piezoelectric configurations, including series, parallel, and hybrid configurations, for vibration-based energy harvesting in wake-up receiver (WuRx) nodes, with a particular focus on the gearbox of bucket wheel excavators. A novel analytical model has been developed to predict the electrical behaviour and power output of identical piezoelectric elements under various connection schemes and operating conditions. The experimental validation of the model yielded maximum deviations of Image 1 in the load power and Image 2 in the impedance estimates, thereby underscoring the model's reliability. A total of ten distinct configurations were evaluated, each comprising four piezoelectric elements. The four-in-parallel (0S4P) arrangement was found to demonstrate superior performance by enabling supercapacitor power peaks of Image 3, representing the peak instantaneous power stored in the capacitor and sustained over Image 4. These outcomes emphasise the potency of optimised piezoelectric configurations in facilitating autonomous, self-sufficient WuRx-enabled sensor nodes. The findings offer critical insights for designing resilient, energy-autonomous WSNs tailored for predictive maintenance and monitoring in high-vibration industrial environments.

KW - Piezo harvester

KW - Multi-array piezo

KW - Wake-up receiver sensor node

KW - Wireless sensor network

KW - Informatics

KW - Business informatics

U2 - 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.106728

DO - 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.106728

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 27

JO - Results in Engineering

JF - Results in Engineering

SN - 2590-1230

M1 - 106728

ER -