Energy harvesting

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus system and method for power harvesting on roads and highways using a piezoelectric generator. The invention is to provide a system for power harvesting comprising a plurality of piezoelectric devices embedded in a road and configured to produce electrical power when a vehicle traverses their locations. The system includes a power conditioning unit and electrical conductors connecting said piezoelectric to said power conditioning unit. Harvested energy may be used locally in proximity to the energy generation location, stored for later use or transferred to be used in remote location.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to equipment systems and methods for harvesting power on roads, highways, railways and airport runways using piezoelectric generators Background technique [0002] Piezoelectricity is the ability of certain crystalline materials to generate an electrical charge proportional to applied mechanical pressure. The opposite effect is also seen in these materials, producing a strain proportional to the applied electric field. This was originally discovered by Curie in the 1880s. Currently, piezoelectric materials used in industrial applications are lead-containing ceramics that are widely available. Piezoelectric materials are the best known active materials commonly used in sensors and adaptive structures. [0003] Pristine ceramic materials must first be polarized to take advantage of their full piezoelectric effect. Polarization involves applying a high electric field to the material. During the poling process, the crysta...

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Problems solved by technology

The paper states that developing piezoelectric generators is challenging due to poor sour

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