Energy Harvesting Using Piezoelectric Transducer Ring from Rolling Motion of Ball Bearing

This study explores the design of an intelligent bearing and its capacity for self-powered operation. Leveraging the dual functionalities of piezoelectric transducers for both monitoring the health of the bearing and harnessing energy from bearing internal strain, this study focuses on utilizing the dynamic strain energy from the bearing and evaluating the potential for energy generation. The ball bearing is nested in a piezoelectric transducer ring with different electrode sections to form a smart structure. The underlying hypothesis posits that, as the bearing ball passes through the designated cut section of the piezoelectric transducer, it can harness the dynamic strain energy from the rotation of the bearing and utilize the energy to charge a capacitor. Three configurations of piezoelectric transducers with different cutting section areas have been tested in the experimental studies under different conditions of rotating speed and transverse load. Remarkably, the outcomes manifest as a peak DC output of 0.8 V, coupled with a root mean square (RMS) power of 43.979 μW within a 128-s operation. Beyond the implication for self-powering in the present study, this intelligent structure signifies the potential to achieve concurrent self-powering and condition monitoring by employing distinct cutting sections of the piezoelectric ring and machine learning algorithm.