Theoretical Techniques for the Exploration of Piezoelectric Harvesters

In this chapter, analytical and numerical techniques for the design and optimization of piezoelectric harvester (PH) systems are handled. In the frame of chapter, initially the approaches on how to start with an initial design will be explained. Then, the techniques to improve the starting design will be described. In the working tasks, especially the applications of finite element analysis (FEA), and time-integration schemes are focused together with the required analytical methods. There exist many tools to implement the time integration, however from the point of engineering, MatLab tool is the most preferable. In the case of FEA, mainly the Maxwell 3D package programme is explained in the present chapter. A route to get the optimized harvester devices is discussed gradually. In the time integration method, the description of dimensionless equations of motion, electricity and magnetic equations are given for the future possible applications. As the most studied sample in the literature—the cantilever structure of piezoelectric materials are considered under single well and double well potential magnetic regions. The time dependent solutions of the systems are given and possible future applications are underlined on the applications. Main interest areas of PH are medicine, automotive industry, space mission and military devices. Following the mechanical design, the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic parts should be clearly identified for the electromagnetic design if the device uses a magnetic component. Each design has its own magnetic flux path, magnetic field density values and magnetic. In order to provide a concrete device, following the analytical description, 2D or/and 3D designs should be drawn under a package programme working with FEA. Magnetostatic and magnetodynamic solutions are required in order to get the voltage and current output from the system. Besides, a time-dependent solution via a MatLab code can be applied. In this chapter, there will be different harvester systems and their analyses to give comprehensive ideas to the readers for the sake of creating original harvesters. Before the practical applications on the harvesters, theoretical works on the considered harvesters give a chance to the engineers to use the budget and time efficiently.