Design and analysis of a novel rotational piezoelectric energy harvester for collecting wind energy

Abstract Wind is a form of renewable energy that carries a considerable amount of energy, and the development of efficient methods for harnessing and converting it presents considerable promise for sustainable power generation. This paper presents a novel rotational piezoelectric energy harvester (RPEH) designed to efficiently harness wind energy for powering low-power wireless sensors. Based on Hertzian contact theory and Euler–Bernoulli beam Theory, the study models the response of the piezoelectric beam during both the excitation phase and the damping oscillation phase. A custom-designed experimental testing system was employed to investigate and analyze the structural variables of the energy harvester. Experimental results demonstrate that under conditions of a gear diameter of 70 mm, a rotational speed of 500 rpm, and a 10 kΩ load resistor, a single piezoelectric element achieved a maximum power output of 9.27 mW, which is sufficient to power small wireless sensor devices. Furthermore, the practicality of the piezoelectric energy harvester in energy harvesting applications was validated through LED illumination and charge capacity experiments. In conclusion, the proposed RPEH offers an innovative solution for wind energy capture and wireless sensor power supply, providing a significant reference for the development of self-powered distributed sensor networks.