This is the official website of Group 11, Piezoelectric-Based Energy Harvesting. The purpose of this project was to develop an application using piezoelectric materials.
Piezoelectric materials create electrical charge when mechanically stressed. The converse effect is also true for these materials, meaning application of an electrical force can cause mechanical movement. The following picture illustrates the direct and indirect piezoelectric effects.
A 5 person Mechanical Engineering Team and 4 person Electrical Engineering Team from Stevens was formulated to take on the challenge of creating a unique application using flexible PZT-fiber based piezoelectric materials developed by Advanced Cerametrics Company, the material supplier and project consultant.
After evaluating several concepts, the group decided to develop a floor tile system that harvests energy from the piezoelectric strips, and uses this stored energy to send wireless signals as a surveillance device. Its operation is summarized in the below pictorial.
Piezoelectric Surveillance Floor Tile System
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 6, 2008; contact Jim Waterman at jwaterma@gmail.com