A hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic wave energy harvester based on capsule structure for self-powered applications in sea-crossing bridges

The ocean is a huge kinetic energy field with considerable energy harvesting potential. Harvesting renewable ocean wave energy and using it to power electric facilities such as sensors for sea-crossing bridges in real time could be an effective strategy to promote sustainable development of the oceans. In this paper, we propose a piezoelectric-electromagnetic wave energy harvester (PEWEH) based on a sealed capsule structure for self-powered applications in sea-crossing bridges. The proposed system consists of three main components: piezoelectric module, electromagnetic module, and energy storage module. The piezoelectric module is mainly composed of two piezoelectric sheets which can be deformed by continuous wave motion to generate electricity. The electromagnetic module includes a fixed coil and a core that moves back and forth to cut the magnetic line to generate electricity. The electrical energy recovered by the piezoelectric module and electromagnetic module will be stored in the energy storage module after being rectified and stabilized. Experiment results showed that output voltage up to 7 V and power of 162 mW can be obtained by the PEWEH, validating that the proposed wave energy harvesting system is promising for self-powered applications in low-power monitoring sensors for sea-crossing bridges. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The ocean is a vast source of kinetic energy that can be harvested, particularly for powering electric facilities like sensors for sea-crossing bridges. A proposed piezoelectric-electromagnetic wave energy harvester (PEWEH) utilizes a sealed capsule structure for self-powered applications in sea-crossing bridges, with components including piezoelectric and electromagnetic modules for energy storage. Experimental results demonstrate the potential for PEWEH to generate up to 7V output voltage and 162mW power, making it a promising system for self-powered applications in low-power monitoring sensors for sea-crossing bridges.