A Self-Powered FBRJT AC-DC Conversion Circuit for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems

In this study, a complete model for a miniature excitation-powered piezoelectric generator (PG), analysis modes of operation and control of a full-bridge joule thief (FBRJT) circuit to identify the optimal points were investigated. The proposed model revealed the PG's power dependency on mechanical excitation, acceleration, and frequency and defined the load behaviour for power optimisation. The proposed circuit, namely FBRJT, was integrated with the conventional full-bridge rectifier (FBR) in Stage 1 for AC-DC conversion and with the joule thief circuit in Stage 2 for DC-DC conversion. This integration acted as a boost converter without utilising the duty cycles and additional switching components. The electrical nature of the input of FBRJT with a simple structure, sensor-less control and auxiliary circuits showed a consistent agreement with the investigated testing scenarios using both ideal and impedance power sources. Additionally, the performance of the proposed circuit was also verified against the published results of power electronics circuits. The developed versatile circuit and control system can be utilised for many applications, such as mobile battery charging and energy harvesting.

Automated summary

This study investigates a complete model for a miniature excitation-powered piezoelectric generator, as well as the modes of operation and control of a full-bridge joule thief circuit. The proposed model reveals the dependence of the generator's power on mechanical excitation, acceleration, and frequency. It also defines the load behavior for power optimization. The integrated circuit, called FBRJT, combines a conventional full-bridge rectifier with a joule thief circuit for efficient AC-DC and DC-DC conversion.