Experimental analysis of radiation heat-based energy harvesting through pyroelectricity
Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
Published online on May 12, 2014
Abstract
Fluctuating heat radiating from the environment is an unused and unknown source. This study investigates pyroelectric energy harvesting as a way to tap a fluctuating radiation heat source. Appropriate circuitry coupling and the frequency of the radiation source play a key role in the ability to harvest this energy. Hence, a design of experiment approach that limits factors to temperature change frequency, electrical resistance, and capacitance is utilized to develop a full-factorial model at three levels for each factor. In order to quantify and maximize the harvested energy, a response surface model was developed. The optimum values for temperature change frequency, resistance, and capacitance were predicted to be 0.05 Hz, 7330 k, and 100 µF, respectively, for a PZT-5A sample with a volume of 0.684 cm3. The maximum response of 62.89 µJ was predicted for the optimum values.