Abstract
Generation of electricity can be accomplished using a piezoelectric device: mechanical deformation is transformed directly into electricity. That mode of extracting electrical power from the natural environment is now attracting much attention. Looking at the electricity obtained using a piezoelectric device, it is apparent that its produced voltage is high, but the current level is low. Considering this basic characteristic, this type of electricity generation has been used for high-voltage output devices such as ignition device or piezoelectric transformers, and also for other devices that require a high response rate such as acceleration sensors. Therefore, few reports describe its use for electricity generation using natural energy or the use of such generating capacity for supplying power to various devices and equipment.
This paper presents a description of various technical components in building a wide area sensor network to observe wind velocity using piezoelectric generated power, which is supplied to the network’s wireless transmitter, without commercially supplied electric power.
We first examined the piezoelectric device’s basic characteristics to investigate it from an electrical generation perspective. We then improved its design and thereby invented a piezoelectric generation mechanic that generated electricity from wind power. This electric generation by the piezoelectric device that we invented was able to supply sufficient power to drive a transmitter that can establish radio communication to 1 km distance away at intervals of a few seconds, when available wind speed of 6.5m/s.
