Innovative Energy Harvesting Technologies
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Abstract
Abstract
Abstract Distributed low-power sensor nodes in aerostat compartments require lightweight, low-maintenance, and self-powered energy solutions. Localized airflow provides a potential energy source, making piezoelectric wind energy harvesting an attractive approach for powering these nodes. For directly airflow-excited piezoelectric harvesters, variations in wind speed can directly alter the aerodynamic loading and consequently the vibration amplitude of the piezoelectric transducer, leading to fluctuations in electrical output and energy-harvesting performance. This study proposes a Scotch-yoke-based piezoelectric wind energy harvester for self-powered sensor nodes in aerostats. The novelty lies in combining a Scotch-yoke-based rotary-to-reciprocating transmission with a corrected first-natural-frequency prediction model to enable deliberate frequency matching between the wind-driven excitation and the piezoelectric beam. The airflow is first captured by a small fan, and the resulting rotation is converted into periodic linear reciprocating excitation by the Scotch-yoke mechanism, with the reciprocating stroke determined by the mechanism geometry and the excitation frequency governed by the fan rotational speed. Nine orthogonal-parameter prototypes are fabricated to investigate the effects of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) dimensions and tip mass on resonant frequency and output performance. Range analysis indicates that the tip mass is the dominant factor affecting the first natural frequency, with a relative influence of 66.8%. At a target wind speed of 10 m/s, the calibrated excitation frequency of 46.3 Hz is used for frequency-matching optimization. The optimized prototype achieves a first resonant frequency of 46.19 Hz, corresponding to a relative deviation of 0.24%, and delivers a maximum output power of 6.7 mW under the optimal load. Capacitor-charging and self-powered temperature-sensing experiments further demonstrate its capability to support intermittent sensing and wireless data transmission. The proposed harvester provides a compact and frequency-designable solution for self-powered sensing in aerostat compartments.
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@article{Wei2026Scotch,
title = {A Scotch-yoke-based piezoelectric wind energy harvester for self-powered sensor nodes in aerostats},
author = {Xiaoqiang Wei and Haoren Feng and Liang Wang and Kaitian Ge and Biao Liu},
journal = {Smart Materials and Structures},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1088/1361-665x/aeb29a},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665x/aeb29a}
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