how to make Piezoelectric Generator
Piezoelectric Generator Project Description:
Piezoelectric Generator is a power generation based Project based on the Piezoelectric sensors. In this project, a total of 72 piezoelectric sensors are used. These 72 piezoelectric sensors are divided among 4 PCB plates, so each PCB plate has 18 sensors. The output of all the 72 piezoelectric sensors are connected in parallel to improve the current.
This is a detailed tutorial explaining
- Schematic
- PCB design
- Designing Transferring
- Etching
- Piezoelectric sensor testing
- Soldering
- Final testing
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This Tutorial also explains how to get rid of the negative voltages produced when the piezoelectric sensor is pressed and then released. For the full discussion, making and explanation refer to the video given at the end of this Article.
Piezoelectric Generator, Piezo Sensors Connections:
As you can see the connection diagram is really simple. A piezoelectric sensor is connected with the ac input legs of the bridge rectifier. The positive leg of the bridge rectifier is connected with the anode of the 1n4007 diode. the cathodes of all the diodes are connected together, and all the ground legs of the bridge rectifiers are connected. So all the piezoelectric sensors are connected in parallel. These piezoelectric sensors will be used to charge a 6.3v 2200uf capacitor. Using a smaller value capacitor can speed up the charging process.
As these piezoelectric sensors generate current which is extremely low, so it really doesn’t matter which value diodes are you using.
Piezoelectric Generator PCB Design:
The PCB “Printed Circuit Board” is designed in the Cadesoft Eagle 9.1.0 version the download link is given below. This software can be downloaded freely, from the official website of the Cadsoft eagle.
Download the Original PCB design of the Piezoelectric Generator:
peizoelectric circuit
After everything is set. We take a print out of the PCB design and transfer the design on the copper plate using Hot Iron. Then we dip the PCB plates in the water and wait for around 5 minutes. Then we remove the excess paper. Finally, we prepare the Ferric chloride Acid solution and start the etching process. The ferric chloride acid solution making and etching processing is explained in the video giveN at the end of this Article.
After transferring the Design on Copperplate and etching the final board looks like this.
After Cleaning:
Drilling:
be very careful, if you are drilling for the first time and don’t forget to wear protective glasses, because this drill bit can easily break, For the beginners I suggest to use both hands, use one hand to hold the drill machine and another hand to hold the PCB and to support the other hand. Keep the drill machine straight, and apply a normal downward force. Avoid speeding in the beginning if you are a beginner. Take short breaks while doing the drilling, this way the drill bit will remain cool.
PiezoElectric sensor used in the making of Piezoelectric Generator:
A piezo sensor which is also known as the piezoelectric sensor is a device or an electronic component that uses the piezoelectric effect “Pressure” to measure changes in acceleration, Pressure, Force, Strain or Temperature by converting them to an electrical charge.
The voltage generated by the piezoelectric sensor depends on the amount of pressure we apply. Be very careful while apply the pressure as the disc can get damaged. If we apply pressure in the correct way we can generate voltages even more than 20 volts. But we have an issue,
as you can see we are getting both the positive and negative voltages, These positive and negative voltages vary and make an ac type signal. We have to get rid of the negative voltages, we can do this by simply connecting the piezoelectric sensor with a bridge rectifier.
This is a bridge rectifier, it has four legs, the two legs are labeled with ac signs and the third one labeled with a + sign and the last one is the ground. The longer leg is the positive one.
Soldering:
First of all, we insert all the components into the PCB boards and complete their soldering.
Fix all the piezoelectric sensors on the hardboard and Then Solder wires with the piezoelectric sensors.
Finally Testing:
Video:
Hello Fahad, my name is Sabrina and my group and I are working on this same project for our senior design project. I was wondering if you’d be available to answer a few questions about your set-up. We are trying to connect our sensors to a cellphone to charge. We were wondering how the bridge rectifiers and the one way diodes were being attached to the capacitor. Additionally, do all the sensors need to have their own bridge rectifier or can they be wired in parallel and then attached to the bridge? Any guidance you can provide for us would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at russes1@unlv.nevada.edu.
hi Fahad I would like to ask the same question could you please give us some guidance.
I’ve also been going through same
My mail:sumeetop323@gmail.com