Optimization of thermal energy harvesting by PZT using shape memory alloy

Thermal Energy harvesting intends to supply portable or wireline electrical appliances connected to a generator with the necessary power on the purpose of making them energy-independent. The implemented power values in this case are small; they range from Microwatt to Watt. This self-feeding process is an attempt to cope with the widespread energy-efficient electronic technologies of nowadays. Additionally, this study aims at recovering renewable micro-energy by means of the piezoelectric material and optimizing its efficiency by using Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs). This study sheds light upon the progress made on storage devices that are necessary to compensate for the intermittencies and the inadequacies that occur in the production and consumption of the generated electrical energy. © 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2020.