Piezoelectric Tiles

ME 54200
Fatin Baharuddin
Anderson Benjamin
Adrienne Fairbanks
Muhammad Vijasa

Pavegen System

Introduction
o

The world demand for renewable

energy

The piezoelectric dance floor

What is piezoelectricity ?

Piezo

Derived from the greek

word piezin for pressure or squeeze

Piezoelectricity The charge that

accumulates in a solid material (often
ceramic) in response to mechanical
strain.

Video taken from Brainshark.

How the piezoelectric device work in the dance floor

Examples of other usage of the piezoelectric concept

Tokyo Station, United Stated Defense, France.

Limitations

The challenges with piezo electrics is not enough energy is provided

to be a sufficient power source unless.

Energy is created is when contact is made with the surface of the

material.

With crowded populations in specific areas it is still not enough

energy to supply the worlds demand for better efficiency.

Limitations (Cont)

The initial cost to implement them, and higher start-up costs will
hinder the expansion of piezoelectricity.

Other limitations to piezoelectric technology are the materials

needed to create them. Piezoelectric materials consist of crystals
and certain ceramics.

Technology used to produce piezoelectric technology is

nanotechnology.

Research shows that nanoparticles do not behave the same way larger
clumps of the materials do, and many of them have unknown
properties.

Problem Solving Approach

Configuration of Piezoelectric material

Plucked Method

Produces 10 times more

electricity than the forced
method.

Small pick on the shaker

Free-vibrate

Forced Method

Direct force on the shaker

The frequency of the plucked method is 90 times more than the

frequency of forced method, and we could obtain that the power is 90
times bigger according to the equation.

Equation & picture taken from thesis of Analysis of high efficiency piezoelectric floor on intelligent buildings. In SICE Annual Conference 2010, Proceedings
of (pp. 1777-1780). IEEE.

Energy storage

the vibration that is produced by the plate stimulated a maximum efficiency

of 52%.

The problem: majority of the energy is stored & is given back to the
excitation source that initially caused the charge to be generated.

Minimizing the amount of energy stored in the piezoelectric material,

maximum efficiency of power generation can be achieved.

The electrical charge increased when the capacitance increased due

to increase duration of oscillation

When the initial voltage increased, the stored electric charge

decreased, hence, efficiency increased.

Other Approach

Lighting system

LED lighting.
Picture taken from Green Compliance Plus.

Fluorescent lighting.
Picture taken from from Active Rain.

Environment and Cost (Pavegen System)

Recyclable items:

Top surfaces of the tiles : 100% recyclable tires

Flooring frame: 80% recycled Aluminum compound and alloys

Piezoelectric material: Quart

Immediate cost: 8 slabs = $ 30,800 (Down payment: $15,800)

Shipping fee + maintenance + installation = Increase the price even more.

BUT,
University of British Columbia managed to save up to $37 608.48 over the tiles
lifespan of five years.

Conclusion

Piezoelectricity is useful and will be a great resource of energy in years to

come.

Due tothe concerns about the climate change and energy security, some
countries now are usingPiezoelectric, such as piezoelectric dance floor or
tiles that have been used in many places; buildings, streets, airports, clubs.

Drawbacks are there, but this should be seen as challenges for a better world.

Safe for the environment and the cost is feasible and practical.