Energy-harvesting power sources for very-high-G gun-fired munitions

J. Rastegar; R. Murray; C. Pereira; H-L. Nguyen

doi:10.1117/12.847777

9 April 2010 Energy-harvesting power sources for very-high-G gun-fired munitions

J. Rastegar, R. Murray, C. Pereira, H-L. Nguyen

Proceedings Volume 7643, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2010; 76430D (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847777
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Several novel classes of piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting power sources are presented for very high-G gun-fired munitions (40,000 - 240,000 Gs). The power sources are designed to harvest energy from the firing acceleration and in certain applications also from in-flight vibrations. The harvested energy is converted to electrical energy for powering onboard electronics, and can provide enough energy to eliminate the need for batteries in applications such as fuzing. During the munitions firing, a spring-mass system undergoes deformation, thereby storing mechanical potential energy in the elastic element. After release, the spring-mass system is free to vibrate and energy is harvested using piezoelectric materials. Two distinct classes of systems are presented: First are systems where the spring-mass elements are loaded and released directly by the firing acceleration. Second are those which use intermediate mechanisms reacting to the firing acceleration to load and release the spring-mass system. Description and evaluation of various methods for loading and releasing the spring-mass system in the high-impact environment, as well as packaging for very-high-G survivability are discussed at length. Also included are methods for using the devices as hybrid generator-sensors, how the devices intrinsically provide augmented safety, and methods to increase the efficiency of such power sources for very high-G applications. Examples of a number of prototypes for complete high-G energy harvesting systems are presented. These power sources have been designed using extensive modeling, finite element analysis, and model validation testing. The results of laboratory, air-gun and firing tests are also presented.

Citation Download Citation

J. Rastegar, R. Murray, C. Pereira, and H-L. Nguyen "Energy-harvesting power sources for very-high-G gun-fired munitions", Proc. SPIE 7643, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2010, 76430D (9 April 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847777

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