A novel class of piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting power sources has been developed for gun-fired munitions which harvest energy from the firing acceleration. These piezoelectric-based devices have been shown to produce enough electrical energy for many applications such as fuzing, where they provide an ultrasafe power source, often eliminating the need for chemical batteries. An overview of the development of these power sources is provided, along with methods and results of laboratory and field testing performed on prototypes. Additionally, methods for integrating the generators into different classes of projectiles are discussed along with strategies for manufacturing and a side-by-side comparison with competing technologies.

Date Published: 17 May 2011
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 8035, Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications II, 803517 (17 May 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.883438

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8035:
Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications II
Nibir K. Dhar; Priyalal S. Wijewarnasuriya; Achyut K. Dutta, Editor(s)