2013 International Conference on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy[ICRESE13]

Harvesting Energy from Railway locomotive and

Coaches by Piezoelectric Material
Vivek Singh Rana

Shreya Puri

B.tech Pursuing,ECE Department

SRM University NCR Campus
Ghaziabad, India
vivekrana93@gmail.com

Abstract This paper deals with harvesting energy by

Piezoelectric Materials from railway locomotive and coaches
vibrations. In this scope,piezoelectric material becomes a strong
candidate for energy generation and storage in future
application. Railway locomotive, Coaches for express trains and
goods trains due to heavy load produce vibration during running
time. These vibration can be converted to electricity by
piezoelectric crystal. In this paper we discussed the use of
piezoelectric crystal to generate electricity from surrounding
vibrations in order to meet our power demands.

IndexTermsPiezoelectric, PZT 5A, lead zirconate titanate,

d33T, S33E, T3, E33T

I. INTRODUCTION
Man has needed and used energy at an increasing rate for
his purpose. Due to this a lot of energy resources have been
exhausted and wasted. The utilization of waste energy from
railways locomotive and coaches is very much relevant for
country(India) which has fourth largest rail network of 65,000
km in the worldin form of vibration and it can be made
possible for utilization it will be very useful energy sources.
This energy can be tapped and converted to electrical form. In
this paper, piezoelectric crystals were used as a medium.
These piezoelectric crystals convert the mechanical vibrations
into electrical energy.

B.Tech Pursuing, ECE Department

SRM University NCR Campus
Ghaziabad, India
shreyapuri93@gmail.com

A. The piezoelectric effect

The piezoelectric effect is exhibited by a number of
naturally-occurring crystals, for instance quartz, Tourmaline
and sodium potassium tartrate. For a crystal to exhibit the
piezoelectric effect, its structure should have no center of
symmetry. A stress (tensile or compressive) applied to such a
crystal will alter the separation between the positive and
negative charge sites in each elementary cell leading to a net
polarization at the crystal surface. The effect is practically
linear, i.e. the polarization varies directly with the applied
stress, and direction-dependent, so that compressive and
tensile stresses will generate electric fields and hence voltages
of opposite polarity. The mechanical strength values of Piezo
ceramic material up to 250 MPa (2500 x 10 5 N/m) before it
breaks mechanically. For practical applications, this value
must not be approached because depolarization occurs at
pressures on the order of 20 to 30 % of the mechanical
limit.Besides the crystals mentioned above, an important
group of piezoelectric materials are the piezoelectric ceramics,
of which PZT, or lead zirconate titanate (Pb[Zr(x)Ti(1-x)]O3 is
an example. These materials are represented by the formula
ABO3, Perovskite crystalline structure wherein A-site denotes
large divalent metal ion such as Pb and B-site denotes smaller
tetravalent ion such as Ti or Zr (Fig 1)

II. PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL

One of the most suitable methods for obtaining the energy
from surrounding a system needed is achieved by using
piezoelectric crystals. The piezoelectric crystals are subjected
to vibration they generate a voltage, commonly known as
piezoelectricity. It has a crystalline structure that converts an
applied vibration into an electrical energy .The piezoelectric
effect exists in two properties: The first is the
directpiezoelectric effect that describes the materials ability
to transform mechanical strain into electrical charge. The
second form is the converse effect, which is the ability to
convert an applied electrical potential into mechanical strain
energy. These properties allow the material to function as a
power harvesting medium .[6]

Fig. 1- PZT elementary cell

The maximum charge density which can be generated is

about 0.275 C/m2 once a PZT-5A element has produced a
charge density of 0.275 C/m2, as for the dynamic case, it is
almost completely irreversibly depolarized.[7]

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B. Advantage of ceramic over single crystals
Higher piezoelectric coefficient, ease of fabrication into
components of any shape and size, mechanically hard and
robust, chemically inert and completely unaffected by
atmospheric humidity. In contrast, single crystals must be cut
along certain crystallographic direction, thus limiting their
possible geometrical shapes.
C. Technical details
With piezoelectric ceramics, the relationship between the
applied stress and the resultingresponses depend upon:
- Piezoelectric properties of the ceramic.
- Size and shape of the element, and
- Direction of the electrical and mechanical vector
quantities.
To identify directions in a piezoelectric element, three axes
termed as 1, 2 and 3; whichare analogous to the classical three
dimensional orthogonal set of axes X, Y and Z areused.
Material properties along the 1 and 2 axes are identical to each
other but differentfrom those along the 3 axis. For maintaining
simplicity, references are made only to the3 and 1 direction.
The poling or 3 - axis is invariably taken parallel to the
direction ofPolarization within the ceramic (Fig 2(A)). The
polar axis is induced during theManufacturing process by
treatment with a high voltage DC field applied between the
pair of electrode faces to align the domains of the material in
the direction of the field.

piezoelectric coupling terms which relate the electrical and

mechanical properties of the material, S is the strain
(dimensionless), D is the electric displacement or charge
density (C/m2), E is the electric field (V/m) and T is the
applied stress (N/m2)[8]
Piezoelectric charge coefficient (d constant)
The piezoelectric d constant is a measure of the charge
density per unit stress or the
Strain per unit field.
dik =coulombs/meter2 = Coulomb
newton/meter2 Newton
(5)
Piezoelectric coefficients with double subscripts link
electrical and mechanicalquantities. The first subscript gives
the direction of the electrical field associated withthe voltage
applied or the charge or the voltage produced. The second
subscript gives the direction of mechanical stress or the strain
.The piezoelectric charge coefficient d33 applies when the
force in the 3-direction (along thepolarizationaxis) and is
impressed on the same surface on which the charge is
collected(Fig 3(A)), whereas d31 applies when the charge is
collected on the samesurface as before but force is applied at
right angles to the poling axis (Fig 3(B) )

Fig. 3(A)

Fig. 2 (A)

Fig. 2(B)

The polarization vector P is represented by an arrow

pointing from the positive to thenegative poling electrode. In
shear mode operations, the poling electrodes are later removed
and replaced by a set of electrodes on the second pair of the
faces. The 3-axisis not altered, but it becomes parallel to the
new electrode faces as seen on the finishedelement (Fig 2(B)).
Depending on the independent variable choice a piezoelectric
coefficient are defined as
dij =

eij =

=-

gij = -

hij = -

=-

.(1)
S

..(2)
..(3)

.(4)

g is the piezoelectric voltage coupling, d contains the

fig. 3(B)

D. Piezoelectric Voltage coefficient (g constant)

The g coefficient is a measure of the field per unit stress or
strain per unit charge density.
gij=volt/meter
= Volt-meter
Newton/meter2
newton
..(6)
Output voltage is applied by multiplying the calculated
electric field by the thickness of theceramic between the
electrodes. The first subscript indicates the direction of the
generated voltage and the second indicates the direction of the
force. A "33" subscript signifies that the electrical field
generated and the mechanical stress are both along
thePolarization(Fig 3(a)). A "31" subscript signifies that the
pressure is applied at right angles to the polarization axis but
the voltage appears on the same electrodes as in the "33"Case
(Fig 3(b)) [3]
E. Relationship Between g and d coefficients:
At frequencies far from resonance effects, piezoelectric
ceramic
transducers
are
fundamentally
capacitors.
Consequently, the voltage coefficient gik are related to the
chargeCoefficient dik by the dielectric constant Ki, as in a
capacitor the voltage V is related toCharge Q by the
capacitance C.
Q = C. V
. (7)
d33 =kt3o.g33...(8)
d31= kt3o.g31
..(9)

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Coupling Coefficients:
Sometimes also referred as electromechanical coupling
coefficients, these describe theConversion of energy by the
ceramic element from electrical to mechanical form or vice
versa.
K= mechanical energy
Electrical energy
.(10)
Subscripts denote the relative directions of the electrical
and mechanical quantities and theKind of motion involved. kp
signifies the coupling in a thin round disc polarized in radial
expansion and contraction, whereas k33 is appropriate for a
long thin bar or rod, electrode on the ends, poled lengthwise
and vibrating in simple length expansion or contraction. K31
relates to a thin long bar, electrode on a pair of long faces,
poled in thickness and vibrating in the longitudinal dimension.
Since these coefficients are energy ratios, they are
dimensionless.Coupling coefficients of PZT is 1000.

Fig. 5

Area =
Assume radius=r=0.06 m
= 3.1428
Change in length = original length.S33E.T3[1]
S33E=18.8* 10-12 Pa-1
Capacitance =E33T*Area of plate[1]
Thickness
..(12)
Voltage = d33F[1]
Capacitance
.(13)
S33E=Elastic constant
E33T=Charge Density=5.015 10 -9C/m2 [1]
d33=Displacement coefficient
= 593 10-12C/N
Pp=dt[1](14)
d=strain
t=pressure
p=charge
P=VI
A. Calculation process

Fig. 4

III. CALCULATION
We are using PZT-5A piezoelectric element of plate type
of thickness is 0.03 m and radius is 0.06 m for locomotive,
coaches of Express trains) and radius is 0.03 m for goods train
coaches (fig. 5) .The piezoelectric is set above spring/soccers
(Fig. 4)
Fig. 6
Table 1

Diesel
Locomotive
Weight
(Tones)[6]
Helical Spring[6]
Rubber Spring[6]
Pressure(Stress)
Pressure=
force/Area
(N/m2)
Capacitance

Electrical
Locomotive

AC Chair
coach

car Coach goods

Train

120

240

40

68

16
8

16
8

16
8

16
8

8.846 105

1.473 105

1.005 106

1.819

1.819

1.819

4.419

105

1.819

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.(11)

2013 International Conference on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy[ICRESE13]

1.567
Power per coach 0.1466
or
per
locomotive(MW)

Voltage (KV)

0.52251
0.0054

3.135

1.172

0.3556
0.0175

Estimated change in length of material used is within the

range of allowed vibration parameter test ICE 61373 of RDSO
Lucknow of Locomotive orcoachesi.e. 35-50 10 -3m.
IV. METHOD OF EXTRACTION AND SCOPE
The piezoelectric material is place on the spring in
locomotive (fig.7)

Fig 9-S.S.P Sub Station

Fig. 7

The following three methods of extraction are found 1->We can store the charge or energy in capacitor of 50
KV 1 nF (Nano Farad) High Voltage Polystyrene capacitor
(Fig. 8).

Fig. 10- Transmission Grid

Fig. 8

We can extract energy from capacitor at railway station by

heavy voltage wires.
2-> New Electric locomotive (A.A.B locomotive)
generates power in range of KV and give it to railways electric
grid so that S.S.P (substation) (Fig. 9) whose main function is
to maintain the voltage of 25 KV in 50 km (for 10 locomotive
in the 50 km section). So, the Efficiency of S.S.P substation is
increased .
3-> We can attach all coaches to the locomotive and give
the high voltage to electric grid such that efficiency of S.S.P
increases (by 10 -50 locomotive in 50 kmrange). Extra voltage
is taken by S.S.P and it can replace substation (fig. 10) from
transmission grid. This can replace the substation and thus
reduce the need of thermal power plant. So, coal consumption
used in thermal power plant for electricity generation is
reduced.

Electricity generated by this papers method can reach

distant places (example: villages, hilly areas) where electricity
from power plants cannot reach (but railway track is
there).From this paper, we can say that vibrations from heavy
bodies such as railway locomotives, coaches, Cars, Turbines,
Bridges etc. can be used to make electricity
V. CONCLUSION
The Design of a vibration energy harvesting depends on
the nature of available vibration source.These vibration
sources must be explored in order to generate a model for
them that will serve as a foundation for design of a harvesting
energy from vibration.This paper presents a theoretical
analysis of power generation with PZT ceramics several
important considerations in designing such generators are
explored, including parameter identification, load matching,
voltage generation, stress, strain, efficiency, energy
conversion, and energy storage. Finally, an application of this
analysis is presented where electrical energy is generated from
locomotive and coaches a prototype are made.By
Measurements as well as numerical predictions vibrations
from locomotive and coaches have been presented. The

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experimental results show how large amount of energy is
piezoelectric power generator is developed using a d33 mode
of piezoelectric transducer.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
There are far too many people to try to thank themall;
many people have contributed to development of this paper.
We owe our deep regards and honor toexpress our Gratitude to
viveks (author) father Shri Rajkumar Singh Rana, chief Loco
Inspector Moradabad division northern railway, India for
inspiring and providing technical details for this paper to us.
REFERENCES
[1] Compact Piezo-Based High Voltage Generator - Part I: Quasi
-Static Measurements G. Staines,HelmutHofman, Josef Dommer
,L.L. Altgilbers, Ya. Tkach
[2] Piezoelectric properties of 3-X periodic Pb.ZrxTi1x.O3
Polymercomposites James E. Smay, Joseph Cesarano III and
Bruce A. Tuttle, Jennifer A. Lewisa)
[3] Mohammad mehdizadeh ,Sabu john,Chunh wangDelination of

structure damage from piezo fibro based degration Mohammad

Mehdizadeh et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science
and Technology (IJEST)
[4] Patent Rail vehicle vibrate energy piezoelectric power
generation method system there of CN160209A
[5] PatentRolling stock rail vibration piezoelectric power generating
method and there of CN1610210A
[6] RDSO Lucknow India
[7] R.A.Dorey & R.W.Whatmore Apparent reduction in the value of
the d33 piezoelectric coefficient in PZT thick films Preprint of
paper: R.A. Dorey, R.W. Whatmore, Apparent reduction in the
value of the d33 piezoelectric coefficient in PZT thick films,
Integrated Ferroelectrics, 50, pp111-119, 2002.
[8]-Simon P, Burke AF. Nanostructured carbons: double-layer
capacitance and more. ECS Interface, Special issue
Electrochemical Capacitors Powering the 21st Century, 17(1),
pp. 38-41, Spring 2008.
[9]-Harvesting energy through piezoelectricity in runway by
Long Ki Yau (Derek)

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