Energy Harvesting from Railway-Induced Vibrations Using Piezoelectric Nanogrid Systems

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of piezoelectric nanogrid systems designed to harvest mechanical energy from vibrations induced by passing trains. Two membrane-based piezoelectric module mounting configurations—sleeper-mounted at a 5 cm offset from the rail, and recessed side-mounted—were rigorously analyzed using Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations for structural durability and energy-harvesting performance. Realistic excitation waveforms, synthesized from FEM modal characteristics combined with actual field measurement data, were employed in detailed MATLAB/Simulink electrical simulations. Results demonstrated a superior electrical current output from the side-mounted configuration (2.2839 A) compared to the sleeper-mounted arrangement (1.30195 A). A practical assessment revealed that only 9 side-mounted or 16 sleeper-mounted modules are necessary to effectively charge a standard 12V 20Ah LiFePO4 battery. Moreover, daily accumulated energy of approximately 68–70 Wh could reliably power essential low-power devices at railway stations, confirming the proposed piezoelectric nanogrid system’s viability as a robust, efficient, and scalable energy-harvesting solution.