5. Conclusion

In this dossier, we have tried to highlight the specific features of an electrical converter featuring a piezoelectric element. The main constraint induced by the use of a piezoelectric material is the management of reactive energy due to the intrinsic capacitance and high voltage levels involved. This specificity of piezoelectric elements has consequences for the conversion structures in which they are embedded, as well as for their control modes. Generally speaking, the intrinsically capacitive nature of piezoelectric elements means that reactive energies have to be managed in the structure, which either degrades the power factor or makes the structure more complex.

In energy recovery applications, for example, the microgenerator must be combined with a piezoelectric voltage switching system to artificially extend the electromechanical conversion cycle. This means...