scholarly journals Nonlinear H-Shaped Springs to Improve Efficiency of Vibration Energy Harvesters

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Boisseau ◽  
Ghislain Despesse ◽  
Bouhadjar Ahmed Seddik
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Resonance Phenomenon ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Nonlinear Springs ◽  
Working Frequency ◽  
Nonlinear Devices ◽  
Mass Spring

Vibration energy harvesting is an emerging technology aimed at turning mechanical energy from vibrations into electricity to power the microsystems of the future. Most current vibration energy harvesters (VEH) are based on a mass-spring structure: this introduces a resonance phenomenon that enables an increase of VEH output power (compared to nonresonant systems); however, the working frequency bandwidth is limited. Therefore, these devices are not able to harvest energy when ambient vibrations’ frequencies shift. To solve this problem and to increase the frequency band where power can be harvested, one solution consists in using nonlinear springs. This paper introduces H-shaped nonlinear springs, their model, and their benefits to improve VEH output powers. Simulations on real vibration sources show that the output power can be higher in nonlinear devices (up to +48%) compared to linear systems.

Stiffness control of a nonlinear mechanical folded beam for wideband vibration energy harvesters

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (9) ◽  
pp. 553-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Amri ◽  
Philippe Basset ◽  
Dimitri Galayko ◽  
Francesco Cottone ◽  
Einar Halvorsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Order Approximation ◽  
Perturbation Technique ◽  
Time Integration ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Folding Angle ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Nonlinear Springs ◽  
Novel Approach

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach to design and optimize geometric nonlinear springs for wideband vibration energy harvesting. To this end, we designed a spring with several folds to increase its geometric nonlinearities. A numerical analysis is performed using the Finite Element Method to estimate its quadratic and cubic spring stiffness. A nonlinear effective spring constant is then calculated for different values of the main folding angle. We demonstrate that this angle can increase nonlinearities within the structure resulting in higher bandwidths, and that it is possible to control the behavior of the system to have softening-type or hardening-type response depending on the choice of the folding angle. Based on the Lindstedt-Poincaré perturbation technique, a first order approximation is determined to predict the frequency-response of the system. In order to validate the perturbation analysis, numerical solutions based on long-time integration method and mixed VHDL-AMS/Spice simulations are presented. Finally, this method is applied to a previously published device and shows a good agreement with experiments.

Investigation of Vibration Energy Harvesting Using Two Cantilevers With Random Input

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Yang ◽  
Panagiotis Alevras ◽  
Shahrzad Towfighian
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Duffing Oscillator ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Potential Energy Function ◽  
Excitation Level ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Random Input ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Low Performance

There is a growing interest to convert ambient mechanical energy to electrical energy by vibration energy harvesters. Realistic vibrations are random and spread over a large frequency range. Most energy harvesters are linear with narrow frequency bandwidth and show low performance, which led to creation of nonlinear harvesters that have larger bandwidth. This article presents a simulation study of a nonlinear energy harvester that contains two cantilever beams coupled by magnetic force. One of the cantilever beam is covered partially by piezoelectric material, while the other beam is normal to the first one and is used to create a variable potential energy function. The variable double-well potential function enables optimum conversion of the kinetic energy and thus larger output. The system is modeled by coupled Duffing oscillator equations. To represent the ambient vibrations, the response to Gaussian random input signal (generated by Shinozuka formula) is studied using power spectral density. The effects of different parameters on the system are also investigated. The results show that the double cantilever harvester has a threshold distance, where the harvester can perform optimally regardless of the excitation level. This observation is opposite to that of the conventional fixed magnet cantilever system where the optimal distance varies with the excitation level. Results of this study can be used to enhance energy efficiency of vibration energy harvesters.

MEMS Energy Harvesting from Low-frequency and Low-g Vibrations

2015 ◽  
Vol 1782 ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Ruize Xu ◽  
Sang-Gook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Autonomous Systems ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Mechanical Resonator ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Working Frequency

ABSTRACTMEMS vibration energy harvesting has been investigated to provide energy to low-power micro-electronic systems and potentially to enable batteryless autonomous systems. While enjoying the small footprint hence the ability to be embedded in other systems, MEMS vibration energy harvesters are working at much higher frequencies and input vibration amplitudes. The mechanical resonator based energy harvesters seem inherently have such high frequency due to the scaling of the device dimension. Lower the working frequency range and input vibration amplitude are possible by optimizing the dimensions of the device. However, we are viewing the problem from a different perspective and proposing a solution based on employing the common material property of the micro-fabricated thin film – residual stress. We found that by taking advantage of the compressive residual stress, a bi-stable mechanical resonator could be built and a new spectrum of dynamics can be brought into energy harvesting, which could lower the working frequency range and input g value. The concepts have been analytically simulated and experimentally verified by a meso-scale model.

scholarly journals Vibration Energy Harvesting by Means of Piezoelectric Patches: Application to Aircrafts

Sensors ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 363
Author(s):  
Domenico Tommasino ◽  
Federico Moro ◽  
Bruno Bernay ◽  
Thibault De Lumley Woodyear ◽  
Enrique de Pablo Corona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broad Band ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Resonance Phenomenon ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Optimal Position ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Modes Of Vibration ◽  
The One

Vibration energy harvesters in industrial applications usually take the form of cantilever oscillators covered by a layer of piezoelectric material and exploit the resonance phenomenon to improve the generated power. In many aeronautical applications, the installation of cantilever harvesters is not possible owing to the lack of room and/or safety and durability requirements. In these cases, strain piezoelectric harvesters can be adopted, which directly exploit the strain of a vibrating aeronautic component. In this research, a mathematical model of a vibrating slat is developed with the modal superposition approach and is coupled with the model of a piezo-electric patch directly bonded to the slat. The coupled model makes it possible to calculate the power generated by the strain harvester in the presence of the broad-band excitation typical of the aeronautic environment. The optimal position of the piezoelectric patch along the slat length is discussed in relation with the modes of vibration of the slat. Finally, the performance of the strain piezoelectric harvester is compared with the one of a cantilever harvester tuned to the frequency of the most excited slat mode.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Transition Regime in Bistable Vibration Energy Harvesters

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alwathiqbellah Ibrahim ◽  
Shahrzad Towfighian ◽  
Mohammad I. Younis
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Transition Regime ◽  
Frequency Bandwidth ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Improved Model

Vibration energy harvesting can be an effective method for scavenging wasted mechanical energy for use by wireless sensors that have limited battery life. Two major goals in designing energy harvesters are enhancing the power scavenged at low frequency and improving efficiency by increasing the frequency bandwidth. To achieve these goals, we derived a magnetoelastic beam operated at the transition between mono- and bi-stable regions. By improving the mathematical model of the interaction of magnetic force and beam dynamics, we obtained a precise prediction of natural frequencies as the distance of magnets varies. Using the shooting technique for the improved model, we present a fundamental understanding of interesting combined softening and hardening responses that happen at the transition between the two regimes. The transition regime is proposed as the optimal region for energy conversion in terms of frequency bandwidth and output voltage. Using this technique, low-frequency vibration energy harvesting at around 17 Hz was possible. The theoretical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The target application is to power wildlife biologging devices from bird flights that have consistent high power density around 16 Hz (Shafer et al., 2015, “The Case for Energy Harvesting on Wildlife in Flight,” Smart Mater. Struct., 24(2), p. 025031).

Genetic algorithm- and finite element-based design and analysis of nonprismatic piezolaminated beam for optimal vibration energy harvesting

2015 ◽  
Vol 230 (14) ◽  
pp. 2532-2548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Ranjan Biswal ◽  
Tarapada Roy ◽  
Rabindra Kumar Behera
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Governing Equation ◽  
Optimization Technique ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Real Coded Genetic Algorithm

The current article deals with finite element (FE)- and genetic algorithm (GA)-based vibration energy harvesting from a tapered piezolaminated cantilever beam. Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is used for modeling the various cross sections of the beam. The governing equation of motion is derived by using the Hamilton's principle. Two noded beam elements with two degrees of freedom at each node have been considered in order to solve the governing equation. The effect of structural damping has also been incorporated in the FE model. An electric interface is assumed to be connected to measure the voltage and output power in piezoelectric patch due to charge accumulation caused by vibration. The effects of taper (both in the width and height directions) on output power for three cases of shape variation (such as linear, parabolic and cubic) along with frequency and voltage are analyzed. A real-coded genetic algorithm-based constrained (such as ultimate stress and breakdown voltage) optimization technique has been formulated to determine the best possible design variables for optimal harvesting power. A comparative study is also carried out for output power by varying the cross section of the beam, and genetic algorithm-based optimization scheme shows the better results than that of available conventional trial and error methods.

Modelling of Mechanical Nonlinearity in an Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvester Using a Forced Duffing Equation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Moss ◽  
L. A. Vandewater ◽  
S. C. Galea
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Duffing Oscillator ◽  
Maximum Output Power ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Homotopy Analysis ◽  
Wire Coil

This work reports on the modelling and experimental validation of a bi-axial vibration energy harvesting approach that uses a permanent-magnet/ball-bearing arrangement and a wire-coil transducer. The harvester’s behaviour is modelled using a forced Duffing oscillator, and the primary first order steady state resonant solutions are found using the homotopy analysis method (or HAM). Solutions found are shown to compare well with measured bearing displacements and harvested output power, and are used to predict the wideband frequency response of this type of vibration energy harvester. A prototype harvesting arrangement produced a maximum output power of 12.9 mW from a 12 Hz, 500 milli-g (or 4.9 m/s2) rms excitation.

scholarly journals Enhanced low-frequency vibration energy harvesting with inertial amplifiers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1045389X2110322
Author(s):  
Sondipon Adhikari ◽  
Arnab Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Micro Scale ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Mechanical Approach ◽  
Ambient Excitation ◽  
Piezoelectric Vibration

Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters have demonstrated the potential for sustainable energy generation from diverse ambient sources in the context of low-powered micro-scale systems. However, challenges remain concerning harvesting more power from low-frequency input excitations and broadband random excitations. To address this, here we propose a purely mechanical approach by employing inertial amplifiers with cantilever piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters. The proposed mechanism can achieve inertial amplification amounting to orders of magnitude under certain conditions. Harmonic, as well as broadband random excitations, are considered. Two types of harvesting circuits, namely, without and with an inductor, have been employed. We explicitly demonstrate how different parameters describing the inertial amplifiers should be optimally tuned to maximise harvested power under different types of excitations and circuit configurations. It is possible to harvest five times more power at a 50% lower frequency when the ambient excitation is harmonic. Under random broadband ambient excitations, it is possible to harvest 10 times more power with optimally selected parameters.

Transfer Function Modeling of Distributed Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesters

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin An Tan ◽  
Heather L. Lai
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
System Response ◽  
Distributed Parameter ◽  
Domain Modeling ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Adjoint Systems ◽  
The Stability

Extensive research has been conducted on vibration energy harvesting utilizing a distributed piezoelectric beam structure. A fundamental issue in the design of these harvesters is the understanding of the response of the beam to arbitrary external excitations (boundary excitations in most models). The modal analysis method has been the primary tool for evaluating the system response. However, a change in the model boundary conditions requires a reevaluation of the eigenfunctions in the series and information of higher-order dynamics may be lost in the truncation. In this paper, a frequency domain modeling approach based in the system transfer functions is proposed. The transfer function of a distributed parameter system contains all of the information required to predict the system spectrum, the system response under any initial and external disturbances, and the stability of the system response. The methodology proposed in this paper is valid for both self-adjoint and non-self-adjoint systems, and is useful for numerical computer coding and energy harvester design investigations. Examples will be discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for designs of vibration energy harvesters.

scholarly journals Output Power of Piezoelectric MEMS Vibration Energy Harvesters Under Random Oscillation

2019 ◽  
Vol 1407 ◽  
pp. 012082
Author(s):  
S Murakami ◽  
T Yoshimura ◽  
M Aramaki ◽  
Y Kanaoka ◽  
K Tsuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Random Oscillation ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Mems
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document