scholarly journals Real world assessment of an auto-parametric electromagnetic vibration energy harvester

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1481-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Jia ◽  
Jize Yan ◽  
Sijun Du ◽  
Tao Feng ◽  
Paul Fidler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parametric Resonance ◽  
Real World ◽  
Average Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Sinusoidal Input ◽  
Micro Electromechanical System

The convention within the field of vibration energy harvesting has revolved around designing resonators with natural frequencies that match single fixed frequency sinusoidal input. However, real world vibrations can be random, multi-frequency, broadband and time-varying in nature. Building upon previous work on auto-parametric resonance, this fundamentally different resonant approach can harness vibration from multiple axes and has the potential to achieve higher power density as well as wider frequency bandwidth. This article presents the power response of a packaged auto-parametric VEH prototype (practical operational volume of ∼126 cm−3) towards various real world vibration sources including vibration of a bridge, a compressor motor as well as an automobile. At auto-parametric resonance (driven at 23.5 Hz and 1 g rms), the prototype can output a peak of 78.9 mW and 4.5 Hz of −3dB bandwidth. Furthermore, up to ∼1 mW of average power output was observed from the harvester on the Forth Road Bridge. The harvested electrical energy from various real world sources were used to power up a power conditioning circuit, a wireless sensor mote, a micro-electromechanical system accelerometer and other low-power sensors. This demonstrates the concept of self-sustaining vibration powered wireless sensor systems in real world scenarios, to potentially realise maintenance-free autonomous structural health and condition monitoring.

Vibration Energy Harvesting to Power Ultrasonic Sensors in Heavy Haul Railway Cars

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Auteliano A. Santos ◽  
Matheus V. Lopes ◽  
Vanessa Gonçalves ◽  
Jony J. Eckert ◽  
Thiago S. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Heavy Haul ◽  
Heavy Haul Trains

Long heavy-haul trains are now a reality, especially for ore transportation. In some railways, compositions of up to 330 wagons are in service, requiring several locomotives. Trains like that travel long distances, sometimes through cities or in uninhabited regions. They are driven by just one driver which must keep the whole train working safely on the track. The wagons don’t have any source of electrical energy to power sensors and to transmit their signals to the locomotive; nor wireless communication. In fact, in some of these railways, there is no internet along with the track out of the cities. One important indicator of the safety of the train is the force between the wagons during the trip, through the shunting. Using strain gauges to measure these forces is a possible solution and ultrasonic stress sensors (UST) is a suitable alternative. UST with Lcr waves requires a low amount of energy and can be employed in rusty and dirty places. However, they also need an energy source. Wind and solar solutions are not always adequate because, unfortunately, there are places where these components have economic value and they can be stolen. A possible source of energy to power the USTs could be the Vibration Energy Harvester (VEH). These simple and not expensive systems can be built in small packs, giving the energy to measure the forces and transmit the data to the locomotive or designated sites along the track. This work aims to evaluate the possibility of using VEH to power USTs to measure the forces between the wagons during the journey. Knowing that the oscillation in the shunting has a very low frequency, the work intent to optimize a multi-beam VEH to be able to capture the highest amount of energy possible, in a very small arrangement, using genetic algorithm. The result shows that VEH is an adequate alternative to power autonomous UST sensors.

scholarly journals A Vibration Energy Harvester and Power Management Solution for Battery-Free Operation of Wireless Sensor Nodes

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Rodriguez ◽  
Valeria Nico ◽  
Jeff Punch
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Power Management ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Wireless Sensor Nodes ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester

Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvesting (EM-VEH) is an attractive alternative to batteries as a power source for wireless sensor nodes that enable intelligence at the edge of the Internet of Things (IoT). Industrial environments in particular offer an abundance of available kinetic energy, in the form of machinery vibrations that can be converted into electrical power through energy harvesting techniques. These ambient vibrations are generally broadband, and multi-modal harvesting configurations can be exploited to improve the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion. However, the additional challenge of energy conditioning (AC-to-DC conversion) to make the harvested energy useful brings into question what specific type of performance is to be expected in a real industrial application. This paper reports the operation of two practical IoT sensor nodes, continuously powered by the vibrations of a standard industrial compressor, using a multi-modal EM-VEH device, integrated with customised power management. The results show that the device and the power management circuit provide sufficient energy to receive and transmit data at intervals of less than one minute with an overall efficiency of about 30%. Descriptions of the system, test-bench, and the measured outcomes are presented.

Experimental characterisation of dual-mass vibration energy harvesters employing velocity amplification

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (20) ◽  
pp. 2810-2826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronan Frizzell ◽  
Gerard Kelly ◽  
Francesco Cottone ◽  
Elisabetta Boco ◽  
Valeria Nico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Response ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Network Applications ◽  
Higher Power ◽  
Battery Technology

Vibration energy harvesting extracts energy from the environment and can mitigate reliance on battery technology in wireless sensor networks. This article presents the nonlinear responses of two multi-mass vibration energy harvesters that employ a velocity amplification effect. This amplification is achieved by momentum transfer from larger to smaller masses following impact between masses. Two systems are presented that show the evolution of multi-mass vibration energy harvester designs: (1) a simplified prototype that effectively demonstrates the basic principles of the approach and (2) an enhanced design that achieves higher power densities and a wider frequency response. Various configurations are investigated to better understand the nonlinear dynamics and how best to realise future velocity-amplified vibration energy harvesters. The frequency responses of the multi-mass harvesters show that these devices have the potential to reduce risks associated with deploying vibration energy harvester devices in wireless sensor network applications; the wide frequency response reduces the need to re-tune the harvesters following frequency variations of the source vibrations.

Fabrication and Experimentation of a Cantilever Beam Based Piezoelectric Actuator and Sensor for Vibration Energy Harvesting

2014 ◽  
Vol 592-594 ◽  
pp. 2297-2302
Author(s):  
Prasanta Kumar Samal ◽  
Pramod Kumar Malik ◽  
Avinash Babu ◽  
G.C. Shanthakumar
Keyword(s):  
Cantilever Beam ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Mechanical Vibration ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Labview Software ◽  
Commercial Package ◽  
Using Data

In the immediate surroundings of our daily life, we can find a lot of places where the energy in the form of vibration is being wasted. Therefore, we have enormous opportunities to utilize the same. Piezoelectric character of matter enables us to convert this mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy which can be stored and used to power other device, instead of being wasted. This work is done to realize both actuator and sensor in a cantilever beam based on piezoelectricity. The sensor part is called vibration energy harvester. The numerical analyses were performed for the cantilever beam using the commercial package ANSYS and MATLAB. The cantilever beam is realized by taking a plate and fixing its one end between two massive plates. Two PZT patches were glued to the beam on its two faces. Experiments were performed using data acquisition system (DAQ) and LABVIEW software for actuating and sensing the vibration of the cantilever beam.

Multiphysics Modelling and Experimental Validation of a Bi-Axial Magnetoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester

2013 ◽  
Vol 558 ◽  
pp. 465-476
Author(s):  
Joshua E. McLeod ◽  
Scott D. Moss
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Experimental Validation ◽  
Ball Bearing ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Multiphysics Modelling

This paper reports on the multiphysics modelling of a bi-axial vibration energy harvesting (VEH) approach, with experimental validation of the model predictions. The authors have developed a harvester able to generate voltage under bi-axial vibrations. The harvesting approach is based on a magnetoelectric (ME) transducer that is positioned between a fixed magnet and oscillating ball bearing, which steers a changing magnetic field through the transducer to generate a voltage. The transducer combines magnetostrictive and piezoelectric properties to convert magnetic potential into electrical energy. Analytical modelling of this phenomenon is difficult due to the highly coupled nature of this interaction, so Comsol multiphysics software is used to make predictions of output using the finite element method (FEM). A peak open-circuit harvester voltage of 39.4 V is predicted for a ball bearing oscillating with 4.5 mm amplitude, agreeing reasonably well with measured harvester voltage of approximately 35 V. The modelling is applied to a two-dimensional representation of the system, which is shown to be sufficient for a basic understanding of the highly coupled nature of interactions, and a basis for optimising the magnetoelectric vibration energy harvesting approach.

A Creative Vibration Energy Harvesting System to Support a Self-Powered Internet of Thing (IoT) Network in Smart Bridge Monitoring

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Farhangdoust ◽  
Claudia Mederos ◽  
Behrouz Farkiani ◽  
Armin Mehrabi ◽  
Hossein Taheri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Cantilever Beam ◽  
Average Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Laser Vibrometer ◽  
Stay Cable ◽  
Fe Modelling ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Energy Harvesting System

Abstract This paper presents a creative energy harvesting system using a bimorph piezoelectric cantilever-beam to power wireless sensors in an IoT network for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The bimorph piezoelectric energy harvester (BPEH) comprises a cantilever beam as a substrate sandwiched between two piezoelectric layers to remarkably harness ambient vibrations of an inclined stay cable and convert them into electrical energy when the cable is subjected to a harmonic acceleration. To investigate and design the bridge energy harvesting system, a field measurement was required for collecting cable vibration data. The results of a non-contact laser vibrometer is used to remotely measure the dynamic characteristics of the inclined cables. A finite element study is employed to simulate a 3-D model of the proposed BPEH by COMSOL Multiphasics. The FE modelling results showed that the average power generated by the BPEH excited by a harmonic acceleration of 1 m/s2 at 1 Hz is up to 614 μW which satisfies the minimum electric power required for the sensor node in the proposed IoT network. In this research a LoRaWAN architecture is also developed to utilize the BPEH as a sustainable and sufficient power resource for an IoT platform which uses wireless sensor networks installed on the bridge stay cables to collect and remotely transfer bridge health monitoring data over the bridge in a low-power manner.

scholarly journals A Theory for Energy-Optimized Operation of Self-Adaptive Vibration Energy Harvesting Systems with Passive Frequency Adjustment

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Mösch ◽  
Gerhard Fischerauer
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Resonance Frequency ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Frequency Adjustment ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Self Adaptive

Self-adaptive vibration energy harvesting systems vary their resonance frequency automatically to better exploit changing environmental conditions. The energy required for the adjustment is taken from the energy storage of the harvester module. The energy gained by an adjustment step has to exceed the energy expended on it to justify the adjustment. A smart self-adaptive system takes this into account and operates in a manner that maximizes the energy output. This paper presents a theory for the optimal operation of a vibration energy harvester with a passive resonance-frequency adjustment mechanism (one that only requires energy for the adjustment steps proper, but not during the hold phases between the steps). Several vibration scenarios are considered to derive a general guideline. It is shown that there exist conditions under which a narrowing of the adjustment bandwidth improves the system characteristics. The theory is applied to a self-adaptive energy harvesting system based on electromagnetic transduction with narrowband resonators. It is demonstrated that the novel optimum mode of operation increases the energy output by a factor of 3.6.

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.

A Multi-Point Loaded Piezocomposite Beam: Experiments on Sensing and Vibration Energy Harvesting

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick S. Heaney ◽  
Onur Bilgen
Keyword(s):  
Unit Length ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvester ◽  
Beam Curvature ◽  
Cantilevered Beam ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Tip Mass ◽  
Patch Length ◽  
Piezoelectric Vibration

A common configuration for a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is the cantilevered beam with the piezoelectric device located near the beam root to maximize energy transduction. The beam curvature in this configuration is monotonically decreasing from root to tip, so the transduction per unit length of piezoelectric material decreases with increasing patch length. As an alternative to such conventional configuration, this paper proposes a so-called inertial four-point loading for beam-like structures. The effects of support location and tip mass on the beam curvature shapes are analyzed for four-point loaded cases to demonstrate the effect of these configurations on the total strain induced on the piezoelectric patch. These configurations are tested experimentally using several different support locations and compared with results from a baseline cantilevered beam. Performance comparisons of their power ratios are made, which indicate improvement in the transduction per unit strain of the four-point loading cases over the cantilevered configuration. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential applications of the inertial four-point loaded configuration.

scholarly journals Analysis of Double Elastic Steel Wind Driven Magneto-Electric Vibration Energy Harvesting System

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7364
Author(s):  
Yi-Ren Wang ◽  
Ming-Ching Chu
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Elastic Beam ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Vibration Energy Harvesting ◽  
Concentrated Load ◽  
Single Beam ◽  
Piezoelectric Patch ◽  
Energy Harvesting System

This research proposes an energy harvesting system that collects the downward airflow from a helicopter or a multi-axis unmanned rotary-wing aircraft and uses this wind force to drive the magnet to rotate, generating repulsive force, which causes the double elastic steel system to slap each other and vibrate periodically in order to generate more electricity than the traditional energy harvesting system. The design concept of the vibration mechanism in this study is to allow the elastic steel carrying the magnet to slap another elastic steel carrying the piezoelectric patch to form a set of double elastic steel vibration energy harvesting (DES VEH) systems. The theoretical DES VEH mechanism of this research is composed of a pair of cantilever beams, with magnets attached to the free end of one beam, and PZT attached to the other beam. This study analyzes the single beam system first. The MOMS method is applied to analyze the frequency response of this nonlinear system theoretically, then combines the piezoelectric patch and the magneto-electric coupling device with this nonlinear elastic beam to analyze the benefits of the system’s converted electrical energy. In the theoretical study of the DES VEH system, the slapping force between the two elastic beams was considered as a concentrated load on each of the beams. Furthermore, both SES and DES VEH systems are studied and correlated. Finally, the experimental data and theoretical results are compared to verify the feasibility and correctness of the theory. It is proven that this DES VEH system can not only obtain the electric energy from the traditional SES VEH system but also obtain the extra electric energy of the steel vibration subjected to the slapping force, which generates optimal power to the greatest extent.

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