An Experimental Study of Low-Frequency Vibration-Based Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters Used while Walking

2014 ◽  
Vol 918 ◽  
pp. 106-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Chie Chiu ◽  
Ying Chun Chang ◽  
Long Jyi Yeh ◽  
Chiu Hung Chung ◽  
Chen Hsin Chu
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Electromagnetic Energy ◽  
Electromagnetic System ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration

The goal of this paper is to develop and experimentally test portable vibration-based electromagnetic energy harvesters which are fit for extracting low frequency kinetic energy. Based on a previous study on fixed vibration-based electromagnetic energy harvesters, three kinds of portable energy harvesters (prototype I, prototype II, and prototype III) are developed and tested. To obtain the related parameters of the energy harvesters, an experimental platform used to measure the vibrational systems electrical power at the resonant frequency and other fixed frequencies is also established. Based on the research work of vibration theory, a low frequency vibration-arm mechanism (prototype III) which is easily in resonance with a walking tempo is developed. Here, a strong magnet fixed to one side of the vibration-arm along with a set of wires placed along the vibrating path will generate electricity. The circular device has a radius of 180 mm, a width of 50 mm, and weighs 200 grams. Because of its light mass, it is easy to carry and put into a backpack. Experimental results reveal that the energy harvester (prototype III) can easily transform kinetic energy into electrical power via the vibration-based electromagnetic system when walking at a normal speed. Consequently, electrical energy reaching 0.25 W is generated from the energy harvester (prototype III) by extracting kinetic energy produced by walking.

Optimizing the Electrical Power in an Energy Harvesting System

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1550171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Coccolo ◽  
Grzegorz Litak ◽  
Jesús M. Seoane ◽  
Miguel A. F. Sanjuán
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Resonance Phenomenon ◽  
Vibrational Resonance ◽  
Energy Harvesting System

In this paper, we study the vibrational resonance (VR) phenomenon as a useful mechanism for energy harvesting purposes. A system, driven by a low frequency and a high frequency forcing, can give birth to the vibrational resonance phenomenon, when the two forcing amplitudes resonate and a maximum in amplitude is reached. We apply this idea to a bistable oscillator that can convert environmental kinetic energy into electrical energy, that is, an energy harvester. Normally, the VR phenomenon is studied in terms of the forcing amplitudes or of the frequencies, that are not always easy to adjust and change. Here, we study the VR generated by tuning another parameter that is possible to manipulate when the forcing values depend on the environmental conditions. We have investigated the dependence of the maximum response due to the VR for small and large variations in the forcing amplitudes and frequencies. Besides, we have plotted color coded figures in the space of the two forcing amplitudes, in which it is possible to appreciate different patterns in the electrical power generated by the system. These patterns provide useful information on the forcing amplitudes in order to produce the optimal electrical power.

Fundamental Study on Friction-Driven Gyroscopic Power Generator Works Under Arbitrary Vibration

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Watanabe ◽  
Ryousuke Yuyama ◽  
Hiroshi Hosaka ◽  
Akira Yamashita
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Inertial Force ◽  
Fundamental Study ◽  
Power Generator ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration ◽  
Circular Track

Abstract This paper describes a friction-driven gyro generator that works under arbitrary vibrations and generates more than 1 W of power. Vibrational generators are energy harvesters that convert environmental vibrations into electrical power via the inertial force of pendulums. In conventional generators that use simple vibration, the power is less than 10 mW for a wearable size because vibrations in the natural environment are as low as 1 Hz. Gyroscopic generators increase the inertial force by rotating a pendulum at high speed and creating a gyro effect. In this generator, a palm-size product that generates 0.1 W and weighs 280 g has already been commercialized, but this device operates only under a particular vibration that synchronizes rotor precession and stalls under random vibration. To solve this problem, in this research, two gimbals and a precession spring are introduced to support the rotor. We developed a prototype generator with straight tracks measuring 16 cm × 11 cm × 12 cm with a mass of 980 g. Under a vibration of 4 Hz and ±20 degrees, power generation of 1.6 W was confirmed. Next, a prototype circular track was made. Power generation of 0.2 W with a vibration of 1 Hz and ±90 degrees was confirmed. Finally, a simple formula to estimate the upper limit of the generation power is derived. It is suggested that the circular-type generator is suitable for low-frequency vibration and can generate twice the power of a straight-type generator.

Multifunctional Energy Harvesting Locally Resonant Metastructures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Sugino ◽  
Vinciane Guillot ◽  
Alper Erturk
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Flexible Structures ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Load Resistance ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration ◽  
Vibration Attenuation

Vibration-based energy harvesting is a growing field for generating low-power electricity to use in wireless electronic devices, such as the sensor networks used in structural health monitoring applications. Locally resonant metastructures, which are structures that comprise locally resonant metamaterial components, enable bandgap formation at wavelengths much longer than the lattice size, for critical applications such as low-frequency vibration attenuation in flexible structures. This work aims to bridge the domains of energy harvesting and locally resonant metamaterials to form multifunctional structures that exhibit both low-power electricity generation and vibration attenuation capabilities. A fully coupled electromechanical modeling framework is developed for two characteristic systems and their modal analysis is presented. Simulations are performed to explore the vibration and electrical power frequency response maps for varying electrical load resistance, and optimal loading conditions are presented. Case studies are presented to understand the interaction of bandgap formation and energy harvesting capabilities of this new class of multifunctional energy-harvesting locally resonant metastructures. It is shown that useful energy can be harvested from the locally resonant metastructure without significantly diminishing their dramatic vibration attenuation in the locally resonant bandgap. Thus, by integrating energy harvesters into a locally resonant metastructure, there is new potential for multifunctional self-powering or self-sensing locally resonant metastructures.

Design, Analysis, and Experimental Studies of a Novel PVDF-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvester With Beating Mechanisms

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Shen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration ◽  
High Efficient ◽  
The Future

Wireless sensor networks become increasingly important in modern life for structural health monitoring and other related applications. In these applications, due to their overall sensor populations and possible covered measurement areas, the replacement of batteries becomes a difficult and unrealistic task. As a result, energy harvesters to convert environment wasted vibration energy into electricity for powering those sensor nodes become important and many miniaturized device have been realized by using MEMS technology. In order to achieve optimal performance, the energy harvester must be operated at the resonance frequency. However, the vibration frequencies of environmental vibrations are usually much less than that of those miniaturizing energy harvesters and this fact could be a major barrier for energy harvesting performance. In this paper, a new piezoelectric energy scavenging concept is proposed and demonstrated to convert environmental vibrations into electricity. Unlike previous MEMS-based piezoelectric energy harvesters, which suffer from matching between environmental low frequency vibration and the much higher system natural frequency, this work proposes a novel beating design using polymer piezoelectric materials in collaborating with a beating mechanism. That is, by creating impact force via the low frequency vibration motion from the mechanism, it is possible to excite system natural frequency by the low frequency environmental vibrations and it is possible to operate the entire system at the natural frequency. This work contains details in presenting this idea, designing piezoelectric harvester systems with flexible PVDF elements, exploring their vibration characteristics, and energy accumulating strategies by using a capacitor with a full-bridged rectifiers or a boost conversion. By experimental characterization, the overall harvesting efficiency of the proposed design is much greater than that from the design without the beating mechanism. It indicates that the efficiency is significantly improved and the proposed translational design could potentially improve the future design approach for piezoelectric energy harvesters significantly. In summary, this preliminary study shows that it is a feasible scheme for the application of piezoelectric materials in harvesting electricity from environmental vibrations. Although this work is still in its initial phase, the results and conclusions of this work are still invaluable for guiding the development of high efficient piezoelectric harvesters in the future.

A Piezoelectric Based Energy Harvester with Magnetic Interactions: Modelling and Simulation

2015 ◽  
Vol 1115 ◽  
pp. 549-554
Author(s):  
Dauda Sh. Ibrahima ◽  
Asan G.A. Muthalif ◽  
Tanveer Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Permanent Magnets ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Lumped Parameter Model ◽  
Magnetic Interactions ◽  
Vibration Energy ◽  
Mems Devices ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Tip Mass

In recent years, utilizing kinetic energy in mechanical vibrations has become an interesting area of research. This is due to ubiquitous sources of vibration energy, coupled with the ever increasing demands to power wireless sensing electronics and Microelectromechanical (MEMs) devices with low energy requirements. Thus, researchers have ventured into developing different system configurations with the aim of harvesting vibration energy to power these devices. Cantilever beam systems with piezoelectric layer have been used as vibration energy scavengers due to their abilities of converting kinetic energy in vibrating bodies into electrical energy, whereas permanent magnets have been used to improve their performance. The only unresolved challenge is to develop energy harvesters that can produce optimum energy at a wider bandwidth. In this study, a mathematical model of a system of cantilever beams with piezoelectric layers having a magnetic coupled tip mass is proposed. The lumped parameter model of the harvester is developed to estimate the power output of the proposed harvester, and to visualise the effect of magnetic coupled tip mass in widening the frequency bandwidth of the energy harvester. Preliminary Simulation results using MATLAB have however shown the effectiveness of the proposed system.

A low-frequency vibration-to-electrical energy harvester

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zhang ◽  
Daniel Brignac ◽  
Pratul Ajmera ◽  
Kun Lian
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Low Frequency Vibration

Synthesis of Defect-Free Peaucellier Mechanism and Potential Implications for Energy Harvesting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Almandeel ◽  
Abdulaziz Aladwani ◽  
Hessein Ali
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Power ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Base Excitation ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Harmonic Motion ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Design Variables

Abstract Cantilevered beams with piezoceramic layers are typically used to generate electrical energy; hence, a base excitation on a harvester is required. This work investigates the use of a link-type mechanism called the Peaucellier mechanism to actuate piezoelectric energy harvesters. The Peaucellier mechanism is known to trace an exact straight line, providing harmonic motion, which is exploited here for exciting a bimorph piezoelectric cantilever beam. To generate the required base excitation, a function generation synthesis methodology for designing a defect-free Peaucellier mechanism driven by a dyad (PMD) is proposed, in addition to an example being provided to confirm the efficacy of the method. The harmonic motion involves two design variables (frequency and amplitude) which are key parameters and can be tuned to generate the required electrical power. It was determined that PMD could excite the energy harvester, generating an electrical power of approximately 4.52 μ W at low frequency. The synthesis generated a mean absolute error of 0.061 m/s2 confirming an excellent match between the points of the input-output and desired acceleration. The results confirm that the Peaucellier mechanism is suitable for the actuation of energy harvesters where parasitic power harvesting is required in different practical applications, including robotics and stationary machines.

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