Design, Simulation, and Testing of Energy Harvesters With Magnetic Suspensions for the Generation of Electricity From Freight Train Vibrations

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio De Pasquale ◽  
Aurelio Somà ◽  
Nicolò Zampieri
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Vibration Source ◽  
Diagnostic Systems ◽  
Freight Train ◽  
Positioning Systems ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Train Vibration

The constant spread of commercial trades on railways demand development of alternative diagnostic systems, which are suitable to applications without electric supply and convenient for the industrial development and diffusion, which means low cost, good reliability, and high integrability. Similarly, it is possible to install navigation and traceability systems (for instance, by the use of global positioning systems—GPS—transmitters) to control on demand the travel history of the train and even that of each coach separately. Recent studies demonstrated the possibility to generate directly onboard the electric power needed to the supply of simple diagnostic systems based on low power sensors and integrated wireless transmission modules. The design of this kind of generators is based on the idea of converting the kinetic energy of train vibration to electric energy, through appropriate energy harvesters containing electromechanical transducers dimensioned ad hoc. The goal of this work is to validate the design procedure for energy harvesters addressed to the railway field. The input vibration source of the train has been simulated through numerical modeling of the vehicle and the final harvester prototype has been tested on a scaled roller rig. The innovative configuration of magnetic suspended proof mass is introduced in the design to fit the input vibration spectra of the vehicle. From the coupled study of the harvester generator and the vehicle, the effective output power of the device is predicted by means of a combination of experimental and simulation tests. The generator demonstrated the ability to supply a basic sensing and transceiving node by converting the kinetic energy of a train vibration in normal traveling conditions. The final device package is 150 × 125 × 95 mm, and its output voltage and current are 2.5 V and 50 mA, respectively, when the freight train velocity is 80 km/h. The corresponding output power is almost 100 mW.

scholarly journals Bandwidth Broadening of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters Using Arrays of a Proposed Piezoelectric Cantilever Structure

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 973
Author(s):  
Marwa S. Salem ◽  
Shimaa Ahmed ◽  
Ahmed Shaker ◽  
Mohammad T. Alshammari ◽  
Kawther A. Al-Dhlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resonant Frequency ◽  
Piezoelectric Material ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Vibration Source ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Narrow Bandwidth ◽  
Cantilever Structure ◽  
Bandwidth Broadening

One of the most important challenges in the design of the piezoelectric energy harvester is its narrow bandwidth. Most of the input vibration sources are exposed to frequency variation during their operation. The piezoelectric energy harvester’s narrow bandwidth makes it difficult for the harvester to track the variations of the input vibration source frequency. Thus, the harvester’s output power and overall performance is expected to decline from the designed value. This current study aims to solve the problem of the piezoelectric energy harvester’s narrow bandwidth. The main objective is to achieve bandwidth broadening which is carried out by segmenting the piezoelectric material of the energy harvester into n segments; where n could be more than one. Three arrays with two, four, and six beams are shaped with two piezoelectric segments. The effect of changing the length of the piezoelectric material segment on the resonant frequency, output power, and bandwidth, as well as the frequency response is investigated. The proposed piezoelectric energy harvesters were implemented utilizing a finite element method (FEM) simulation in a MATLAB environment. The results show that increasing the number of array beams increases the output power and bandwidth. For the three-beam arrays, at n equals 2, 6 mW output power and a 9 Hz bandwidth were obtained. Moreover, the bandwidth of such arrays covered around 5% deviation from its resonant frequency. All structures were designed to operate as a steel wheel safety sensor which could be used in train tracks.

scholarly journals Power Density Improvement of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters via a Novel Hybridization Scheme with Electromagnetic Transduction

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 803
Author(s):  
Zhongjie Li ◽  
Chuanfu Xin ◽  
Yan Peng ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Density ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Patch ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Electromagnetic Transduction ◽  
Self Powered ◽  
Power Densities

A novel hybridization scheme is proposed with electromagnetic transduction to improve the power density of piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) in this paper. Based on the basic cantilever piezoelectric energy harvester (BC-PEH) composed of a mass block, a piezoelectric patch, and a cantilever beam, we replaced the mass block by a magnet array and added a coil array to form the hybrid energy harvester. To enhance the output power of the electromagnetic energy harvester (EMEH), we utilized an alternating magnet array. Then, to compare the power density of the hybrid harvester and BC-PEH, the experiments of output power were conducted. According to the experimental results, the power densities of the hybrid harvester and BC-PEH are, respectively, 3.53 mW/cm3 and 5.14 μW/cm3 under the conditions of 18.6 Hz and 0.3 g. Therefore, the power density of the hybrid harvester is 686 times as high as that of the BC-PEH, which verified the power density improvement of PEH via a hybridization scheme with EMEH. Additionally, the hybrid harvester exhibits better performance for charging capacitors, such as charging a 2.2 mF capacitor to 8 V within 17 s. It is of great significance to further develop self-powered devices.

Multimodal pizza-shaped piezoelectric vibration-based energy harvesters

2021 ◽  
pp. 1045389X2110069
Author(s):  
Virgilio J Caetano ◽  
Marcelo A Savi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Single Mode ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Vibration Source ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Harvesting Systems

Energy harvesting from ambient vibration through piezoelectric devices has received a lot of attention in recent years from both academia and industry. One of the main challenges is to develop devices capable of adapting to diverse sources of environmental excitation, being able to efficiently operate over a broadband frequency spectrum. This work proposes a novel multimodal design of a piezoelectric energy harvesting system to harness energy from a wideband ambient vibration source. Circular-shaped and pizza-shaped designs are employed as candidates for the device, comparing their performance with classical beam-shaped devices. Finite element analysis is employed to model system dynamics using ANSYS Workbench. An optimization procedure is applied to the system aiming to seek a configuration that can extract energy from a broader frequency spectrum and maximize its output power. A comparative analysis with conventional energy harvesting systems is performed. Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the harvester performances under harmonic and random excitations. Results show that the proposed multimodal harvester has potential to harness energy from broadband ambient vibration sources presenting performance advantages in comparison to conventional single-mode energy harvesters.

Performance analysis of a lever piezoelectric energy harvester for roadway applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 1045389X2110014
Author(s):  
Guangya Ding ◽  
Hongjun Luo ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Guohui Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Traffic Load ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Speed Sensor ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Optimal Load ◽  
Self Powered ◽  
Output Characteristics

A novel lever piezoelectric energy harvester (LPEH) was designed for installation in an actual roadway for energy harvesting. The model incorporates a lever module that amplifies the applied traffic load and transmits it to the piezoelectric ceramic. To observe the piezoelectric growth benefits of the optimized LPEH structure, the output characteristics and durability of two energy harvesters, the LPEH and a piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) without a lever, were measured and compared by carrying out piezoelectric performance tests and traffic model experiments. Under the same loading condition, the open circuit voltages of the LPEH and PEH were 20.6 and 11.7 V, respectively, which represents a 76% voltage increase for the LPEH compared to the PEH. The output power of the LPEH was 21.51 mW at the optimal load, which was three times higher than that of the PEH (7.45 mW). The output power was linearly dependent on frequency and load, implying the potential application of the module as a self-powered speed sensor. When tested during 300,000 loading cycles, the LPEH still exhibited stable structural performance and durability.

scholarly journals A comparison of power output from linear and nonlinear kinetic energy harvesters using real vibration data

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 075022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen P Beeby ◽  
Leran Wang ◽  
Dibin Zhu ◽  
Alex S Weddell ◽  
Geoff V Merrett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Linear And Nonlinear ◽  
Nonlinear Kinetic

Theoretical Analysis and General Characteristics for Nonlinear Vibration Energy Harvesters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanxiao Wu ◽  
Zhi Tao ◽  
Haiwang Li ◽  
Tiantong Xu ◽  
Wenbin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Power Line ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Output Performance ◽  
Equivalent Time ◽  
Time Average ◽  
Mechanical Damping ◽  
Limit Power ◽  
Nonlinear Energy

Abstract In this paper, we present a systematic theoretical and numerical study of the output performance of nonlinear energy harvesters. The general analytical expression of output power for systems with different combinations of nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping, as well as symmetrical and asymmetrical systems, have been derived based on harmonic balance method, observing compliance with numerical results. We theoretically prove that there is a limit power for all nonlinear systems which is determined exclusively by the vibrator mass, excitation acceleration, and mechanical damping. The results also indicate that for symmetrical stiffness systems, the asymmetrical damping components have no effect on the output performance. Additionally, we derived semi-analytical solutions of the matching loads and numerically investigated the influence of nonlinear coefficients on the output power with matched load. When the load matches device parameters and is much larger than the internal resistance, the equivalent time-average damping is equal to the mechanical damping. Although the matching load and output power vary with the nonlinear coefficients, the normalized power and matching resistance ratio follow a power function, named matching power line, which is independent of the structural parameters. With the improvement of the equivalent time-average short-circuit damping in the vibration range, the normalized power moves to the right end of the matching power line, and the output power approach to the limit power. These conclusions provide general characteristics of nonlinear energy harvesters, which can be used to guide the design and optimization of 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

scholarly journals Dual-band impedance transformation networks for integrated power amplifiers

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wolf ◽  
Niko Joram ◽  
Stefan Schumann ◽  
Frank Ellinger
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Power Amplifiers ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Dual Band ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Large Signal ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Power Added Efficiency ◽  
Relative Bandwidth ◽  
Measurement Results

This paper shows that the two most common impedance transformation networks for power amplifiers (PAs) can be designed to achieve optimum transformation at two frequencies. Hence, a larger bandwidth for the required impedance transformation ratio is achieved. A design procedure is proposed, which takes imperfections like losses into account. Furthermore, an analysis method is presented to estimate the maximum uncompressed output power of a PA with respect to frequency. Based on these results, a fully integrated PA with a dual-band impedance transformation network is designed and its functionality is proven by large signal measurement results. The amplifier covers the frequency band from 450 MHz to 1.2 GHz (3 dB bandwidth of the output power and efficiency), corresponding to a relative bandwidth of more than 100%. It delivers 23.7 dBm output power in the 1 dB compression point, having a power-added efficiency of 33%.

scholarly journals Long-Term Stability of Ferroelectret Energy Harvesters

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Kayaharman ◽  
Taylan Das ◽  
Gregory Seviora ◽  
Resul Saritas ◽  
Eihab Abdel-Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Constant Stress ◽  
Center Frequency ◽  
Term Stability ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Stress Cycling ◽  
Piezoelectric Charge

Cellular polypropylene (PP) has been recently used in energy harvesting applications. In this work, we investigate its viability and long-term stability under various operating conditions. Specifically, the effect of constant stress and stress cycling on output power and long-term stability of ferroelectret energy harvesters is analyzed. Our findings show that after 112 days constant stress significantly increases the piezoelectric charge constant d 33 and output power from 0.51 μW for a stress-free harvester to 2.71 μW. It also increases the harvester center frequency from 450 to 700 Hz and decreases its optimal resistance from 7 to 5.5 M Ω .

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