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

Abstract

Abstract:The design of vibration energy harvesters (VEHs) is highly dependent upon the characteristics of the environmental vibrations present in the intended application. VEHs can be linear resonant systems tuned to particular frequencies or non-linear systems with either bi-stable operation or a Duffing-type response. This paper provides detailed vibration data from a range of applications, which has been made freely available for download through the Energy Harvesting Network's online data repository. In particular, this research shows that simulation is essential in designing and selecting the most suitable vibration energy harvester for particular applications. This is illustrated through C-based simulations of different types of VEHs, using real vibration data from a diesel ferry engine, a combined heat and power pump, a petrol car engine and a helicopter. The analysis shows that a bistable energy harvester only has a higher output power than a linear or Duffing-type nonlinear energy harvester with the same Q-factor when it is subjected to white noise vibration. The analysis also indicates that piezoelectric transduction mechanisms are more suitable for bistable energy harvesters than electromagnetic transduction. Furthermore, the linear energy harvester has a higher output power compared to the Duffing-type nonlinear energy harvester with the same Q factor in most cases. The Duffing-type nonlinear energy harvester can generate more power than the linear energy harvester only when it is excited at vibrations with multiple peaks and the frequencies of these peaks are within its bandwidth. Through these new observations, this paper illustrates the importance of simulation in the design of energy harvesting systems, with particular emphasis on the need to incorporate real vibration data. Keywords: Vibration energy harvesting, real vibration IntroductionEnergy harvesting (also known as energy scavenging) is the conversion of ambient energy present in the environment into electrical energy for the purpose of powering autonomous wireless electronics systems [1]. Kinetic energy harvesting involves the conversion of environmental vibrations and movements into electrical energy [2]. A kinetic energy harvester typically consists of a mechanical structure that couples the environmental kinetic energy to an electro-mechanical transducer that produces the electrical energy. Power conditioning electronics and some form of energy storage (e.g. battery or supercapacitor) are also normally required. In order to effectively couple the environmental kinetic energy to the transducer, the mechanical structure within the harvester must be carefully designed to match the characteristics of the environmental kinetic energy. A common approach is to match the resonant frequency of the harvester to a characteristic frequency present in the environmental vibrations. This means the optimum solution for harvesting vibration energy from an

High-temperature property of flexible polyvinylidene fluoride/(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃ vibration energy harvester

“…16)20) The combination of flexibility and power generation is important to convert vibration into electric energy for PVEHs. Therefore, a combination of piezoelectric ceramics and polymers in the best way to obtain both advantages of two materials such as good power generation and a mechanical flexibility.…”

Comparisons of Energy Sources for Autonomous In-car Wireless Tags for Asset Tracking and Parking Applications

“…linear, Duffing's nonlinear and bistable harvesters, under the measured vibrations. Details of the model used in the simulation can be found in [2]. Table 1 summarises the average output power of linear, nonlinear and bistable vibration energy harvesters mounted on the dashboard on different roads when the vehicle travels on various roads.…”

Properties of chaotic vibration energy harvester: comparison of numerical results with experiments

“…The frequency range in which VEHs efficiently work can be made broader by using nonlinear vibration. The bistable VEH whose potential profile has a double‐well structure has been developed to realize the nonlinear vibration . In the bistable VEHs, the oscillator can overcome the potential barrier between the double wells if the enforcing vibration is sufficiently strong.…”