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Energy harvesting from train vibrations

Energy harvesting from train vibrations
Energy harvesting from train vibrations
In this paper, linear mechanical oscillators are designed to harvest energy from train-induced vibrations. The harvested energy could be used, for example, to charge sensors mounted on the rail track for structural health monitoring. The dominant frequencies due to a passing train are determined for a specific train and speed from a recorded acceleration time-history. Using a simple model of an oscillator, the total energy harvested for the passage of one train is calculated. The stiffness, and hence the tuning frequency of the device, is varied in simulations to determine the optimum frequency at which to tune the device for a constant value of mass and damping in the device. Further simulations are conducted to investigate the power that could be harvested from multiple oscillators tuned at several dominant frequencies, and their performances are analysed and compared. The constraint for maximum relative displacement is considered in the design of each harvester, and this is adopted to assure that the amplitude of the oscillation is finite and does not exceed the physical size of the device. The robustness of the harvester is also analysed for different train speeds.
Ghandchi Tehrani, M.
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Gatti, Gianluca
8a9fe0e2-c408-4188-bf10-e93bf247205c
Brennan, M.J.
87c7bca3-a9e5-46aa-9153-34c712355a13
Thompson, D.J.
bca37fd3-d692-4779-b663-5916b01edae5
Ghandchi Tehrani, M.
c2251e5b-a029-46e2-b585-422120a7bc44
Gatti, Gianluca
8a9fe0e2-c408-4188-bf10-e93bf247205c
Brennan, M.J.
87c7bca3-a9e5-46aa-9153-34c712355a13
Thompson, D.J.
bca37fd3-d692-4779-b663-5916b01edae5

Ghandchi Tehrani, M., Gatti, Gianluca, Brennan, M.J. and Thompson, D.J. (2013) Energy harvesting from train vibrations. International Conference on Vibration Problems, Lisbon, Portugal. 09 - 12 Sep 2013.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

In this paper, linear mechanical oscillators are designed to harvest energy from train-induced vibrations. The harvested energy could be used, for example, to charge sensors mounted on the rail track for structural health monitoring. The dominant frequencies due to a passing train are determined for a specific train and speed from a recorded acceleration time-history. Using a simple model of an oscillator, the total energy harvested for the passage of one train is calculated. The stiffness, and hence the tuning frequency of the device, is varied in simulations to determine the optimum frequency at which to tune the device for a constant value of mass and damping in the device. Further simulations are conducted to investigate the power that could be harvested from multiple oscillators tuned at several dominant frequencies, and their performances are analysed and compared. The constraint for maximum relative displacement is considered in the design of each harvester, and this is adopted to assure that the amplitude of the oscillation is finite and does not exceed the physical size of the device. The robustness of the harvester is also analysed for different train speeds.

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More information

Published date: 9 September 2013
Venue - Dates: International Conference on Vibration Problems, Lisbon, Portugal, 2013-09-09 - 2013-09-12
Related URLs:
Organisations: Signal Processing & Control Grp

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 358025
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/358025
PURE UUID: 3cde1b74-9ad7-4550-b770-99a5e000d018
ORCID for D.J. Thompson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7964-5906

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Oct 2013 13:27
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:53

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Contributors

Author: Gianluca Gatti
Author: M.J. Brennan
Author: D.J. Thompson ORCID iD

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