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Level-dependent load in a pendulum like energy harvester

Level-dependent load in a pendulum like energy harvester
Level-dependent load in a pendulum like energy harvester

Typically ambient vibration generates a relative displacement between the suspended mass and the base in an energy harvester, and the induced electromotive force (EMF) in an electrical circuit is used to harvest electrical energy. Electromagnetic energy harvesters can operate at an optimum load, which provides the maximum power. However, due to the physical constraints of these devices, such as the limited available volume, the throw is also limited and operating at the optimum load is not feasible. By using a constant load, the optimum conditions cannot be achieved and the harvested power therefore can be reduced dramatically. To overcome this issue, the present paper proposes a new strategy, which consists of adjusting the electric load according to the input level at steady state condition. If the electric load, which is assumed to be a pure electrical resistance, is tuned according to the level of the harmonic excitation, then the harvester can always operate at the optimum conditions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the level-dependent load, an energy harvesting device in the form of a pendulum is designed and manufactured, which is comprised of an oscillating beam sprung to the base, and attached to a generator. Across the terminals of the generator, an electric resistance (digital potentiometer) is mounted and the voltage produced is converted by Joule effect into thermal power, which is considered here as the harvested power. Experiments are conducted by exciting the harvester with a harmonic input at resonance via a shaker. A level-dependent load and a constant load are separately tested. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations. It is shown that by adjusting the load according to the input level, the harvested power is increased compared to a linear constant load.

Energy harvesting, Level-dependent, Nonlinear load
0888-3270
244-254
Simeone, Luigi
b7d8532c-5701-40d3-87e0-a8cfefb65db6
Ghandchi Tehrani, Maryam
c2251e5b-a029-46e2-b585-422120a7bc44
Elliott, Steve
721dc55c-8c3e-4895-b9c4-82f62abd3567
Simeone, Luigi
b7d8532c-5701-40d3-87e0-a8cfefb65db6
Ghandchi Tehrani, Maryam
c2251e5b-a029-46e2-b585-422120a7bc44
Elliott, Steve
721dc55c-8c3e-4895-b9c4-82f62abd3567

Simeone, Luigi, Ghandchi Tehrani, Maryam and Elliott, Steve (2019) Level-dependent load in a pendulum like energy harvester. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 119, 244-254. (doi:10.1016/j.ymssp.2018.08.013).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Typically ambient vibration generates a relative displacement between the suspended mass and the base in an energy harvester, and the induced electromotive force (EMF) in an electrical circuit is used to harvest electrical energy. Electromagnetic energy harvesters can operate at an optimum load, which provides the maximum power. However, due to the physical constraints of these devices, such as the limited available volume, the throw is also limited and operating at the optimum load is not feasible. By using a constant load, the optimum conditions cannot be achieved and the harvested power therefore can be reduced dramatically. To overcome this issue, the present paper proposes a new strategy, which consists of adjusting the electric load according to the input level at steady state condition. If the electric load, which is assumed to be a pure electrical resistance, is tuned according to the level of the harmonic excitation, then the harvester can always operate at the optimum conditions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the level-dependent load, an energy harvesting device in the form of a pendulum is designed and manufactured, which is comprised of an oscillating beam sprung to the base, and attached to a generator. Across the terminals of the generator, an electric resistance (digital potentiometer) is mounted and the voltage produced is converted by Joule effect into thermal power, which is considered here as the harvested power. Experiments are conducted by exciting the harvester with a harmonic input at resonance via a shaker. A level-dependent load and a constant load are separately tested. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations. It is shown that by adjusting the load according to the input level, the harvested power is increased compared to a linear constant load.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 5 August 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 26 October 2018
Published date: 15 March 2019
Keywords: Energy harvesting, Level-dependent, Nonlinear load

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 427743
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/427743
ISSN: 0888-3270
PURE UUID: 20809666-486c-4879-bf8e-1d667350baa6

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 25 Jan 2019 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 12:12

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Contributors

Author: Luigi Simeone
Author: Steve Elliott

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