Abstract
Rail freight systems are widely acknowledged for their operational efficiency across various nations. However, a prevailing limitation lies in the absence of power supply within standard freight wagons, impeding the installation of essential sensors to monitor train operation. This paper provides an innovative solution to this issue, where a novel device is developed to harvest vibration energy from freight trains to power operational condition monitoring sensors. The proposed device integrates a piezoelectric energy harvester with an electromagnetic counterpart, utilizing a spring-mass structure to capture vibration energy and transfer it to cantilever beams through magnetic coupling. A cantilever beam with variable width and a distinctive “checkmark” shape is employed to ensure even stress distribution to enhance piezoelectric material efficiency. The optimal spatial configuration between magnets and coils, as well as inter-magnet spacing, is determined through finite element analysis and empirical testing. Experimental results under the excitation with a frequency of 9.5 Hz and a vertical amplitude of 2 mm show the hybrid harvester can generate a maximum power of 3.276 mW. This hybrid energy harvesting system has the potential to provide dependable power to electronic components, including temperature sensors and accelerometers, crucial for monitoring rail freight train operations.
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