The design and fabrication of electromagnetic microgenerator with integrated rectifying circuits

Abstract

PurposeThe paper focuses on design, fabrication and characterization of electromagnetic microgenerators with integrated rectifying circuits to convert AC output signal to DC one. The work includes research on simulation of voltage-rectifying circuits, including charge pump, realization of the experimental printed circuit board (PCB) with selected electronic circuits and the execution of the final structure with integrated rectifying circuit. Measurements were performed on these circuits.Design/methodology/approachElectromagnetic microgenerators include multipole permanent magnets secured on rotor three-phase brushless direct current (BLDC) motor and planar multilayer multiple coils. These were fabricated using low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology. In our experiment, six rectifying circuits were simulated and tested with a structure consisting of eight layers of coils and with an outer diameter of 50 mm fabricated earlier.FindingsThe microgenerator with Graetz bridge generates higher output power than the modified charge pump at the same rotary speed. However, it is less stable for the distance change between the structure and the magnets than the modified charge pump, which has more constant output power in a wider range of load resistance.Originality/valueThe presented electronic rectifying circuits are novel for LTCC-based electromagnetic microgenerator application. The structure with integrated rectifying circuits allows generation of electrical output power larger than 100 mW at the rotor speed of about 8,000 rpm.