Virtual prototypes of energy harvesting systems for industrial applications

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with a development cycle and virtual prototyping of energy harvesting systems for industrial applications. Presented energy harvesting systems are an interesting alternative for autonomous powering of ultra-low power electronics, wireless sensors, condition reporting systems and structural monitoring systems. Energy harvesting systems could be able to convert an ambient energy to electricity and thus provide an autonomous power supply for mentioned applications without the need for batteries or wiring. Mechanical and thermal energy are promising autonomous sources of electricity mainly in aeronautics. Due to the recent development of the ultra-low power electronics wireless sensors they could be also embedded within machines, buildings and structures. The automatic collection of the measured information will be forwarded for the monitoring system. The power consumption of modern electronics is dropping, and the energy harvesting sources are starting to be a feasible energy solution in specific industrial applications. However, the amount of harvested energy is still quite small. Regarding that fact, the output electrical power must be predicted and compared with the power requirements of the intended electronics. This paper presents useful simulation tools for the prediction of harvested power under industrial operation, which consist of mathematical and simulation models of such multidisciplinary devices and experimental input data of ambient energy. The designed virtual prototypes include mathematical models of energy conversion, physical laws, multi-physical feedbacks, geometry, electronics, etc. Such virtual models are necessary for the development of new autonomous systems for industrial applications. Otherwise energy harvesting systems based on new smart materials and structures that could be integrated in the presented models for the future development of IoT applications.