Vibration Energy Harvesting Research Articles

Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting of Nonlinear Energy Sink-Based Piezoelectric System with Combined Damping and Bistability Properties for Nonlinear Oscillator

Nonlinear energy sink (NES) as a new type of dynamic absorber has received widespread attention due to its broadband vibration suppression capability, but it has a certain requirement of energy triggering threshold. In this work, a bistable NES-based piezoelectric system with combined damping (BCPNES) and low threshold requirement is proposed. Electromechanical-coupled equations for the nonlinear oscillator coupled with BCPNES (NO-BCPNES) are established. The vibration suppression and vibration energy harvesting performance for the coupled system are investigated numerically and analytically. The frequency–energy plots of the conservative system are investigated using the complex-variable averaging method and the electromechanical decoupling method. The influence of circuit parameters on the target energy transfer threshold and harvested energy is discussed through the equivalent stiffness and damping of the circuit. The vibration suppression performance and the target energy transfer characteristics are analyzed in terms of the time–history response, the time–frequency response and the slowly varying dynamic flow, respectively. The results show that the electromechanical coupling coefficient affects the skeleton curve of frequency–energy plots in the form of equivalent stiffness. The NO-BCPNES system exhibits higher energy dissipation performance and better targeted energy transfer form under various excitations. From the phase perspective, NES-based piezoelectric system achieves vibration suppression of the main structure through the phase locking phenomenon. The mechanism of the influence of piezoelectric device parameters on the energy harvesting performance of the systems is clarified.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials in Microcantilever Based Vibration Energy Harvesters

Abstract The piezoelectric materials have been extensively utilized in various applications, such as sensors, actuators, and energy harvesters. This study evaluates the performance of six lead-free piezoelectric materials- aluminium nitride (AlN), barium titanate (BaTiO3), lithium niobate (LiNbO3), lithium tantalate (LiTaO3), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and zinc oxide (ZnO) in MEMS-based piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters (PVEHs) using cantilever configurations. Finite element analysis via COMSOL Multiphysics was employed to assess the deflection, voltage, and power outputs of these materials at their resonance frequencies, both with and without proof masses. The results indicate that BaTiO3 and PVDF cantilevers exhibited the highest voltage outputs, reaching 207.14 mV and 202.07 mV, respectively, with AlN also showing comparable performance at 184.72 mV. ZnO-based cantilevers demonstrated the highest power output of 1.35 nW without proof masses and 190.5 nW with proof masses, indicating its potential for high-power applications. The addition of proof masses generally reduced resonant frequencies but enhanced power outputs, like for ZnO. This comprehensive analysis underscores the critical impact of material selection and structural modifications on the efficiency of PVEHs, with BaTiO3, PVDF, and ZnO emerging as the most promising candidates for optimizing energy harvesting devices. This research lays a foundation for further advancements in piezoelectric MEMS technology, aiming for more efficient energy harvesting solutions.

Performing Magnetic Boundary Modulation to Broaden the Operational Wind Speed Range of a Piezoelectric Cantilever-Type Wind Energy Harvester

Small piezoelectric wind-induced vibration energy harvesting systems have been widely studied to provide long-term sustainable green energy for a large number of wireless sensor network nodes. Piezoelectric materials are commonly utilized as transducers because of their ability to produce high output power density and their simple structure, but they are prone to material fracture under large deformation conditions. This paper proposes a magnetic boundary modulated stepped beam wind energy harvesting system. On the one hand, the design incorporates a composite stepped beam with both high- and low-stiffness components, allowing for efficient vibration and electrical energy output at low wind speeds. On the other hand, a magnetic boundary constraint mechanism is constructed to prevent the piezoelectric sheet from breaking due to excessive deformation. Experiments have confirmed that the effective operational wind speed range of the harvester with magnetic boundary constraints is doubled compared to that of the harvester without magnetic boundary constraints. Furthermore, by adjusting the magnetic pole spacing of the boundary, the harvesting system can generate sufficiently high output power under high-wind-speed conditions without damaging the piezoelectric sheet.

Parametric Optimization For Power Generation Of Flow Induced Vibration Energy Harvester

Flow-induced vibration occurs when the motion of fluids through a structure induces oscillations or vibrations in the structure. An effective flow-induced vibration energy harvester has substantial challenges due to the river's irregular velocity flows. It is not practicable to use one parameter for all velocities. This work presents the testing of a flow-induced vibrational energy harvester in laminar flow using two circular cylinders positioned in tandem within an open-channel flow. A CFD simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics was performed for the proposed parameter. A comprehensive simulation run at multiple Reynolds numbers with varying gap lengths between the bluff bodies is studied to determine the maximum power generated. Simulation results show that the optimal gap lengths for Re 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 are 8.5, 6.0, 3.0, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.5, respectively. These gap lengths result in power outputs of 0.0315 W, 2.616 W, 1.899 W, 0.6552 W, 0.5018 W, and 0.3782 W. By demonstrating the relationship between Reynolds number and gap length, this study provides important information for maximising the energy harvesting from flow-induced vibration (FIV).

Finite element analysis and design of a magnetostrictive material based vibration energy harvester with a magnetic flux path

Abstract This work presents the development of a nonlinear 2D finite element (FE) framework for magnetostrictive material based energy harvesters of beam geometry. The FE model is developed in COMSOL Multiphysics and compared with existing literature for validation. The FE model is subsequently used to study the effect of a closed magnetic flux path, consisting of ferromagnetic components, on the harvester output. Specifically, the voltage output is obtained by performing simulations on unimorph type harvester devices with and without a closed magnetic flux path, both operating at the same natural frequency and volume of the magnetostrictive material Galfenol. The harvester design considered here consists of a magnetostrictive layer (Galfenol) bonded to a steel substrate layer, a tip mass, a pick-up coil and a magnetic flux path consisting of soft iron core and NdFeB permanent magnets. Our results demonstrate a voltage gain of around 70% for the closed flux path design. Furthermore, a proof of concept prototype of the modified flux path design is developed, tested under impulse loading, and the voltage, power output are compared with FE simulation results for validation. The simulation results match well with experimental observations at two operating frequencies for the flux path design.

Design and experiment of magnetostrictive-electromagnetic hybrid floor vibration energy harvester

Design and experiment of magnetostrictive-electromagnetic hybrid floor vibration energy harvester

Comparative Analysis of Piezoelectric Transducers for Low-Power Systems: A Focus on Vibration Energy Harvesting

Comparative Analysis of Piezoelectric Transducers for Low-Power Systems: A Focus on Vibration Energy Harvesting

Coupled thermo-electric-elastic piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with axial movement: Modeling, verification, and analysis

Abstract In the field of rail transport and aerospace field, vibration energy harvesting is inevitably subjected to coupled excitations, including train wheel-track interaction induced friction heat and forced vibration, periodic thermal radiation, and vibration excitation. This paper investigates a coupled thermo-electric-elastic piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with axial movement under external heat flux and mechanical force load. The coupled forced vibration equation, coupled electric equation, and coupled thermoelastic heat conduction equation are derived and solved by Green's function theory. To analyze the effect of excitations on the response characteristics, the decoupled method is utilized to solve the coupled multi-field equations and obtain the displacement, electric, and temperature distribution closed-form solutions. The displacement coupling effect induced temperature distribution and the thermo-electric coupling effect triggered displacement are respectively decoupled and analyzed. The obtained closed-form temperature distribution and displacement solutions are verified by the finite element method. To further verify the obtained solutions, a numerical method is conducted by decoupling the coupled multi-field equations and comparing them with prior solutions. Additionally, the different height-to-length ratios, axially moving speeds, and external force load are analyzed in detail. The results indicate that the displacement, temperature distribution, and output voltage vary with external conditions due to the coupled multi-field effect. Overall, this work investigates the thermo-electric-elastic coupling effect on the axially moving piezoelectric energy harvesting, which is beneficial to promote theoretical investigations of the coupled multi-field energy harvesting system and accelerate the practical applications in the aerospace field.

Reconfigurable topological gradient metamaterials and potential applications

Elastic topological metamaterials are innovative fields of the fusion of physics and mechanics. Through novel microstructural designs, elastic topological metamaterials provide a pioneering approach to precisely manipulate elastic waves, maintaining robustness and efficiency in wave propagation even within complex environments. Recent advancements in reconfigurability and gradient features have significantly enriched the mechanical phenomena of wave manipulation, broadening the application potential of elastic topological metamaterials. In this study, we design the local resonant phononic crystal, employing a spiral support structure to ensure low-frequency characteristics and adjustable mass for flexible configuration. By utilizing the designed lattices with distinct topological phases, the topological valley edge states are constructed. The frequency and group velocity variation of the topological edge states under different stiffness and mass parameters are analyzed. Furthermore, we further constructed the mass and stiffness gradient metamaterial to analyze the transmission law of elastic waves in topological metamaterials. Additionally, the fluctuation features of the wave transmittance under disordered and impurity defects were discussed, confirming the robustness of waveguides within low-frequency topological metamaterials. Finally, we explored the potential applications of the designed metamaterials in energy localization and low-frequency reconfigurable waveguides. Numerical analysis showed that the topological gradient metamaterials can enhance the vibration energy at a specific interface, and low-frequency bend waveguide paths can be adjusted flexibly by configurable mass. In summary, this paper focuses on the low-frequency and gradient features of elastic topological metamaterials, aiming to unlock their application potential in vibrational energy harvesting, vibration suppression, and information transmission, which accelerate the practical implementation of topological metamaterials.

A viscoelastic harvester-absorber for energy generation and vibration control

Abstract A vibration energy harvester harnesses the oscillatory movement and
converts it into electrical energy. On the other hand, a (dynamic) vibration absorber
dissipates the mechanical energy of a host structure (primary system). The proposal for
a harvester-absorber device (HAD), comprinsing a piezoelectric element (conventional
harvester) bonded with a viscoelastic layer and a steel constrained layer, is based on the
dual purpose of generating energy and at the same time reducing the vibratory response
of the primary system. Introducing a viscoelastic dissipative layer in a conventional
harvester, also offers the advantage of simultaneously reducing wear on the piezoelectric
element, thereby extending its lifespan and preventing fatigue-related breakage. The
paper presents a model of a harvester-absorber built from a bimorph piezoelectric
beam, a layer of viscoelastic material (E-A-R C1002-01PSA) and a beam of steel, which
acts as a constrained layer. A lumped parameter model is proposed for the theoretical
description of the HAD which is successfully used to experimentally determine its
parameters. After that, and using the equivalent stiffness concept, the HAD was
coupled to a free-free beam with two masses at its ends to study its perfomance over a
real host structure. The inertance of the composite system and voltage/force frequency
response function of the HAD were obtained and compared with experimental results.
The accuracy of the results justifies and validate the model which has the advantage
of simplicity and can contribute to reducing wear and increasing the lifespan of brittle
piezoelectric structures.

A nonlinear and asymmetric monostable compliant ortho-planar spring piezoelectric vibrational energy harvester using a H-I structure

This paper proposes a compliant ortho-planar spring piezoelectric vibrational energy harvester (COPS-PVEH) using a H-I structure that exploits a nonlinearity and an asymmetric mono-stability to enhance the bandwidth of the device. The main structure is based on a double clamped beam (I-structure) coupled with four cantilever beams (H-structure) and an ortho-planar spring in the centre of the I-structure. Finite element analysis (FEA), analytical modelling, and experimentation were performed to analyse the dynamical and electrical behaviour of the harvester. The device was fabricated using polylactide (PLA). Six bimorph PZT-5H piezoelectric materials, electrically connected in parallel, were used as piezoelectric generators. The device was tested using an optimum load resistor of 90 kΩ under sinusoidal and sine sweep excitation in the gravity (vertical) direction. The pre-load (due to gravitation) causes a softening nonlinearity and an asymmetric mono-stability in the potential energy function. The results show that multiple peaks are observed in the output voltage of the harvester in the FEA, analytical modelling, and experimentation under harmonic excitation in the sub 15 Hz frequency range. Furthermore, analytical modelling and experimentation exhibit softening nonlinearity and chaotic behaviour, reaching a maximum amplitude power of 1.01 mW (at 8.3 Hz) and 1.07 mW (at 9.5 Hz) respectively under sine sweep excitation (amplitude of 0.6 g (g = 9.81 m/s2)). Experimentally, the harvester also generates an average power greater than 46 µW with a 6.8 Hz bandwidth under the same excitation. The softening nonlinearity and asymmetric mono-stability enhance the bandwidth of the harvester in the low frequency region where most broadband ambient vibrations are available in practical environments.

Vibration Energy Harvesting: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Challenges

Vibration Energy Harvesting: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Challenges

Harvesting multidirectional wind energy based on flow-induced vibration triboelectric nanogenerator with directional tuning mechanism

Wind-induced vibration (WIV), as low-velocity wind energy utilization technology in agricultural environment, has significant advantages. Nevertheless, there is a mismatch between the variability of wind direction and the work mode of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which leads to a sharp decline in the performance of triboelectric power generation. This work proposes a TENG based on multidirectional WIV (TENG-WIV), which mainly contains triboelectric power generation unit, guide-wing and triboelectric direction sensor. By introducing the directional tuning mechanism based on guide-wing, the TENG-WIV aims to break the constraints of single wind direction response and effectively respond to the wind direction within 360° range, thereby realizing multidirectional wind energy harvesting and sensor power supply. The empirical findings indicate that the output voltage and current of triboelectric power generation unit are in the ranges of 62–241 V and 0.25–1.21 μA, respectively, at the wind velocities of 1.23–5.13 m/s. At a wind velocity of 3.18 m/s, the unit achieves an out-power peak of 0.09 mW. Furthermore, the triboelectric direction sensor can respond to changes in 8 directions and has wind direction monitoring potentiality. The directional tuning mechanism endows flow-induced vibration energy harvesters with an all-around multidirectional sensitivity.

Enhancing Energy Harvesting Efficiency from Ambient Sources through Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

The utilization of ambient energy sources for powering small-scale electronic devices and sensors has garnered significant attention due to its potential for sustainable and autonomous operation. This research focuses on enhancing the efficiency of energy harvesting from ambient sources, such as vibrations, heat differentials, and electromagnetic fields, through the integration of advanced materials and nanotechnology into energy harvesting systems. The study begins with a comprehensive review of existing energy harvesting technologies, highlighting their limitations in terms of efficiency, scalability, and adaptability to various ambient energy sources. It identifies the key challenges faced in achieving high energy conversion rates and explores the potential of advanced materials and nanoscale structures to address these challenges. One aspect of the research involves the development and characterization of novel materials with superior energy conversion properties. This includes the synthesis of piezoelectric materials for vibration energy harvesting, thermoelectric materials for heat-to-electricity conversion, and nanomaterials for enhancing electromagnetic energy harvesting efficiency. Advanced characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), are employed to analyze the structural and electrical properties of these materials. Furthermore, the study investigates the design and fabrication of nanostructured energy harvesting devices optimized for specific ambient energy sources. This involves the integration of nanoscale components, such as nanostructured electrodes, into energy harvesting systems to improve energy capture and conversion rates. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations and experimental testing are conducted to evaluate the performance and efficiency of these nano-enhanced energy harvesting devices under real-world conditions. The research also addresses the optimization of energy harvesting system parameters, including resonance tuning, impedance matching, and energy management circuits, to maximize energy extraction and utilization. Computational modeling techniques, such as multiscale modeling and finite element simulations, are utilized to optimize system configurations and improve overall energy harvesting efficiency. Overall, this research contributes to the advancement of energy harvesting technologies by leveraging advanced materials and nanotechnology, paving the way for sustainable and autonomous power generation from ambient energy sources for a wide range of applications.

Harvesting Broadband Breeze Vibration Energy via Elastic Bistable Triboelectric Nanogenerator for In Situ, Self‐Powered Monitoring of Power Transmission Lines

AbstractTriboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), as a new technique for energy capture, has unique advantages in harvesting high‐entropy energy. In view of the wind‐induced vibration characteristics of power transmission lines, the symmetric elastic bistable triboelectric nanogenerator (EB‐TENG) is introduced in this work. The core component of the EB‐TENG is the elastic bistable cantilever beam structure, which is designed by introducing an elastic perturbation structure to the conventional cantilever beam. This beam results in several sub‐resonance frequencies in addition to the natural frequencies, which broadens the frequency band of the EB‐TENG. In addition, the EB‐TENG adopts a symmetrical cantilever beam to ensure effective harvesting of vibration energy, even in situations of self‐tilting and external tilting vibration. The experimental outcomes confirm that the EB‐TENG can significantly harvest vibration energy in the 7–60 Hz frequency range and delivers the maximum peak power of 2.846 mW, which meets the major vibration frequency range of power transmission lines under the action of breeze. Finally, self‐powered strategy based on EB‐TENG online monitoring devices (such as tower obstruction lights, temperature and humidity sensors, and line high temperature wireless alarms) is constructed. This work helps promote the application of in‐situ self‐powered monitoring based on TENG in smart transmission lines.

A piezoelectric acoustic black hole absorber for rail vibration reduction and energy harvesting: Semi-analytical model

Theoretically, vibration energy can be converted and harvested during the process of vibration reduction, thus enabling a self-powered supply for sensor nodes. However, little research was reported on rail absorbers that combine vibration reduction and energy harvesting. Accordingly, this study aims to design an absorber based on the acoustic black hole (ABH) effect, termed the P-ABH absorber, that can simultaneously achieve broadband vibration reduction and energy harvesting. Firstly, the P-ABH absorber was preliminarily designed, and the semi-analytical model of the track with the P-ABH absorber was established by the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Secondly, the semi-analytical model was verified by the 3D finite element method, and the vibration reduction and energy harvesting performance were initially evaluated. The dimensions of the ABH structure, along with the sizes of the piezoelectric patches, were then determined. Finally, the vibration reduction and energy harvesting performances of the P-ABH absorbers fully deployed between each fastener were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the P-ABH absorber exhibited a wider vibration reduction bandwidth than the uniform piezoelectric absorber and the piezoelectric patches, with an increase in energy harvesting power by 27.47 % and 115.26 %, respectively. The vibration reduction and energy harvesting performance were significantly affected by the number of piezoelectric patches but little affected by the thickness and total length. When the P-ABH absorbers were fully attached to the rail, the overall mean square velocities at the three resonant frequencies, which required emphatic control, were reduced by 36.77 %, 98.37 %, and 3.52 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the energy harvesting performance was excellent. The P-ABH absorber presents a promising solution for improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of track systems.

Corrigendum to “A pendulum based frequency-up conversion mechanism for vibrational energy harvesting in low-speed rotary structures”

Corrigendum to “A pendulum based frequency-up conversion mechanism for vibrational energy harvesting in low-speed rotary structures”

Simulation and characterization of an integrated MR damper with energy harvesting and embedded channels

Combined with two objectives of vibration reduction and energy harvesting, an integrated magnetorheological (MR) damper with energy harvesting and embedded channels is presented in this research. The effects of different structural parameters on the magnetic flux density and damping performance of the damping module are investigated using the finite element method. In addition, the effects of different frequencies, amplitudes, currents, and external resistances on the damping and energy harvesting characteristics of the proposed damper are experimentally studied. Simulation results demonstrate that the damping force first increases and then decreases with the increase of inner cylinder thickness and magnetic isolation height, increases with the increase of coil turns and current size, and decreases with the increase of outer cylinder thickness and magnetic isolation width. Simulation values of the damping force of the damping module are in good agreement with experimental data. Experimental results indicate that the damping force of the energy harvesting module drops as the external resistance rises. The output voltage of the energy harvesting module increases with the raise of external resistance. The average output power and the energy harvesting efficiency of the new damper reach 7.3 W and 53.5 % when A = 10 mm, f = 2 Hz, and R = 5 Ω.

Inertial amplification as a performance enhancement method for snap-through vibration energy harvester

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in exploiting the bistable behavior of snap-through systems to harvest energy from vibration sources. The efficient operation of any bistable VEH depends on its ability to exhibit large-amplitude interwell motion. Under weak ambient excitation, bistable VEH performs marginally because of the confinement of motion to a single well. Frequency up-conversion, multi-stability, and adaptive techniques are some of the performance enhancement strategies suggested for bistable-VEH. Considering the VEH's space constraints, the above designs are hard to implement in practical cases. This study introduces an inertial amplification mechanism (IAM) as a simple passive strategy to enhance the performance of a snap-through VEH, a concept not explored in previous studies. The addition of IAM increases the effective mass without increasing the physical mass and thereby enhances energy harvesting, especially from weak ambient excitation sources. The dynamics and performance of the enhanced snap-through VEH are investigated analytically and numerically under harmonic and random excitations. The harmonic balance method (HBM) derives the frequency-amplitude relationship, which shows a hardening behavior and an increase in bandwidth. The effective potential method provides a closed-form expression for the joint probability density function (Joint PDF), which is governed by the Fokker-Planck equation. The joint PDF shows a transition from bimodal to unimodal with an increase in the value of the geometrical parameter. The stochastic averaging method is employed to obtain the stationary probability density function, which defines the long-term dynamics of the VEH. The effects of noise intensity, mass ratio, and inertial amplifier angle on the dynamics are investigated. Finally, the performance of the proposed VEH is compared with a conventional snap-through VEH, an equivalent linear VEH, and a multistable VEH under harmonic and random excitation conditions. The findings suggest that the snap-through VEH with the IAM has advantages over the linear and multistable nonlinear VEH in terms of extracting energy from low-intensity harmonic and random excitation sources. This simple augmentation strategy preserves the original system's bistability, eliminating the need for the complex design of a multistable VEH.

Design, fabrication, and characterization of a deformation-restricted piezoelectric vibration energy harvester triggered by a stopper

Vibration energy harvesting based on piezoelectric effect is emerging as a promising sustainable energy solution for micro-electromechanical systems and wireless sensor networks. Whereas, reliability issues stemming from excessive deformation-induced damage to piezoelectric materials have hindered the progress of piezoelectric vibration energy harvester development. Herein, an indirect triggering method involving a stopper has been implemented to design the deformation-restricted piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (D-RPVEH). This device utilizes the stopper to limit the maximum deformation of the piezoelectric beam, facilitating unidirectional deformation. Consequently, the D-RPVEH delivers enhanced reliability even under unexpected excessive impacts. The feasibility of the proposed principle and design are proved by finite element simulation and experimental test. Most importantly, the research results are found that the simulated end displacement and experimental voltage of PZT beam declined with the decrease of stopper height difference. Moreover, the efficacy of limiting the piezoelectric beam's maximum deformation by implementing the stopper structure is supported by both simulation and experimental findings. The D-RPVEH device can achieve a peak power output of 2.58 mW at frequencies as low as 5.5 Hz, utilizing an optimal load resistance of 30 kΩ. Furthermore, it can illuminate a minimum of 60 blue commercial LEDs connected in series. Therefore, the D-RPVEH not only has good power generation performance but also has high reliability. This design will provide a reference for the research on improving the reliability of PVEH.