Vibration Energy Harvesting Research Articles

Design and modeling of three-mode nonlinear hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic vibration energy harvester for harvesting multi-band vibration energy on the freight wagon axle box

Abstract With the rapid development of rail transit system, it is becoming more demanding for structural health monitoring (SHM) of the train. It is crucial to supply power for sensing devices on the freight wagon to ensure the safe operation of rail transit systems. Three-mode nonlinear hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic vibration energy harvester (TNHVEH) with a three-layer pickup system has been designed and applied to efficiently harvest vibration energy on the axle box of freight wagons for providing the power of the sensors for online SHM. Dynamic coupling model of the vehicle-harvester system is built to devote the relationship between the operation bandwidth and the nonlinear degree of TNHVEH for broadening the operation frequency band. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the resonant frequencies of the three pickup systems of TNHVEH are concentrated around 27, 70, and 120 Hz, matching the representative frequencies of axle box vibrations. A maximum output voltage of 2.97 V and output power of 29.4 μW under an optimal load of 300 kΩ at 0.5 g acceleration is achieved. It successfully lights up 53 LEDs with ‘ECJTU’ patterns, providing a solution to the power supply problem of microelectronic devices on freight wagons.

An enhanced broadband piezoelectric energy harvester via elastic amplification structure for multidirectional vibration

Abstract Vibration energy harvesting using a piezoelectric mechanism has significant potential for powering wireless sensors. However, most current vibration energy harvesters face limitations such as bidirectionality, narrow bandwidth, and high operating frequencies. To address these issues, we propose an enhanced broadband piezoelectric energy harvester utilizing an elastic amplification structure for multidirectional vibration (EB-PVEH). By utilizing the multidirectional rotation capacity of the excitation block and the amplified foundation excitation provided by springs, the EB-PVEH effectively captures broadband vibrations in 2D space under low-frequency excitation. Additionally, its design features long-term durability, as the piezoelectric beams are smoothly excited by the pendulum-induced motion of the block without a tip mass. The practical feasibility and the impact of structural parameters on the output behavior of EB-PVEH were investigated through theoretical analysis and experimental testing. The results revealed that the introduction of springs dynamically amplified the harnessed electrical power output. Moreover, EB-PVEH could harvest the multidirectional vibration, and it exhibited different power-generating characteristics in various directions. Furthermore, the resonance frequency could be efficiently tuned by adjusting the flexible arm length and proof mass, with different optimal arm lengths identified for each vibration direction to maximize working bandwidth. The harvester achieved an optimal output power of 3.98 mW. Practical applications, such as charging a capacitor by driving an e-bike or a bike, demonstrate the potential of the proposed harvester to provide power for micro-electrical devices.

Design and Modeling of Micro-Scale Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester for Charging Pacemaker Battery

Design and Modeling of Micro-Scale Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester for Charging Pacemaker Battery

A Systematic Review of Techno-Economic, Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessments for Vibration Induced Energy Harvesting

There is a growing need to ensure the resilience of energy and water systems through digitalization, retrofit these systems for cleaner energy systems, and protect public safety in terms of water quality. This resilience requires a reliable power supply that could be provided by harnessing unexploited energy hidden in the current water infrastructure through the deployment of vortex-induced vibration energy harvesters. Therefore, being able to understand the feasibility of deploying these devices across technical, socioeconomic and environmental scales could further enhance successful deployment and integration of these devices. This paper aims to provide a systematic review investigating the development of energy harvester technologies to understand the key methods used to assess their application feasibility. This study used the PRISMA guidelines, and 139 articles were reviewed and synthesized. The trends were visualized, illustrating the current direction in energy harvesting development and application and methods used to assess the feasibility of these devices and technology. The majority of the reviewed studies focused on technical feasibility, design configuration, limitation, and identification of the most optimal application environment. The results revealed a huge opportunity for energy harvesters, especially as a power supply for monitoring sensors. Nevertheless, the results also identified a knowledge gap when it comes to assessing the overall application feasibility of energy harvesting as most studies currently neglect economic feasibility, environmental impacts, social aspects and energy resilience. Assessment tools will help fill this knowledge gap by identifying the key barriers and benefits gained from integrating this technology into existing energy systems and water systems.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTING DUE TO DIFFERENT VIBRATION SOURCES

As industry requires more real-time monitoring and interconnected systems, the need for wireless sensors will increase. Vibration Energy Harvesting (VEH) has played an important role as an alternative energy source to provide power to wireless sensors. In this paper we report the analysis of an electromagnetic energy harvester driven by vibrating plate. An experimental method where energy sources originating from vibrating mechanical machines were used. Mechanical machines such as milling machines, dynamic rotors, and four-stroke engines were implemented to prove the performance of the device. where the output signal from the vibration source is measured using a CF-3600 FFT analyzer, while the output signal from the electromagnet is measured using an oscilloscope (Hantek 6022BE). This paper has discussed several sources of vibration originating from industrial equipment with a vibration source frequency of around 10 to 100 Hz. The findings show that the voltage produced by an electromagnetic energy harvester is 130 mV, 120 mV, and 30 mV on a milling machine, dynamic rotor, and four-stroke engine. Additionally, the results contribute to the optimization of vibration energy harvesting parameters, facilitating the maximization of energy extraction in diverse applications.

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.

Topological elastic wave transport and manipulation in three-dimensional metamaterials stacked with sandwich plates

Topological metamaterials demonstrate unprecedented wave manipulation abilities with topologically protected robustness, which have been extensively investigated in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) mechanical systems, but less explored in three-dimensional (3D) systems. In this study, a 3D topological mechanical metamaterial with periodically stacked sandwich metamaterial plates is proposed to achieve 2D topological surface wave transport in a relatively low-frequency range. An innovative chiral compression-torsion coupling core is employed on the sandwich metamaterial plate to lower the band frequency. Analogous to the quantum valley Hall effect, the two-fold topological nodal line is lifted by breaking the spatial inversion symmetry, opening a topological band gap. By supercell analysis, the topological interface state is demonstrated to appear at the interface of two topologically different domains, and the topological boundary state can also be excited under appropriate free or fixed boundary conditions. Taking advantage of the 3D periodicity, the wave propagation based on both topological interface states and boundary states is examined in both 2D flat plates and 3D structures, realizing 1D topological waveguide and 2D topological surface wave transport respectively. It is found that mode symmetry matching is crucial for constructing the topological wave transport with both interface and boundary states. Leveraging the dependence of boundary states on boundary conditions, this work innovatively presents route-switchable and layer-selective wave manipulation by controlling boundary conditions without complicated structure design, enriching the strategies for tunable elastic wave manipulation. Besides, the topologically protected surface wave transport is demonstrated by introducing defects and disorders. These findings provide new insights into the topological transport of elastic waves in 3D mechanical metamaterials and contribute to the development of intelligent and robust devices for various purposes, such as vibration mitigation, energy harvesting, and signal sensing.

Comparative investigation and nonlinear characterization of multi-stable electromagnetic vibration energy harvesters

Comparative investigation and nonlinear characterization of multi-stable electromagnetic vibration energy harvesters

A composite structure device: vibration control and energy harvesting of tool system in aviation thin-walled parts milling process

Abstract The intense vibration generated by the high-speed milling cutter in the processing process not only seriously affects the surface roughness but also may damage important components of the machine tool, resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, a composite structure of piezoelectric energy-collector (PEC) and nonlinear energy sink (NES) is innovatively constructed by combining theoretical research and numerical analysis to achieve more efficient vibration suppression and energy recovery in milling. Using the Hamilton principle, the electromechanical model of the composite structure is developed. Then, based on the Galerkin truncation to discretized displacement functions, we solve the amplitude-frequency response of the tool structure by using the harmonic balance method. The validity analysis of the proposed method can be verified by rigorous comparison with the results of the Runge-Kutta method. A novel NES-PEC composite structure presented in this work shows excellent vibration suppression capability in the milling process. More importantly, the structure also enables self-powered sensing of the tool system, significantly reducing dependence on external power sources. This innovative design substantially improves the stability and reliability of milling processes and opens up new ways to optimize the energy efficiency of tool systems. In summary, this paper’s modeling and solving methods, vibration reduction techniques, and energy harvesting strategies have laid a solid foundation for applying a high-speed milling cutter system. More relevant literature on applying vibration suppression and energy harvesting devices in milling must be reviewed. This paper fills in the research gap and provides a valuable reference for future tool systems design and optimization.

Metaharvesting: emergent energy harvesting by piezoelectric metamaterials

Vibration energy harvesting is a technology that enables electric power generation by augmenting vibrating materials or structures with piezoelectric elements. In a recent work, we quantified the intrinsic energy-harvesting availability (EHA) of a piezoelectric phononic crystal (Piezo-PnC) by calculating its damping ratio across the Brillouin zone and subtracting off the damping ratio of the corresponding non-piezoelectric version of the phononic crystal. It was highlighted that the resulting quantity indicates the amount of useful energy available for harvesting and is independent of the finite structure size and boundary conditions and of any forcing conditions. Here, we investigate the intrinsic EHA of two other material systems chosen to be statically equivalent to a given Piezo-PnC: a piezoelectric locally resonant metamaterial (Piezo-LRM) and a piezoelectric inertially amplified metamaterial (Piezo-IAM). Upon comparing with the intrinsic EHA of the Piezo-PnC, we observe an emergence of energy-harvesting capacity, a phenomenon we refer to as metaharvesting. This is analogous to the concept of metadamping, except the quantity evaluated is associated with piezoelectric energy harvesting rather than raw dissipation. Our results show that the intrinsic EHA is enhanced by local resonances and enhanced further by inertial amplification. These findings offer a new paradigm for the design—at the fundamental level—of architectured piezoelectric materials with superior energy-harvesting capacity.

Design and performance analysis of a vibration energy harvesting magnetorheological damper

Design and performance analysis of a vibration energy harvesting magnetorheological damper

A hybrid triboelectric-piezoelectric-electromagnetic generator with the high output performance for vibration energy harvesting of high-speed railway vehicles

With the rapid development of intelligent high-speed train, people's travel becomes more convenient, time-saving and comfortable. However, the increase in the number of equipped electronic facilities also brings more power consumption. While the ultra-high voltage drive power system cannot directly drive its numerous devices and the vibrational energy of high-speed trains is completely abandoned. Herein, a hybrid triboelectric-piezoelectric-electromagnetic generator (HTG) is proposed to drive the signal and sensing devices of high-speed train by in-situ harvesting the corresponding vibration energy. Compared with commercial polyformaldehyde film, the output power of triboelectric nanogenerator with the polyformaldehyde nanofiber film prepared by electrospinning technology is improved by 130 times. Furthermore, thanks to the high space utilization and output performance, the HTG has achieved a power-density of the order of kW/m3, which is an improvement of 1–3 orders of magnitude compared to previous research work on vibration energy collection. Importantly, the self-powered wireless motion monitoring system based on HTG can realize real-time monitoring and transmission of motion information such as speed, frequency and displacement. This finding not only gives an important way to efficiently harvest vibration energy, but also provides new ideas for the design of more economical, comfortable and intelligent high-speed trains.

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.

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

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.