Affiliations: State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Renwen Chen, State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 29 Yudao Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210016, China. Tel.: +86 25 84893466; Fax: +86 25 84892294; E-mail:rwchen@nuaa.edu.cn
Abstract: To scavenge vibration energy from industrial application
environments and supply power to wireless sensor networks, this paper
proposes an electromagnetic vibration energy harvester (VEH) using an
optimized transducer. The VEH consists of a planar spring, an axially
magnetized magnet assembly, a coil assembly and an outer casing. An
analytical model is proposed to analyze and optimize the electromagnetic
transducer and improve its energy harvesting performance. Finite element
analysis is then used to verify the model. An optimized prototype is
manufactured and fabricated, and finally tested by experiment. The
experimental results indicate that an open-circuit voltage of 2.2 V can be
achieved when the VEH is excited by the vibration with a resonant frequency
of 22.4 Hz and an acceleration amplitude of 100 mg. When the optimal resistor
of 200 Ω is connected to the coil assembly, its maximum load power of
0.29 mW can be achieved, which can meet the needs of many industrial sensors
as well as wireless communication modules and guarantee their intermittent
work at least.
Keywords: Vibration energy harvester, electromagnetic, optimization, finite element analysis
