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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

A Polymer-based Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester with a 3D Meshed-Core Structure
Published on: February 20, 2019
Efficient harmonic oscillator chain energy harvester driven by colored noise
M Romero-Bastida1, Juan M López2
1SEPI ESIME-Culhuacán, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Avenida Santa Ana 1000, Colonia San Francisco Culhuacán, Delegación Coyoacan, 04430, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
An electromechanical harmonic oscillator chain significantly enhances energy harvesting from random vibrations compared to single oscillators. This novel approach boosts both generated electrical power and conversion efficiency, offering a more effective solution for ambient energy capture.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Ambient vibrations are a potential source of renewable energy.
- Traditional single-oscillator energy harvesters have limitations in performance.
- Extracting power from finite-bandwidth random vibrations (colored noise) is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of an electromechanical harmonic oscillator chain as an energy harvester.
- To compare the energy harvesting capabilities of the harmonic chain with a single oscillator resonator.
- To analyze the efficiency of converting ambient vibrational power into electrical power.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulation of an electromechanical harmonic oscillator chain.
- Modeling ambient random vibrations using colored noise.
- Assessment of net electrical power generated and conversion efficiency.
Main Results:
- The harmonic oscillator chain demonstrates significantly enhanced performance over a single oscillator.
- Higher net electrical power is delivered by the harmonic chain.
- Improved efficiency in converting supplied noise power to electrical power was observed.
Conclusions:
- Electromechanical harmonic oscillator chains offer superior energy harvesting capabilities compared to single oscillators.
- The enhanced performance is attributed to the collective behavior of the oscillator chain.
- Analytical approximations validate the numerical findings, confirming the device's effectiveness.
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