Energy Harvester Based on an Eccentric Pendulum and Wiegand Wires

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Energy Harvesting

Background:

• Sensors on rotating machinery require dedicated power sources.
• Traditional power transmission methods for rotating components can be complex and unreliable.
• Harvesting kinetic energy offers a self-powered solution for such applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an energy harvester for rotating plates.
• To convert kinetic energy into usable electrical energy for sensors.
• To optimize the harvester's design for maximum power output.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of a kinetic model using the Euler-Lagrange equation.
• Design of a magnetic circuit to induce voltage in Wiegand wires via pendulum motion.
• Simulation using COMSOL software for magnetic flux density analysis and parameter optimization.
• Formulation of an output voltage model using response surface methodology.

Main Results:

• Magnetic flux density significantly impacts output voltage; gradient has minimal effect.
• Optimized design achieved 0.118-1.15 mW power generation at 240-540 rpm (14.2 mm distance).
• Higher speeds (480-660 rpm) yielded 0.741-1.06 mW power generation (7.0 mm distance).

Conclusions:

• The proposed eccentric pendulum and Wiegand wire energy harvester effectively converts kinetic energy to electrical power.
• Design optimization, particularly magnetic flux density, is crucial for efficient energy harvesting.
• The system demonstrates potential for self-powering sensors on rotating platforms.