Self-Detachable Through-Metal Acoustic Wireless Power Transfer

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Electromagnetic waves are shielded by metal structures, limiting wireless power transfer.
• Acoustic vibrations offer a potential alternative for power transfer through metals.
• Existing acoustic power transfer methods often require couplants or permanent bonding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel self-detachable acoustic wireless power transfer system.
• To enable power transfer through the thickness of a steel plate without couplants.
• To investigate the use of electro-permanent-magnets (EPMs) for detachable transducer coupling.

Main Methods:

• Designed a system with a transmitter transducer on one side of a steel plate and a receiver transducer on the other.
• Utilized EPMs to apply adjustable clamping force around the receiver transducer for enhanced coupling.
• Investigated the system's performance with varying steel plate thicknesses and clamping forces.
• Developed a finite element model to analyze vibration mode shapes.

Main Results:

• Achieved a maximum power transfer efficiency of 63%.
• Demonstrated successful power transfer through steel plates without the need for couplants.
• Showcased the ability to electronically switch the EPM clamping force ON/OFF for detachable coupling.
• Investigated the influence of steel plate thickness and clamping force on efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a viable solution for wireless power transfer through metal structures.
• The self-detachable nature of the receiver, enabled by EPMs, simplifies applications in harsh environments.
• This technology holds promise for charging devices like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other consumer electronics.