Experimental Study on Magnetic Coupling Piezoelectric-Electromagnetic Composite Galloping Energy Harvester

Area of Science:

• Energy Harvesting
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Continuous energy supply is crucial for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and low-power microcomputers.
• Traditional energy harvesters often face limitations in efficiency and power output.
• Galloping energy harvesting offers a promising avenue for continuous power generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and analyze a magnetic coupling piezoelectric-electromagnetic composite galloping energy harvester (MPEGEH).
• To investigate the nonlinear characteristics and output performance of the MPEGEH.
• To compare the MPEGEH with a classic galloping piezoelectric energy harvester (CGPEH).

Main Methods:

• Development of a prototype MPEGEH integrating piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) and electromagnetic energy harvester (EEH) components.
• Magnetic coupling via a bistable nonlinear structure to enhance performance.
• Experimental analysis of nonlinear output characteristics under varying load resistances and key parameter variations (magnet distances d0 and s0).

Main Results:

• The MPEGEH demonstrates superior onset wind velocity and output power compared to the CGPEH.
• Increased coupling degree enhances nonlinear characteristics and output performance.
• Optimal magnet spacing (d0=37mm for EEH, s0=23mm for EEH) maximizes output power, with a 28% reduction in onset wind velocity and a 136% increase in output power at 11 m/s wind speed compared to CGPEH.

Conclusions:

• The MPEGEH effectively addresses the demand for continuous energy supply in low-power applications.
• The nonlinear magnetic coupling design significantly improves energy harvesting efficiency.
• The MPEGEH presents a viable alternative to existing energy harvesting technologies, offering enhanced performance.