Hybrid energy harvesting system under the electromagnetic induced vibrations with non-rigid ground connection

Abstract

A hybrid energy harvesting system has been presented in this study by vibrating a beam element with an electromagnetic actuator. With the structure proposed in this article, two different types of energy harvesting concepts were provided with the piezoelectric patch attached to the fixed end of the cantilever beam and the electromagnetic device connected to the free end of the cantilever beam. Generally, in electromagnetic energy harvesting systems, the electromagnetic device is fixed from one end to the ground. The effects of vibration of this fixed surface on energy harvest are being neglected. Electromagnetic devices that provide energy harvesting and vibrate the beam element are of identical structure in the proposed hybrid system. Both devices are mounted at the same point of the beam to face each other. While one of these electromagnetic devices is fixed onto the ground, the other one is assembled to the main beam with a secondary parallel beam element. Therefore, the electromagnetic device that harvests energy or vibrates the beam element can be changed so that it can be either on the lower or upper side of the main beam element. With this designed structure, the behavior of electromagnetic energy harvesting elements and vibration actuators placed on the non-rigid ground has been investigated. Unlike conventional energy harvesting methods, the concept of displacement transmissibility has been discussed in this study. Experimental studies have performed the dynamic conditions to obtain optimum energy harvest in the proposed harvesting system for different frequency inputs. Experimental results revealed the effect of vibrations originating from the non-rigid ground on energy harvesting. It has been observed that the electromagnetic energy harvesting device connected to the non-rigid ground increases the amount of energy collected.