A DISPLACEMENT

DEPENDENT DAMPER FOR A

VIBRATION BASED ENERGY
HARVESTER
Asil A. Aksekili
Yeditepe University
19 December 2012, Atasehir- Istanbul

Outline

What is energy harvesting?

Conventional energy harvesters and problem definition

Proposed system: Nonlinear damping

Simulations

Results and discussion

Experimental Study

Conclusions
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Energy Harvesting
Definition: Energy harvesting is the process to convert ambient energy source
into electrical energy

Usage Areas

Wireless sensors
Structural health monitoring
Biomechanic applications
Etc..

Ambient Energy Sources

Solar
Wind
Thermal
Vibrational
Etc..

Vibration Energy Harvesting

Uses vibration as ambient energy source

Practically advantageous when solar energy is not available

Vibration Energy Harvesting

Linear Model

Challenges in design stage

Variable frequency and amplitude characteristics of the

ambient source [Y0 ]
Small dimensions restricts the movement of the proof mass
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Nonlinear Springs
Hardening mechanism

Bistable mechanism

[1]

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[1] M. Ferrari, Improved energy harvesting from wideband vibrations by nonlinear piezoelectric converters, Sensors and Actuators A 162: 425-431 (2010)

Nonlinear Springs
Hardening mechanism [2]

Works with relatively slow

frequencies
Requires proper frequency
range

Bistable mechanism [2]

The level of vibration should

be above the threshold value
of the designed mechanism

[1]

[1] M. Ferrari, Improved energy harvesting from wideband vibrations by nonlinear piezoelectric converters, Sensors and Actuators A 162: 425-431 (2010)
[2] L. Tang, Y. Yang and C. K. Soh, Toward Broadband Vibration-based Energy Harvesting, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures 21: pp. 1867 (2010)

Nonlinear Damping
Proposed System

Bounda
ry

Increase damping of the system as the

proof mass approaches to the
boundaries and keep it minimum while
the proof mass passes through the mid
point of its travel span

Goals

Bounda
ry

Increase average velocity of the proof

mass
Prevent collision with boundaries
Increase the optimum working
frequency and amplitude region of the
device

Increase Efficiency
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Nonlinear Damping
Linear Model

Nonlinear Model

n: nonlinearity term

Linear damping

Non-linear damping

Non-linear
damping
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Simulations

Simulations are made for n=0 linear damping case and n=1,n=2
nonlinear damping cases

Parameter

Value

m[kg]

0.02

[rad/s]

7.75155

k[N/m]
Zl[m]

120
0.01

Y0[m]
Dn

0.010.1
?

How to determine Dn

Dn is optimized for each data point

(i.e. / n and Zl / Y0 value)
based on the following algorithm.

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Simulations

For each data point

Dn is optimized for maximizing the harvested

power.
It is checked whether the proof mass collides
with the boundaries or not.
If there is collision, Dn is increased (reoptimized)
until the collision is prevented

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Simulations

Calculation flow

Optimize Dn

Solve differential equation numerically by using MATLAB ODE45

Find equivalent power

Find normalized power

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Results and Discussion

= 50 rad/s

z(t) (mm)

Time (s)
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Results and discussion

Normalized power for n = 0

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Results and discussion

Normalized power for n = 1

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Results and discussion

Normalized power for n = 2

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Results and Discussion

Percentage Differences in Normalized Power

[( Pnormalized (n 1) Pnormalized (n 0)) / Pnormalized (n 0)] *100

N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili and B. Yegin, 2011, A Displacement Dependent Damper For A Vibration Based Energy Harvester, SET 11, 10th International Conference on
Sustainable Energy Technologies, Sep. 4-7, 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili and B. Yegin, 2011, An Optimized Damping Model for Vibration Based Energy Harvesters with Constrained Proof Mass Motion, IWPMA 2011
17
and the 6th Annual Energy Harvesting Workshop, Aug. 7-11, 2011, Roanoke, VA, USA.
N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili, An Optimized Damping Model for Vibration Based Energy Harvesters with Constrained Proof Mass Motion", Journal of Intellegent Material
Systems and Structures (Submited).

Results and Discussion

Percentage Differences in Normalized Power

[( Pnormalized (n 2) Pnormalized (n 0)) / Pnormalized (n 0)] *100

N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili and B. Yegin, 2011, A Displacement Dependent Damper For A Vibration Based Energy Harvester, SET 11, 10th International Conference on
Sustainable Energy Technologies, Sep. 4-7, 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili and B. Yegin, 2011, An Optimized Damping Model for Vibration Based Energy Harvesters with Constrained Proof Mass Motion, IWPMA 2011
18
and the 6th Annual Energy Harvesting Workshop, Aug. 7-11, 2011, Roanoke, VA, USA.
N. Topaloglu, A. A. Aksekili, An Optimized Damping Model for Vibration Based Energy Harvesters with Constrained Proof Mass Motion", Journal of Intellegent Material
Systems and Structures (Submited).

Results and Discussion

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Results and Discussion

Comparison of numeric results with analytical model (Harmonic Balance Method)

n

mz kz Dn z z my

Nonlinear Equation:

Assumptions:

y (t ) Y0 cos(t )

Harmonic motion

z (t ) A cos(t ) B sin(t )

2-term analytical solution

z (t ) A cos(t ) B sin(t ) C cos(3t ) D sin(3t )

4-term analytical solution

Results
for n=2

Max Difference (%)

Average Difference (%)

2-term Assumption

9.82

4.11

4-term Assumption

4.99

1.65

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Experimental Study

Harvester design

Coils
Symmetry Axis

Magnets

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Experimental Study

Cross section of the harvester

Spring Holders

Coils
Symmetry Axis

Magnets

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Experimental Study

Computer

Controller

Oscilloscope

Shaker

HARVESTER

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Experimental Study
Pulley
Magnets

Coils

Servo

AIM: Determinig damping on the proof mass (magnet) as a function of coil turn
numbers.
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Conclusion

Nonlinear damping system is proposed as an alternative to the

current solutions for vibration based energy harvesters.

The linear and nonlinear systems are simulated and results are
compared for a given dataset values.

It is found that the efficiency of the system can be improved by

adopting nonlinear damping however, the performance increase
depends on the design parameters.

Nonlinear dampers can be a potential for energy harvesters.

Finishing up the experimental validation of the theory. (ongoing)

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Thank you for listening

Asil A. Aksekili
asil.aksekili@yeditepe.edu.tr

Yeditepe University, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Istanbul, Dec. 2012

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