A Simulation Study of an Energy Harvester Operating on a Vertical Rotor System

Abstract

The paper presents a novel magnetic coupled piezoelectric energy harvester for supplying an on-rotor sensing (ORS) IoT device. It operates based on a rotating piezoelectric beam and a fixed permanent magnet placed remotely. When the free end of the beam rotates passing through the magnet fixed on stators, an impulsive magnetic force will excite the beam to vibrate and produce electricity. A lumped electromechanical model is calibrated by fixed beam tests and subsequently used to competently evaluate the basic configuration and performance of the harvester. Simulations has verified that the harvester can performs outstandingly not only in the resonance frequency band of the beam but also the frequency range lower than half of the resonance frequency, thanks to the impulsive excitations produced by the when the beam tip passing the fixed magnet. Simulation studies also shows that this harvester can operates for both horizontal and vertical rotor systems.