Impulsive energy conversion with magnetically coupled nonlinear energy harvesting systems

Abstract

Magnets have received broad attention for vibration energy harvesting due to noncontact, nonlinear forces that may be leveraged among harvesting system elements. Yet, opportunities to integrate multi-directional coupling among a nonlinear energy harvesting system subjected to impulsive excitations have not been scrutinized, despite widespread prevalence of such excitations. To characterize these potentials, this research investigates an energy harvesting system with magnetically induced nonlinearities and coupling effects under impulsive excitations. A system model is formulated and validated with experimental efforts to reconstruct static and dynamic properties of the system via simulations. Then, the model is harnessed to scrutinize dynamic response of the system when subjected to impulse conditions. This research reveals the clear impulse strength dependence and influence of asymmetries on total electrical energy capture and energy conversion efficiency that are tailored by magnetic force coupling. Asymmetry is found to promote greater impulse-to-electrical energy conversion when compared to the symmetric counterpart system and a benchmark nonlinear energy harvester. The roles of initial conditions exemplify how stored energy in an asymmetric energy harvesting system may be released during nonlinear impulsive response. These results provide insights about opportunities and challenges to incorporate magnetic coupling effects in nonlinear energy harvesting systems subjected to impulses.