Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
2.1
2.6
Journals
Machines
Special Issues
New Advances in Energy Harvesters
share announcement

New Advances in Energy Harvesters

A special issue of Machines (ISSN 2075-1702). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrical Machines and Drives".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 11382

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xutao Mei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
Interests: energy harvesting; data-driven modeling
Dr. Zhihui Lai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Interests: energy harvesting; nonlinear dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniil Yurchenko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Interests: nonlinear and stochastic dynamics of complex mechanical and biological systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to a Special Issue of Machines on the subject of “New Advances in Energy Harvesters”. In recent decades, wireless sensors and wearable devices have been increasingly attractive in applications of the Internet of Things (IoTs). Providing reliable power for these low-powered electronic devices has been becoming a challenging issue as traditional chemical batteries need to be recharged or replaced regularly. Energy harvesting from ambient energy, such as vibration, human motion, wind, and ocean wave, has been proved to be an effective way to provide a sustainable and continuous power supply. The major challenge is the low output power and low energy conversion efficiency for these energy harvesters. This Special issue aims to present state-of-the-art trends, developments of advanced energy harvesters, and their challenges, inspiring further investigations in broading their applications in IoTs. Research in this Special Issue covers fields of the structural designs, methodologies, function materials, power management circuits, and applications of advanced energy harvesters. We welcome review papers and original research papers.

Specific topics of interest for publication include but are not limited to:

  1. Kinetic energy harvesters;
  2. Thermoelectric energy harvesters;
  3. Power management for energy harvesters;
  4. Advanced materials for energy harvesters;
  5. Applications and innovations in energy harvesters;
  6. Self-powered wireless sensor and actuators;
  7. Data-driven models for energy harvester optimization.

Dr. Xutao Mei
Dr. Zhihui Lai
Dr. Daniil Yurchenko
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Machines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 15642 KiB  
Article
Investigative Study of the Effect of Damping and Stiffness Nonlinearities on an Electromagnetic Energy Harvester at Low-Frequency Excitations
by Uchenna Diala, Yunpeng Zhu and Rajintha Gunawardena
Machines 2024, 12(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010030 - 01 Jan 2024
Viewed by 969
Abstract
Ambient vibration energy is widely being harnessed as a source of electrical energy to drive low-power devices. The vibration energy harvester (VEH) of interest employs an electromagnetic transduction mechanism, whereby ambient mechanical vibration is converted to electrical energy. The limitations affecting the performance [...] Read more.
Ambient vibration energy is widely being harnessed as a source of electrical energy to drive low-power devices. The vibration energy harvester (VEH) of interest employs an electromagnetic transduction mechanism, whereby ambient mechanical vibration is converted to electrical energy. The limitations affecting the performance of VEHs, with an electromagnetic transduction structure, include its operational bandwidth as well as the enclosure-size constraint. In this study, an analysis and design of a nonlinear VEH system is conducted using the Output Frequency Response Function (OFRF) representations of the actual system model. However, the OFRF representations are determined from the Generalised Associated Linear Equation (GALE) decompositions of the system of interest. The effect of both nonlinear damping and stiffness characteristics, to, respectively, extend the average power and operational bandwidth of the VEH device, is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 17693 KiB  
Article
PT Symmetry-Based AUV Dual Transmission Coil Wireless Power Transfer System Design
by You Fu, Zhuoqun Shi, Yu Zhu, Kai Lv and Zhouhua Peng
Machines 2023, 11(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines11020146 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are widely used for ocean exploration; however, the way they are replenished becomes the biggest issue limiting their range and efficiency. A dual transmission coil wireless power transfer (DTCWPT) system based on parity–time (PT) symmetry is proposed in this [...] Read more.
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are widely used for ocean exploration; however, the way they are replenished becomes the biggest issue limiting their range and efficiency. A dual transmission coil wireless power transfer (DTCWPT) system based on parity–time (PT) symmetry is proposed in this paper to realize an autoadaptive constant power transmission. A shielded housing structure for coils is equipped to realize WPT in the ocean. In the offset experiments, the proposed dual transmitting coil structure was able to achieve a stable power transmission of 39 W within an offset range of 8.1 cm. It is obvious that the DTCWPT system based on PT symmetry could charge an AUV in the ocean with high robustness. This paper provides a novel solution based on DTCWPT for AUV energy supply. The proposed DTCWPT system could offer remarkable improvements in the navigation performance of AUVs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3394 KiB  
Article
Response Analysis of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Energy Harvester with Bounded Noise Excitation
by Yuanhui Zeng, Yongge Yang, Yahui Sun and Ying Zhang
Machines 2022, 10(12), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines10121108 - 22 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1401
Abstract
Energy harvesting has become a popular topic in recent years. A number of studies have been conducted in the field of vibration energy harvesting system (VEHS). However, few studies have concentrated on viscoelastic energy harvesters driven by bounded noise excitation. In this paper, [...] Read more.
Energy harvesting has become a popular topic in recent years. A number of studies have been conducted in the field of vibration energy harvesting system (VEHS). However, few studies have concentrated on viscoelastic energy harvesters driven by bounded noise excitation. In this paper, the stochastic response of a viscoelastic energy harvester subjected to bounded noise is discussed. Approximate solutions of the system were derived by utilizing the method of multiple scales, and the expressions of the mean square voltage (MSV) and mean output power (MOP) were obtained. The relation between the detuning frequency and first-order steady moment was first revealed. The effectiveness of the approach was verified by a good agreement between theoretical results and numerical results. Furthermore, the variations in the detuning frequency can result in the stochastic jump phenomenon, and stochastic bifurcation is induced with the changes in the viscoelastic parameter and detuning frequency. Finally, the impacts of system parameters on the MSV and the MOP were also analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4424 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Performance of Design Variations of a Thermoacoustic Stirling Engine Combining Laboratory Tests and Model Results
by Carmen Iniesta, José Luis Olazagoitia, Jordi Vinolas and Jaime Gros
Machines 2022, 10(10), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines10100958 - 20 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1611
Abstract
The equations governing energy conversion in traveling wave thermoacoustic machines are affected by their multiphysics nature. Their theoretical study is complicated and, in order to obtain real results, it is necessary to resort to prototypes and experimental tests. This work presents the theoretical–experimental [...] Read more.
The equations governing energy conversion in traveling wave thermoacoustic machines are affected by their multiphysics nature. Their theoretical study is complicated and, in order to obtain real results, it is necessary to resort to prototypes and experimental tests. This work presents the theoretical–experimental study of a thermoacoustic Stirling engine in which, by altering some of its critical parts and analysing the experimental result, it is possible to improve its performance. The methodology used is based on the study and modelling of the active and reactive acoustic power flow for the improvement of the output power of the thermoacoustic engine. The work and analysis are illustrated through the instrumentation of a thermoacoustic Stirling engine with three different feedbacks. The present work presents the experimental results obtained in all cases, including their parameters, experimental data and analysis. The results are compared with the virtual computational models, allowing us to quantify the theoretical/experimental correlation and the performance improvement obtained that allows us to significantly increase the energy provided by the thermoacoustic machine. In conclusion, it is shown that the proposed methodology is a useful design tool that allows using a simplified and practical approach in the study of the power flow of thermoacoustic machines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 12172 KiB  
Article
Horizontal Bi-Stable Vibration Energy Harvesting Using Electromagnetic Induction and Power Generation Efficiency Improvement via Stochastic Resonance
by Linshi Guo, Wei Zhao, Jingchao Guan, Nobuyuki Gomi and Xilu Zhao
Machines 2022, 10(10), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines10100899 - 06 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1442
Abstract
In this study, a vibration energy-harvesting system is developed by first proposing a horizontal bi-stable vibration model comprising an elastic spring and a mass block and then applying an electromagnetic induction power generation device composed of a magnet and a coil. Subsequently, based [...] Read more.
In this study, a vibration energy-harvesting system is developed by first proposing a horizontal bi-stable vibration model comprising an elastic spring and a mass block and then applying an electromagnetic induction power generation device composed of a magnet and a coil. Subsequently, based on a weight function that considers the mutual positional relationship between the magnet and conducting coil, a set of simultaneous governing equations that consider the elastic force of the elastic spring and the Lorentz force of electromagnetic induction is derived. Additionally, a numerical analysis method employing the Runge–Kutta method is utilized to obtain a numerical solution for the vibration response displacement and vibration power generation voltage simultaneously. Experiments are performed to verify the results yielded by the proposed bi-stable vibration energy-harvesting system. The results shows that the measured vibration response displacement and the vibration power generation voltage are consistent with the analytical results. Moreover, issues including the identification of damping coefficients that consider the mutual effects of normal kinetic friction and electromagnetic induction damping forces, as well as the effects of electromagnetic induction damping on the vibration response displacement, are discussed comprehensively. Simultaneously adding random and periodic signals to the bi-stable vibration model results in stochastic resonance and improves both the vibration amplification effect and vibration power generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 8952 KiB  
Article
Design and Characteristic Analysis of Magnetostrictive Vibration Harvester with Double-Stage Rhombus Amplification Mechanism
by Huifang Liu, Hongkai Liu, Xinxin Zhao, An Li and Xingfu Yu
Machines 2022, 10(10), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines10100848 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1716
Abstract
Vibration energy harvesting is a new alternative to lithium battery power for low-power devices, attempting to recover wasted or lost vibration energy to generate electricity. Magnetostrictive-based energy harvesting exploits the coupling properties of the Villari and Faraday electromagnetic induction effects to achieve mechanical–magnetic–electric [...] Read more.
Vibration energy harvesting is a new alternative to lithium battery power for low-power devices, attempting to recover wasted or lost vibration energy to generate electricity. Magnetostrictive-based energy harvesting exploits the coupling properties of the Villari and Faraday electromagnetic induction effects to achieve mechanical–magnetic–electric energy conversion. In order to better apply to the actual vibration environment, such as buses, and improve the ability to capture low-frequency vibration energy, a double-stage rhombus vibration energy harvesting device, based on Terfenol-D rods, was developed. By establishing an analytical model of the force amplification ratio of the harvesting device, the design is optimized using the Single-Objective Genetic Algorithm, and the safety and pre-magnetization layout methods are analyzed by Finite Element Analysis. The output characteristics of the prototype, including the output voltage frequency response under low-frequency regular excitation and random excitation, the effect of external resistance, and the vibration energy capture performance under random excitation, are investigated in detail through experiments. The results of the experiments showed that the peak output power of the fabricated prototype was 1.056 mW at 30 Hz operating frequency, the energy harvesting capability reached 41.4 μW/N, and the peak open circuit voltage and output power were 2.92 V and 266 mW, respectively, under random excitation. Practical application test results showed that the peak voltage generated was 1.06–1.51 V when the excitation level was 2.2–4.9 m/s2. The comparative study indicates that the output performance of the proposed double-stage rhombus magnetostrictive vibration energy harvesting system is a great improvement over the proposals of existing literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6871 KiB  
Article
Energy Harvesting Performance of a Novel Nonlinear Quad-Stable Piezoelectric Energy Harvester with Only One External Magnet
by Shuailing Sun, Yonggang Leng, Sunghoon Hur, Fei Sun, Xukun Su, Hyun-Cheol Song and Chong-Yun Kang
Machines 2022, 10(9), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines10090803 - 11 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1882
Abstract
Nonlinear multi-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters show broadband frequency spectra and excellent energy harvesting performance, owing to their high output power related to inter-well transitions. However, existing quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters contain too many structural parameters, which makes the systems clumsy, and increases the [...] Read more.
Nonlinear multi-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters show broadband frequency spectra and excellent energy harvesting performance, owing to their high output power related to inter-well transitions. However, existing quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters contain too many structural parameters, which makes the systems clumsy, and increases the difficulties of dynamic analysis and structural optimization. Herein, a nonlinear quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvester, with only one external magnet, is proposed based on the magnetic force characteristics between a ring magnet and a rectangular magnet. Under selected structural parameters, as the magnet spacing increases, the stability characteristic of the harvester changes from quad-stability to bi-stability, and then to mono-stability. The transformation of the stability characteristic results from the changes in the variation rate of the vertical magnetic force. Subsequently, under the filtered Gaussian white noise within the frequency range of 0–120 Hz, the energy harvesting performance of the harvester is simulated by the classic fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Simulation results show that the performance of the harvester under the quad-stable structural parameters is better than that under the bi-stable structural parameters, independent of whether the excitation acceleration is small or large. This result is related to the potential well characteristics under the quad-stable and bi-stable structural parameters. More specifically, the potential well depths under the quad-stable and bi-stable structural parameters are almost the same, but the distance between the two outer potential wells under the quad-stable structural parameters is larger than that under the bi-stable structural parameters. Finally, a fabricated prototype is used to measure the experimental performance of the harvester. The experimental data and the estimated data share the same trend. This study provides a new conception and technical method for the design, optimization, and application of quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Energy Harvesters)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop