Session: 17-08-01: Posters Related to Energy

Paper Number: 96938

96938 - A Noncontact Magneto-Piezo Harvester-Based Vehicle Regenerative Suspension System: An Experimental Study 

The global population has risen significantly over the past few decades, and every individual now seeks adequate power to meet their need. Consequently, energy demand continues to increase. As fossil fuel resources are depleted, and climate change continues to worsen, it is imperative that there is a transition to alternative energy resources. A variety of energy harvesting technologies have been studied recently, from using piezoelectric technology to capture energy from running shoes to harnessing vibrations from large infrastructures such as bridges. In this study, we present an innovative energy harvester that utilizes magnetic and piezoelectric materials using noncontact rings that prevent frictional power loss. The energy harvester is built for applications that have rotating mechanisms to capture energy from ambient sources such as wind, oceans, and vibrations and convert it to electrical power. This study investigates the prospect of using piezoelectric transducers, which are set to replace the traditional generator used commonly in the regenerative shock absorber, for potential energy harvesting. To fulfill this aim, we propose a shock absorber that is supplemented with a novel magnetically coupled piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (MPVEH) for power generation. The harvester is designed with two noncontact rings to assure no power loss due to friction. It is also built to suit applications that have a rotational mechanism, which in our case is to convert the vibration energy of a travelling vehicle into electricity. With respect to energy conversion technologies, the power density harvested from the piezoelectric transducer is about three times higher than that of the electromagnetic generator. Hence, the proposed scavenger addresses the existing limitation associated with the electromagnetic transducers, such as low power density. The energy scavenger elements are made up of a pair of concentric rings. Four rectangular permanent magnetic plates are symmetrically attached to the inner surface of the stator ring, which is fixed to the endcap of the lower cylinder. Between the outer ring and the magnetic plates are piezoelectric patches, piezoelectric benders are embedded between the stator ring and the magnetic plates. A 3D print round plate is placed between the magnetic and the piezoelectric bender as a coupler. There are also magnetic plates attached symmetrically on the external surface of the rotator ring fixed to the long shaft, to create periodic compression due to the repelling magnetic force acting on the piezoelectric benders, which produce charges that can be extracted. This is accomplished by fabricating a prototype and building the experimental platform to demonstrate the advantages of the current design and determine its properties. In this study, we present an analysis of the parameters that influence energy output, such as road roughness and ring spacing. The experimental work conducted shows that the power harvested is up to 1 Milliwatt for a ring harvester diameter of 75 mm, and a rectangular magnetic plate with 768 mm3  of volume, and rings are spaced by 3 mm.

Presenting Author: Rasim Guldiken University of South Florida

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Guldiken is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Engineering of the University of South Florida and he is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department in the same College.

Authors:

Saleh Alhumaid University of South Florida
Daniel Hess University of South Florida
Rasim Guldiken University of South Florida