Vibration Energy Harvester (VEH) for a Free Body Moving in Space at Vibro Shock Mode

Abstract

The type of the generator was chosen to be piezoelectric because it is most widely used to capture the energy of mechanical vibrations and convert it into electricity. A 2D generator model was chosen for the analysis of the dynamics of the energy harvester (VEH) for a free body moving in space at vibro shock mode. The computational schemes of the model are presented. A mathematical model describing the dynamics is developed: generator casing, inertial mass, nonlinear contact/impact. The mathematical model is implemented by the Runge-Kutta numerical method in the Matlab system. Analysis of experimental and modeling results is performed: comparison of generator eigen frequencies, the logarithmic decrement and the damping coefficient – the error is in range of 5%. This generator can be used to collect mechanical energy of water waves, wind, human movements, and other environmental factors in the presence of the body's free movement trajectory in space.