Electromagnetic Vibration-Energy Harvesters

本研究的目的是探索提高能量转换效率的创新方法，并解决限制电磁转导用于收集振动能量的广泛使用的问题。具体研究了通过巧妙的设计和制造技术提高转换效率的方法，利用包括永磁体和低阻线圈的微加工工艺在内的宏观和微观制造技术实现高能量转换思想，并展示了具有前所未有的转换效率和功率水平的低成本能量采集器。其智力优势在于基于磁体和线圈阵列的新型电磁能量转换原理，磁体阵列与线圈阵列在响应振动输入时平行运动。新的转换原理，在65赫兹的0.66毫米振幅下产生270兆瓦的功率（96欧姆负载），收割机占地26毫升，重90克。如此大的功率是前所未有的，这项研究具有变革性，因为它使手持式收割机能够产生1100瓦的亚毫米振动振幅，以及能够产生1100兆瓦的微制造同类产品。更广泛的影响是收集无处不在的振动能量作为替代能源手段和电子或机电系统的微电源（不需要电池）。来自代表性不足群体的学生，包括当地市中心的高中学生，将有机会参与拟议的研究。此外，当地市中心的高中将提供可工作的能量采集器，高中生可以在他们的科学实验室里进行实验。

The objective of this research is to explore innovative ways to increase the energy conversion efficiency and address the issues limiting wide-spread usage of electromagnetic transduction for harvesting vibration energy. Specifically studied are the methods to increase the conversion efficiency through ingenious designs and fabrication techniques, implement high-energy-conversion ideas with macro- and micro-fabrication technologies including microfabrication processes for permanent magnets and low resistive coils, and demonstrate low-cost energy harvesters with unprecedented conversion efficiency and power level. The intellectual merit is in the new electromagnetic energy-conversion principle based on arrays of magnets and coils with a magnet array moving in parallel with a coil array in response to vibration input. The new conversion principle has resulted in 270 mW power (into 96 ohm load) out of 0.66 mm vibration amplitude at 65 Hz with a harvester occupying 26 cc and weighing 90 gram. Such a large power is unprecedented, and this research is transformative as it enables hand-held harvesters to be capable of generating 1 100 W out of sub-millimeter vibration amplitude as well as microfabricated counterparts capable of 1 1,000 mW.The broader impacts are on harvesting ubiquitous vibration energy for alternative energy means and micropower source for electronic or electromechanical systems (removing the need of battery). Students from underrepresented groups including local inner-city high school students will be given opportunities to work on the proposed research. Moreover, local inner-city high schools will be offered working energy harvesters with which the high school students can experiment in their science labs.