Coupled-Beam Energy Harvester for Low-Frequency Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration energy harvesting and damping technologies suffer from low efficiency at low frequencies, narrow operational bandwidths, limited scalability, and inability to adapt to diverse excitation sources, while conventional vibration control methods fail to recover useful energy and are not adaptable to variable or multi-modal excitation.
Innovation Solution
A coupled-beam energy harvesting damper (CBEHD) that integrates energy conversion and damping functions, featuring modular, tunable, and scalable design with adjustable structural parameters to operate across multiple frequency bands and diverse environments, using coil-bearing and magnet-bearing beams with optional components like coupling springs and tuning masses to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional vibration control technologies (tuned mass dampers, viscoelastic layers, passive spring-damper systems) are used, then vibration suppression is achieved, but useful energy cannot be recovered and the frequency response is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vibration suppression and energy harvesting functions into a single integrated device. The electromagnetic transducer converts mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy while simultaneously providing damping force, eliminating the need for separate energy recovery and vibration control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions concurrently: it acts as both a vibration damper and an energy harvester. The same electromagnetic transducer that provides damping force also generates electrical power from the vibrational motion, making the system versatile for applications requiring both vibration control and power generation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid geometries are used in existing energy harvesters, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to diverse excitation sources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible beams instead of rigid geometries, allowing the structure to adapt dynamically to diverse excitation sources. The flexible beams can deform and respond to various vibration patterns from wind, waves, or machinery, enhancing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible beam parameters (such as length, width, thickness, and material properties) can be adjusted to optimize performance for different excitation frequencies and amplitudes. This parameter tunability allows the device to adapt to diverse operating conditions without requiring complete redesign.
3Productivity
If electromagnetic, piezoelectric, or electrostatic harvesters are used, then energy conversion is achieved, but efficiency at low frequencies is low and operational bandwidth is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible beams are designed to resonate at specific frequencies, amplifying the mechanical vibration response and thereby enhancing energy conversion efficiency. By tuning the natural frequencies of the flexible beams, the device can effectively harvest energy across a broader bandwidth including low-frequency excitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts key parameters such as beam dimensions, material properties, and transducer characteristics to optimize energy conversion across different frequency ranges. These parameter modifications enable the device to maintain high efficiency at low frequencies while extending the operational bandwidth.
4Ease of operation
If conventional vibration control systems are deployed, then vibration suppression is achieved, but scalability to large-scale deployments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device can be deployed as multiple independent units distributed across large-scale structures such as bridges or buildings. Each unit operates autonomously, providing local vibration suppression and energy harvesting, while collectively contributing to the overall structural performance and power generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-function design enables the same device to be scaled from small-scale applications to large-scale deployments. The modular nature of the flexible beam and electromagnetic transducer assembly allows easy replication and adaptation to structures of varying sizes and configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The CBEHD efficiently converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and suppresses vibrations across a broad frequency spectrum, enabling scalable and adaptable energy harvesting and damping for various applications, including buildings, bridges, and offshore platforms.
Implementation Method 1
relative displacement between the coil-bearing and magnet-bearing beams induces an electromotive force (EMF) in the coils
Data Source
AI summary
A coupled-beam energy harvesting damper (CBEHD) is disclosed. The device includes a support structure, at least one coil-bearing beam, and at least two magnet-bearing beams positioned adjacent the coil-bearing beam. One or more coils wound on a coil spool are secured along the coil-bearing beam, and at least one magnet assembly—including a permanent magnet within a housing pipe—spans between adjacent magnet-bearing beams and passes through a bore of at least one coil spool. Relative motion between the beams under external excitation induces an electromotive force (EMF) in the coils, thereby converting vibrational energy into electrical power. The CBEHD may operate as an energy harvester, a vibration damper, or both. Arrays or containerized systems of CBEHDs provide scalable, multi-directional deployment across structural and fluid-interactive environments.