Electromagnetic Generator With Vibratable Mounts For Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic generators for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy have limitations in efficiency, particularly in powering intelligent sensor systems in inaccessible areas where wiring is impractical.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic generator design featuring two magnets and a coil with a resonating structure, where the coil is mounted between the magnets, allowing for relative movement to generate electrical current, and utilizing rare earth magnets for enhanced flux density, along with a common mount for all components to simplify installation and increase efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a spring-mass combination is attached to a magnet or coil in a conventional electromagnetic generator, then the device can convert mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, but the conversion efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate vibratable mounts for the magnets and coil, allowing independent optimization of each component's vibration characteristics. This segmentation enables resonance tuning to maximize conversion efficiency without requiring complex coupled spring-mass structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the system by using rare earth magnets to increase flux density and by allowing independent vibration frequency adjustment of the coil and magnet mounts. These parameter changes directly improve energy conversion efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If multiple magnets are used to create a magnetic field through a greater proportion of the coil length, then the electrical power generation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges all magnetic components and the coil onto separate vibratable mounts, combining their functions into integrated vibration-based energy conversion units. This merging simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex stationary core structures while maintaining high power generation efficiency through resonant vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from static magnet-coil arrangements to dynamic vibratable mounts that allow the magnets and coil to move relative to each other during operation. This dynamic approach enables resonance-based energy harvesting, improving productivity while simplifying the structural design compared to static multi-magnet configurations.
3Ease of operation
If a cantilever beam structure is used to mount the mass and magnetic components, then the device can respond to vibrations, but the installation complexity and reduced reliability occur in inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratable mount structure serves multiple functions: it mounts the magnetic components, provides vibration response, enables relative motion for energy conversion, and facilitates installation in various locations. This multi-functionality improves ease of installation while enhancing reliability in inaccessible areas where wiring is impractical.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses the ambient vibrations from its environment as the driving force, requiring no external power source or complex installation infrastructure. The vibratable mounts automatically respond to environmental vibrations, making the system self-sufficient and highly reliable in inaccessible locations where traditional wiring and power delivery would be problematic.
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 design enhances the efficiency of electrical power generation from mechanical vibrations, allowing for effective powering of intelligent sensor systems in challenging environments with reduced installation complexity and increased reliability.
Implementation Method 1
when the system vibrates, a coil cuts through the flux formed by a magnetic core
Implementation Method 2
utilizing rare earth magnets for enhanced flux density
Implementation Method 3
a resonating structure, designated generally as 102, is provided on which a coil 104 is mounted between a pair of opposed magnets 106, 108
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic generator comprising two magnets and a coil disposed therebetween, the two magnets being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the coil is disposed whereby relative movement between the coil and the magnets generates an electrical current in the coil, and a vibratable first mount for each of the magnets and a vibratable second mount for the coil whereby each of the at least two magnets and the coil are respectively vibratable about a respective central position.