Magnetostrictive Energy Converter via Nondestructive Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices that utilize magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials for energy conversion often require immediate, co-located physical contact, leading to simultaneous vibration timing, which limits energy transfer efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a ferromagnetic material with magnetostrictive and/or magnetoelastic characteristics, incorporating an electromagnetic coupling element and an exciter to induce acoustic waves, allowing for efficient energy transfer and generation of electrical power through resonant frequency matching and phase manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials are placed in immediate co-located physical contact for energy conversion, then the device structure is simplified, but the vibration timing becomes simultaneous which limits energy transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the energy conversion process into separate spatial and temporal segments. The magnetostrictive material and piezoelectric material are not in immediate contact but are coupled through magnetic field interaction. The magnetostrictive material converts acoustic energy to magnetic energy first, then the magnetic energy is transferred to the piezoelectric material, creating distinct conversion stages that improve energy transfer efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic field interaction as an intermediary mechanism between the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials. Instead of direct physical contact, the magnetostrictive material generates magnetic flux changes that couple with the piezoelectric material, allowing energy transfer without simultaneous vibration timing constraints. This intermediary magnetic coupling resolves the contradiction by enabling efficient energy transfer through a mediating physical field.
2Reliability
If magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials vibrate simultaneously in co-located contact, then the timing is synchronized, but the energy transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acoustic excitation at resonant frequencies of the magnetostrictive material to generate periodic magnetic flux variations. This periodic action creates controlled, synchronized vibration timing while maintaining high energy transfer efficiency through resonant coupling. The periodic nature of the acoustic excitation ensures reliable timing synchronization without the energy losses associated with forced simultaneous vibration of directly contacted materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using magnetic field coupling instead of direct mechanical contact, and by operating at resonant frequencies. These parameter changes enable the system to achieve both vibration timing synchronization and high energy transfer efficiency simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliability of timing and energy transfer efficiency.
3Force
If direct physical contact is used between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials, then the coupling is strong, but the vibration timing must be simultaneous which reduces flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical direct-contact coupling system with a magnetic field-based coupling system. The magnetostrictive material converts acoustic vibrations to magnetic flux changes, which then couple with the piezoelectric material through magnetic interaction rather than mechanical contact. This substitution maintains strong coupling strength through magnetic field intensity while providing flexibility in vibration timing, as the magnetic coupling does not require simultaneous mechanical vibration of both materials.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing magnetic field interaction as an intermediary, the patent decouples the strict timing requirements of direct mechanical contact while maintaining strong coupling. The magnetic field serves as a flexible mediator that can transfer energy between the two materials without requiring them to vibrate simultaneously, thus providing both strong coupling and timing flexibility.
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 solution enables highly efficient energy transfer and generation by leveraging resonant frequencies and phase shifts to enhance electrical power output, overcoming limitations of prior art by allowing for non-simultaneous vibration timing and increased energy density.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetostriction is defined as a ferromagnetic material's ability to produce mechanical stress and strain causing changes in shape or volume, in a manner that corresponds to the magnetic polarization of the ferromagnetic material. When a magnetostrictive material carries alternating magnetic flux, its internal stresses and physical dimensions vary corresponding to the magnetic field.
Implementation Method 2
Magnetoelasticity is defined as the sensitivity of a ferromagnetic material's magnetic characteristics to mechanical stress. Stress exerted on the ferromagnetic material produces a corresponding mechanical strain within the material. When a magnetoelastic material is subjected to alternating mechanical pressures, an alternation of its magnetic properties is correspondingly produced.
Implementation Method 3
A changing magnetic flux is able to induce electrical signals and power by the mechanism of electromagnetic induction.
Implementation Method 4
Piezoelectric materials are generally well known as materials able to convert electrical energy to acoustic energy.
Implementation Method 5
having a natural resonance, due to a physical structure whose dimensions are directly proportional to the wavelength of the resonance frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A ferromagnetic material having non-zero magnetoelasticity, and/or nonzero magnetostriction is driven with vibratory mechanical energy at a frequency producing at least one resonant vibratory mode, by coupling a source of vibratory energy to the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic material threads at least one conductive wire or wire coil, and couples to at least one source of magnetic induction, and provides an electrical power output driven by the magnetic induction. The origin of vibratory energy and the site or sites of magnetic induction are situated at distinct locations, separated by a specific distance not less than ⅛ the fundamental acoustic wavelength. Various combinations of acoustic wavelength, ferromagnetic material type, and source of vibration produce independent transfer coefficients between acoustic and electromagnetic energy which are either positive, zero, or negative.