Pendulum Energy Harvester for Vibrating Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy harvesters are not capable of withstanding high accelerations and have limited operating bandwidth, making them unsuitable for converting vibrational motion of vibrating equipment like screens into electrical energy efficiently, and they require vulnerable cabling for power supply.
Innovation Solution
An energy harvester with a pendulum having a natural frequency independent of the vibrating equipment's frequency, combined with a motion limiter and a generator, which converts pivoting motion into electrical energy, allowing wireless operation and power supply to sensors, eliminating the need for cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard sensors are connected to the data acquisition system with a cable containing typically 4 cores, then the sensors can measure and compare the three-dimensional movements of the screen continuously, but the cable undergoes high repetitive flexing stress at the point where it is linked to the moving screen, which causes the cores to break quickly over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. Sensors mounted on the vibrating screen communicate measurement data to the data acquisition system via radio transmission, eliminating the physical cable that would otherwise be subjected to repetitive flexing stress and core breakage.
2Reliability
If sensors are connected to a power source with cables, then the sensors can operate continuously, but the cables are vulnerable to damage from high acceleration and repetitive flexing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based power supply system with a wireless power transmission system. An energy harvester converts the vibrational motion of the screen into electrical energy, and this energy is transmitted wirelessly to power the sensors mounted on the moving screen, eliminating vulnerable cables from the power supply path.
3Power
If a resonant type energy harvester operates at the characteristic acceleration level of vibration equipment (3-7 g), then it can generate electrical energy, but the device would fail quickly or require extensive mechanical precautions to avoid destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic energy harvester design where the natural frequency of the pendulum can be adjusted to match the operating frequency of the vibrating equipment. This dynamic tuning allows the system to operate efficiently at high acceleration levels (3-7 g) without requiring extensive mechanical reinforcement, as the system adapts to the vibrational characteristics of the equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the energy harvester by adjusting the pendulum's natural frequency to match the equipment's operating frequency. This parameter adjustment enables the system to generate sufficient electrical energy at high acceleration levels while maintaining reliability, avoiding the failure issues that plague fixed-frequency resonant harvesters.
4Reliability
If a resonant type energy harvester is designed for low acceleration applications, then it can operate reliably, but it is not designed to supply large amounts of power needed for high acceleration environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic energy harvester system that can adapt its characteristics to match the operating conditions. By making the natural frequency of the pendulum adjustable, the system can be tuned for reliable operation at specific acceleration levels while still generating sufficient power for the application, bridging the gap between low-acceleration reliability and high-acceleration power output.
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 energy harvester effectively generates electrical energy from vibrational motion, even at low frequencies, and provides power to sensors on vibrating equipment, enabling continuous monitoring and reducing maintenance needs by avoiding cable damage.
Implementation Method 1
a pendulum (3) arranged to be pivotably attached to the vibrating equipment (2)
Implementation Method 2
a generator (5) connected to the pendulum (3) and arranged to convert the pivoting motion into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy harvester for converting vibrational motion of a vibrating equipment into electrical energy. The energy harvester comprises a pendulum arranged to be pivotably attached to said vibrating equipment, a motion limiter arranged to limit a pivoting motion of said pendulum, and a generator connected to said pendulum and arranged to convert said pivoting motion into electrical energy. The vibrational motion has an operating frequency, and said pendulum has a natural frequency different from said operating frequency. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the operation of a vibrating equipment.