Planar Magnet and Coil Arrays for Vibration Energy Harvesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vibration-energy harvesting technologies face inefficiencies in converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, making it impractical to generate power beyond a single Watt with a single harvester.
Innovation Solution
The use of an array of magnets and coils arranged in a planar configuration with an air gap to maximize magnetic flux change, combined with a mechanism to restrict motion and optimize vibration amplitude, enhances mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional vibration-energy harvesting is used, then mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy, but the conversion efficiency is too low to generate power beyond one Watt with a single harvester
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the harvesting system into arrays of multiple magnets and coils rather than using single components. This segmentation allows parallel energy conversion pathways, multiplying the total power output while maintaining compact form factor. The array configuration enables scaling from milliwatt to watt-level generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear or point-based electromagnetic coupling to a planar array configuration. By arranging magnets and coils in two-dimensional arrays with controlled spacing, the system captures energy from vibrations across a broader spatial domain, enhancing coupling efficiency and power density.
2Power
If the amplitude of motion is increased to capture more vibration energy, then more electrical energy can be generated, but the magnets and coils may collide or lose alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of magnets and coils with deliberate offset arrangements. This asymmetric configuration creates magnetic field gradients that guide flux lines through the coils during vibration, maintaining effective coupling even at large amplitudes while preventing direct contact between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is pre-configured with specific magnet-coil spacing and orientation before vibration occurs. This preliminary geometric arrangement ensures that during subsequent vibrations, the components follow predetermined trajectories that maximize flux change while maintaining safe clearance, preventing collision and misalignment.
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
This approach enables efficient electrical power generation from vibrations of varying amplitudes, from microns to tens of centimeters, potentially scaling up to MW-GW levels for applications like ocean waves, bridges, and building walls.
Implementation Method 1
converting vibration energy to electrical energy through electromagnetic transduction
Implementation Method 2
The array of magnets can be arranged such that north and south poles of the magnets alternate to create a magnetic field distribution with steep field gradient
Data Source
AI summary
This specification describes technologies relating to converting vibration energy to electrical energy through electromagnetic transduction. According to an aspect, an apparatus to convert kinetic energy to electricity through electromagnetic transduction can include: an array of magnets arranged in a first plane; and an array of coils arranged in a second plane with respect to the first plane to form a gap between the array of magnets and the array of coils. According to another aspect, an energy harvester can include: a two dimensional array of magnets; a two dimensional array of coils; a housing configured and arranged to limit a direction of motion of either the two dimensional array of magnets or the two dimensional array of coils; and additional magnets configured and arranged to form a suspension system for either the two dimensional array of magnets or the two dimensional array of coils in the direction of motion.