Variable Reluctance Energy Harvester for Aircraft Engine Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional localized power sources, such as batteries, face limitations in extreme environments like aircraft engines due to thermal gradients, altitude variations, and mechanical stress, and existing energy harvesting methods are insufficient to provide continuous power to aircraft electrical systems, particularly for sensors requiring high data rates.
Innovation Solution
A variable reluctance energy harvester system utilizing a ferromagnetic flywheel with a magnet and pole pieces, along with coils, to generate alternating current power from the time-varying magnetic flux, which can be converted to direct current and used to power electronic devices, sensors, and wireless systems, including multiple independent power channels and RF telemetry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional localized power sources (batteries) are used in extreme environments, then they provide initial power supply capability, but their lifetime is limited and performance decreases under thermal gradients, altitude variations, and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester powers itself by converting ambient vibrations from the aircraft engine into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. The flywheel with gear teeth interacts with magnets and pole pieces to generate AC power that is rectified to DC, eliminating dependence on external power sources or batteries and enabling continuous operation in extreme environments.
2Use of energy by moving object
If typical energy harvesting approaches (vibration, thermal, RF) are used, then they can harvest energy from the environment, but they are insufficient to provide continuous power to aircraft electrical systems and require synchronized power-up and sleep transmission periods
Solution Approach 1:
The variable reluctance energy harvester continuously generates electrical power by maintaining constant rotational motion of the flywheel driven by engine vibrations. The gear teeth continuously modulate the magnetic flux through the pole pieces, producing continuous AC output that is rectified to continuous DC power, eliminating the need for synchronized sleep periods and enabling uninterrupted sensor operation.
3Loss of energy
If synchronized power-up and sleep transmission periods are used to charge external storage capacitors, then energy can be harvested, but the power-up/sleep transmission time periods may not meet the mandatory sensor data rates to FADEC
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester provides self-powered operation with intrinsic AC output that can directly power sensors and communication systems without requiring external storage capacitors or synchronized charging periods. The continuous power generation enables real-time sensor data transmission at mandatory rates to the FADEC system.
4Device complexity
If a simple single pole piece configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the magnetic flux path is incomplete and energy harvesting efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic circuit is segmented into multiple pole pieces (first pole piece and second pole piece) arranged in an L-shape configuration. This segmentation creates distinct magnetic flux paths that improve the completeness of the magnetic circuit and enhance energy harvesting efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole pieces are arranged in three-dimensional space with the second pole piece positioned perpendicular to the first pole piece, creating a multi-dimensional magnetic flux path. This spatial arrangement optimizes the magnetic circuit geometry to improve flux linkage and energy harvesting efficiency.
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 system provides reliable, continuous power to aircraft sensors and systems, meeting high data rate requirements and operating effectively in harsh environments by optimizing energy harvesting and impedance to deliver maximum current, while maintaining performance across elevated temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a coil, wherein the coil is configured to be wrapped around the first pole piece proximate the first pole piece second end
Implementation Method 2
variable reluctance energy harvester and method for implementing same
Data Source
AI summary
An energy harvester article configured to associate with a ferromagnetic flywheel having gear teeth is provided and includes a magnet, a first pole piece, wherein the first pole piece includes a first pole piece first end and a first pole piece second end, a second pole piece, wherein the second pole piece includes a first portion and a second portion configured into an “L” shape, and wherein the second portion is arranged to be substantially parallel with the first pole piece and separated from the first pole piece by a distance L, and a coil, wherein the coil is configured to be wrapped around the first pole piece proximate the first pole piece second end.