https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02471-7
Regular Article
Improve harvesting efficiency of tri-stable energy harvester by tailoring potential energy
1
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi’an, China
2
The 20th Research Institute of CETC, 710068, Xi’an, China
3
School of Science, North University of China, 030051, Taiyuan, China
Received:
28
August
2021
Accepted:
10
February
2022
Published online:
24
February
2022
In vibration energy harvesting, it has been proved that the tri-stable energy harvester (TEH) could give a large output through snap-through motion. But unfortunately, if it is under a weak excitation, the snap-through motion hardly occurs, due to the relatively high potential barrier. To overcome this defect, we introduce an additional magnet to TEH to tailor the potential energy, and then developed an improved tri-stable energy harvester (ITEH), which can realize snap-through motion easily. The electromechanical equations are derived, and the potential energy is given. The analysis shows that the additional magnet could elevate the bottom of potential well and lower the barrier between them, thereby making the snap-through motion happen more easily. Compared to TEH, the ITEH could begin snap-through motion from the weak excitation and generate a larger output voltage. The prototype of ITEH was fabricated, and the validation experiments were carried out. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical predictions and prove the advantage of ITEH.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022