Self-sensing state estimation of switch-controlled energy harvesters

Abstract

Vibration energy harvesters are expected to become a new source of electrical power. Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters that employ a piezoelectric transducer, a rectifier, and a storage capacitor are being used widely as electro-mechanical harvesters. Synchronized switch harvesting on inductor enhances harvesting performance due to employing a simple additional circuit and incorporating suitable switch control functionality. Switching is usually based on the displacement of a vibrating structure; hence, sensing the vibrational states is of critical importance. Conventionally, the structural displacement is measured by displacement sensors or accelerometers attached to the target vibrating structure. Although enhancement of performance through synchronized switch harvesting on inductor equipped with sensors is important, the arrangement requirements of sensors have adverse effects on the compactness and usability of the harvesters. This study aimed to eliminate the use of sensors from switch-controlled harvesters. We developed a new state estimation method that uses the piezoelectric transducer’s voltage as an observation value. Using the proposed state estimation method, the modal state values of the vibrating structure can be determined by simply measuring the voltage of the transducer. With the switch device being controlled by the estimated modal state values, no sensors are required for ensuring effective harvesting. A comparison of the harvesting performances by the proposed self-sensing state estimation method and the conventional sensor-equipped state estimation method showed that there is little difference in harvested power between the two methods over a wide range of load resistances. The proposed method is superior to the sensor-equipped method in terms of compactness and usability as it does not require any external sensors.

Modal analysis and demonstration of metastructure combining local resonators and an autonomous synchronized switch damping circuit

“…Subsequently, Lallart et al 6 proposed a novel technique which allows to realize a self-sensing and self-powered system. Adopting the self-sensing and/or self-powered technique, derivative techniques such as a self-sensing (SS) synchronized switch damping on voltage (SS-SSDV) technique, 7 a SS-synchronized switch damping on negative capacitance (SS-SSDNC) technique, 8 and a SS-technique using a microcontroller unit with low power consumption 9,10 were developed. These techniques can also be applied to reduce the level of sound induced by a structure’s vibration that is excited by a sound source.…”

Adaptive and Robust Operation with Active Fuzzy Harvester under Nonstationary and Random Disturbance Conditions

“…To fulfill the aforementioned requirement, control-engineering-based switching strategies were proposed with a self-powered digital controller [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Yamamoto et al [ 36 ] proposed a control strategy wherein the linear-quadratic regulator theory was introduced as a control strategy for the charge inversion circuit without relying on peak detection.…”

On the Possibility of Developing Magnetostrictive Fe-Co/Ni Clad Plate with Both Vibration Energy Harvesting and Mass Sensing Elements

“…Piezoelectric ceramics and polymers are expected to exhibit sensing and energy harvesting properties, and many studies have focused on this possibility [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In addition, magnetostrictive alloys are considered promising energy harvesting materials [ 9 , 10 ], and hence the development and characterization of such alloys have attracted attention [ 11 , 12 ].…”