On the use of nonlinear impact oscillators in vibrating electromagnetic based energy harvesters

This work investigates the use of impact-oscillators in nonlinear electro-magnetic cantilever based broad bandwidth frequency energy harvester. The electro-mechanical model includes the dynamical equations of the nonlinear impact-oscillators, the nonlinear frequency resonant cantilever beam equation of the harvester, and the Lorenz magnetic force resulting from the surrounding nonlinear magnetic field. The simulated results of the harvested power show a band of resonant frequencies of the vibrating cantilever beam extended beyond its fundamental natural frequency. Due to the strong nonlinearity of both the impact oscillators’ forces and the magnetic flux, the harvested power of the enhanced system shows wider bands in its respective frequency response. Moreover, the harvested power of the cantilever beam shows that considering two magnets in repulsion generates higher values mainly due to the strong nonlinear transient magnetic flux, resulting into few times more power as compared to the case of considering only one magnet in the system.