Preliminary investigation of an inductive bistable energy harvester

Abstract

In this paper preliminary results from investigations of the proof of concept of a nonlinear (vibrational) bistable inductive energy harvester are presented. The main idea proposed through this paper is to exploits the benefits of the snap-through buckling configuration in terms of capability to scavenge energy from wide band vibrations and the possibility to use the beam switching between its stable states to move (contactless) a magnet inside a coil, thus producing a voltage. The simplicity of the harvester and the wide operating range of frequencies, are the two main claims of the proposed setup. The main novelty of the proposed approach arises from the coupling of the nonlinear bistable architecture with the inductive transducer and the possibility to convert the mechanical energy gained by the switching beam into an electrical signal without mechanical links. The system, in its infancy, has been observed to produce powers in the order of microwatts.