Nonlinear Wind Energy Harvesting Based on Mechanical Synchronous Switch Harvesting on Inductor

Abstract

We present for the first time a miniature flexible galloping piezoelectric energy harvester that combines a nonlinear aeroelastic energy harvesting structure with an energy extraction circuit employing mechanical synchronous switch harvesting on inductor (mechanical SSHI). Extra stoppers protect the harvester from overload at high wind speed, thus extending the highest working speed from 10 m/s to 13.5 m/s based on wind tunnel tests. The conductive contact on the bluff body and the conductive stoppers further forms a mechanical synchronous switch, used in the SSHI circuit for energy extraction. The maximum power enhancement reaches 221% compared to the design without SSHI, at a low wind speed of 3.6 m/s.