A Multidirectional Pendulum Kinetic Energy Harvester Based on Homopolar Repulsion for Low-Power Sensors in New Energy Driverless Buses

• Published in: International journal of precision engineering and manufacturing-green technology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 603 - 618
• Main Authors: Zhang, Tingsheng, Tang, Minfeng, Li, Hai, Li, Jingbo, Zou, Yingquan, Pan, Yajia, Zhang, Zutao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-03-2022
• Subjects: Buses; Cantilever beams; Deformation; Deformation mechanisms; Design; Electric vehicles; Electricity; Electricity distribution; Energy conversion; Energy harvesting; Energy storage; Flow charts; Inertial platforms; Inertial sensing devices; Kinetic energy; Magnets; Modules; Pendulums; Prototype tests; Roads & highways; Sensors; Simulation analysis; Vibration; Wind power
• ISSN: 2288-6206; 2198-0810
• DOI: 10.1007/s40684-021-00344-5

There is a large amount of inertial kinetic energy wasted during the driving of new energy driverless buses. In this paper, a novel multidirectional pendulum kinetic energy harvester, based on homopolar repulsion, is designed for low-powered sensors in new-energy driverless buses. The proposed system consists of three main components: kinetic energy harvest module, energy conversion module and power storage module. The kinetic energy harvest module includes a multidirectional capture mechanism and a deformation amplification mechanism, which captures the acceleration direction of the vehicle, and harvests the inertial kinetic energy through the pendulum swinging respectively. In the energy conversion module, deformation of the piezoelectric beam generates electricity, due to homopolar repulsion from the magnets on the pendulum and piezoelectric beam. The power storage module stores electricity in supercapacitors to power the inertial measurement unit, acceleration sensor and other low-power sensors. The proposed system has completed simulation analysis and prototype tests, which show that the system featuring voltage of 13.6 V and power of 1.233 mW, illustrating the feasibility of self-powered applications in low-power sensors for new energy driverless buses.Graphic AbstractFlow chart of the proposed kinetic energy harvester