Application of passive control to energy harvester efficiency using a nonideal portal frame structural support system

Abstract

An analysis of a new energy harvester model is presented, based on a simple portal frame structure, considered a nonideal system due to the kind of excitation influenced by the response of the system, such as a direct current motor with limited power supply. The horizontal motion of the portal frame is considered under a nonideal excitation, and the approximated mathematical model of the system is obtained, considering the coupled oscillators. To model the piezoelectric coupling, the nonlinearities of the piezoelectric material were considered. A constantly sustained energy harvesting is essential for using these devices in real applications; for this, a control strategy is required. Passive control was obtained by means of a nonlinear substructure with properties of nonlinear energy sink. Numerical simulations were performed in order to find best values of control parameters. To check the robustness of the control strategy, an analysis considering uncertainties in the parameters of the model was performed, showing the efficiency of the passive control (energy pumping) in the suppression of the chaotic behavior, as well as the sensitivity of the control system to parametric errors. Passive control leads the system to a stable periodic orbit, allowing a more efficient energy harvest, due to the higher peak-to-peak amplitude of oscillation mean value. The passive control strategy eliminates the need for an active microcontroller to stabilize the system in a periodic orbit, improving the energy budget (harvested versus expended). The results show the displacement of the structure and the maximum power harvested by the device with and without passive nonlinear energy sink. It can be concluded that the application of passive control was successful. The control was robust and improved the energy harvested through the suppression of the chaotic motion, leading the system to a periodic orbit with stable amplitude of vibration, without damaging the structure.