Design, Simulation, and Optimization of a Frequency-Tunable Vibration Energy Harvester That Uses a Magnetorheological Elastomer

This study focuses on the design, simulation, and load power optimization for the development of a novel frequency-tunable electromagnetic vibrational energy harvester. The unique characteristic of a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) is utilized, that the shear modulus can be varied by changing the strength of an applied magnetic field. The electromagnetic energy harvester is fabricated, the external electric circuit is connected, and the performance is evaluated through a series of experiments. The resonant frequencies and the parasitic damping constant are measured experimentally for different tuning magnet gap distances, which validate the application of the MRE to the development of a frequency-tunable energy harvesting system. The harvested energy of the system is measured by the voltage across the load resistor. The maximum load power is attained by optimizing the external circuit connected to the coil system. The analysis results are presented for harvesting the maximum load power in terms of the coil parameters and external circuit resistance. The optimality of the load resistance is validated by comparing the analytical results with experimental results. The optimal load resistances under various resonance frequencies are also found for the design and composition of the optimal energy harvesting circuit of the energy harvester system.