Extending the dynamic range of an energy harvester with a variable load resistance

In some energy harvesters, the maximum throw of the seismic mass is limited due to the physical constraints of the device. The shunt load resistance of such a harvester is generally selected based on the allowable throw of the mass when the device is subjected to the maximum level of excitation. However, the energy harvester with this value of shunt resistance does not perform well at lower levels of excitation. In this article, a variable load resistance, scheduled on the excitation level, is introduced to extend the dynamic range of an energy harvester in applications where excitation level varies. This method is applied to the design of an energy harvester, which comprises a sprung mass coupled to an electric motor through a lead screw. The dynamic equation and parameters of the system are introduced and the device is experimentally characterized, by conducting random vibration tests. The harvested power and the relative displacement are then obtained for different sinusoidal base excitation amplitudes when the system is excited at a frequency close to its natural frequency. It is demonstrated that the use of a variable load resistance mechanism can significantly improve the dynamic range and output power of the energy harvester.