Multi-physics optimisation of energy harvesters

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an electro-mechanical lumped parameters model used for the simulation of an energy harvester device.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is taking into account the main features of both mechanical and electromagnetic phenomena keeping the computational burden as low as possible to insert it inside an optimisation loop.

Findings

The simulation tool is then used to design the main parameters of an energy harvester able to supply a computer mouse by converting mechanical energy provided by the computer user.

Originality/value

The use of a multi-physics analysis tool inside one optimisation loop is a difficult task that requires the honing of all the modules involved in the performance evaluation. The developed approach has shown to be reliable, efficient and has been a key factor in the development of a new product.

Citation

Bonisoli, E., Manca, N. and Repetto, M. (2015), "Multi-physics optimisation of energy harvesters", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 34 No. 5, pp. 1392-1403. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-02-2015-0047