Micro Power Harvesting using Flexible Thermoelectric and Electromagnetic Vibration-based Power Generators

Abstract

The area of micro power generation has been developing significantly in the field of microelectromechanical systems and wireless sensor platforms over the last two decades. This thesis presents two different micro power harvesting techniques using flexible thermoelectric power generator (FTEG) and electromagnetic vibration-based power generator (EVMPG). The design, modeling, development, and analyses of a FTEG and a low-frequency vibration based T-shaped cantilever type EVMPGs are detailed in this thesis. A manual dispenser printing-based fabrication technique was developed and applied to manufacture and characterize two flexible FTEG prototypes, having open circuit voltages and power outputs of 22.1 mV and 2.21 nW and 23.9 mV and 3.107 nW, respectively, at ΔT=22.5 °C. In addition, four different configurations of EVMPGs were designed and manufactured and subsequently characterized using detailed experimental and analytical techniques. A small portable EVMPG prototype was developed based on the maximum voltage output of the optimal EVMPG configuration. The developed EVMPG prototype was capable of harvesting power of 0.22 nW at a voltage of 35.2 mV using a frequency of 7 Hz with 5.6 Ω resistance for a base acceleration of 0.8 ms-2.