Investigation of power harvesting via parametric excitations

This article presents an analytical and experimental investigation of energy harvesting via parametrically excited cantilever beams. To that end, we consider a lumped-parameter non-linear model that describes the first-mode dynamics of a parametrically excited cantilever-type harvester. The model accounts for the beam's geometric and inertia non-linearities as well as non-linearities representing air drag. Using the method of multiple scales, we obtain approximate analytical expressions describing the beam response, voltage drop across a purely resistive load, and output power in the vicinity of the first principle parametric resonance. Using these expressions, we study the effect of the electromechanical coupling and load resistance on the output power. We show that these parameters play an imperative role in determining the magnitude of the output power and characterizing the broad-band properties of the harvester. Specifically, we show that the region of parametric instability wherein energy can be harvested shrinks as the coupling coefficient increases. Furthermore, we show that there exists a coupling coefficient beyond which the peak power decreases. We also demonstrate that there is a critical excitation level below which no energy can be harvested. The amplitude of this critical excitation increases with the coupling coefficient and is maximized for a given load resistance. Theoretical findings that were compared to experimental results show good agreement and reflect the general trends.