The Internet-of-Things (IoT) infrastructure is made of uniquely identifiable wireless-enabled smart devices that use the Internet to communicate with each other as well as people, on a large scale. These IoT devices require power to operate, and to communicate with other smart devices. The optical bands have the capacity to provide power and wireless communication to the IoT devices. Simultaneous lightwave information and power transmission (SLIPT) is a technology through which information and optical power are received simultaneously by the receiver. SLIPT is made possible by solar cell-based SLIPT receivers. In this thesis, for the first time, the trade-off between the achievable data rate and the harvested power in solar cell-based SLIPT systems is quantified and analysed. It is known that the amount of power harvested using a solar cell is dependent on its operating voltage. By utilizing a realistic electrical model of the solar cells, an expression for the bandwidth and a lower bound on the data rate of a solar cell receiver as function of the operating voltage is derived. Using the dependency of rate and power on the operating voltage, the rate-power trade-off in solar cell based SLIPT receivers are studied in this thesis. This work proposes a novel solar cell based SLIPT receiver that includes a DC-DC boost converter, which allows control over the operating voltage of the solar cell. Finally, this thesis proposes an optimization problem to compute the optimum operating voltage for a SLIPT system located indoor where a desired trade-off between the data rate and harvested power can be attained based on the battery state of charge. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys (MSMAs) combine shape-change/deformationrecovery abilities of heat driven conventional shape memory alloys (SMA) and magnetic field driven magnetostrictives through martensitic transformation. They are promising for actuator applications, and can be employed as sensors/power-harvesters due to their capability to convert mechanical stimuli into magnetic response or vice versa. The purpose of the present work was to investigate magneto-thermo-mechanical (MTM) response of various MSMAs, under simultaneously applied magnetic field, heat and stress. To accomplish this, two novel testing systems which allowed absolute control on magnetic field and stress/strain in a wide and stable range of temperature were designed and manufactured. MTM characterization of MSMAs enabled us to determine the effects of main parameters on reversible magnetic field-induced phase transformation (FIPT), such as magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, Zeeman energy, stress hysteresis, thermal hysteresis, critical stress to start stress induced phase transformation and crystal orientation. Conventional SMA characteristics of single crystalline Ni2MnGa and NiMnCoIn and polycrystalline NiMnCoAl and NiMnCoSn MSMAs were investigated using the macroscopic MTM testing system to reveal how these conventional properties were linked to magnetic-field-induced actuation. An actuation stress of 5 MPa and a work output of 157 kJm?3 were obtained by the field-induced martensite variant reorientation (VR) in NiMnGa alloys. FIPT was investigated both in Ni2MnGa MSMA and in NiMnCoIn metamagnetic SMA. It proved as an alternative governing mechanism of field-induced shape change to VR in Ni2MnGa single crystals: one-way and reversible (0.5% cyclic magnetic field induced strain (MFIS) under 22 MPa) stress-assisted FIPTs were realized under low field magnitudes (< 0.7 Tesla) resulting in at least an order of magnitude higher actuation stress levels than those in shape memory alloys literature. The possibility of harvesting waste mechanical work as electrical power by means of VR in NiMnGa MSMAs was explored: without enhanced pickup coil parameters or optimized power conditioning circuitry, 280 mV was harvested at 10 Hz frequency within a strain range of 4.9%. For the first time in magnetic shape memory alloys literature, a fully recoverable MFIS of 3% under 125 MPa was attained on single crystalline metamagnetic SMA NiMnCoIn by means of our microscopic MTM testing system to understand the evolution of FIPT under simultaneously applied magnetic field and stress. Conventional SMA characteristics of polycrystalline bulk NiMnCoAl and sintered compacted-powder NiMnCoSn metamagnetic SMAs were also investigated, with and without applied field.

Power harvesting, energy harvesting, power scavenging, and energy scavenging are four terms commonly used to describe the process of extracting useful electrical energy from other ambient energy sources using special materials called transducers that have the ability to convert one form of energy into another. While the words power and energy have vastly different definitions, the terms "power harvesting" and "energy harvesting" are used interchangeably throughout much of the literature to describe the same process of extracting electrical energy from ambient sources. Even though most of the energy coupling materials currently available have been around for decades, their use for the specific purpose of power harvesting has not been thoroughly examined until recently, when the power requirements of many electronic devices has reduced drastically. The overall objective of this research is to typify the power source characteristics of various transducer devices in order to find some basic way to compare the relative energy densities of each type of device and, where possible, the comparative energy densities within subcategories of harvesting techniques. Included in this research is also a comparison of power storage techniques, which is often neglected in other literature sources. An initial analysis of power storage devices explores the background of secondary (rechargeable) batteries and supercapacitors, the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as the promising characteristics of recent supercapacitor technology developments. Also explored is research into the effectiveness of piezoelectric energy harvesting for the purpose of battery charging, with particular focus on the current output of piezoelectric harvesters. The first objective involved presenting and verifying a model for a cantilever piezoelectric bimorph. Next, an investigation into new active fiber composite materials and macro fiber composite devices utilizing the d31 coefficient is performed in comparison to a monolithic piezoelectric bimorph. The information gathered here was used to design a two bimorph device termed the mobile energy harvester (MEH). Worn by a human being at the waste level, the MEH harvests energy from each footfall during walking or running. The next objective involved characterizing small temperature gradient (less than 200 oC) thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Four TEGs were linked in series and joined with a specially made aluminum base and fin heat sink. This device was then mounted to the exhaust system of an automobile and proved capable of recharging both an 80 and a 300 milliamp-hour battery. A switching circuit concept to step up the output voltage is also presented. However, the circuit proves somewhat difficult to implement, so an alternative DC/DC device is proposed as a possible solution. With the advent of highly efficient, low voltage DC to DC converters, it is shown that their high current, low voltage output can be converted to a higher voltage source that is suitable for many electronic and recharging applications. As extensive literature exists on the capabilities of photovoltaic and electromagnetic energy harvesting, no original experimentation is presented. Instead, only a brief overview of the pertinent technological advances is provided in this document for the purpose of comparison to piezoelectric and thermoelectric energy harvesting. The main research focus, as described above, is dedicated to designing and performing original experiments to characterize cutting edge piezoelectric and thermoelectric transducer materials. To conclude and unify the document, the final section compares the power harvesting techniques with one another and introduces methods of combining them to produce a hybrid, multiple energy domain harvesting device. A piezoelectric-electromagnetic harvesting combination device is presented and scrutinized, revealing that such a device could improve the amount of energy extracted from a single harvesting unit. The research presented here not only expands on the present understanding of these materials, but also proposes a new method of creating a hybrid power harvesting device utilizing two of the energy coupling domains, electromechanical and piezoelectric. The goal is to maximize the harvested energy by tapping into as many ambient sources as are available and practical. / Master of Science

With piezoceramic materials, it is possible to harvest power from vibrating structures. It has been proven that micro- to milliwatts of power can be generated from vibrating systems. We develop definitive, analytical models to predict the power generated from a cantilever beam and cantilever plate. Harmonic oscillations and random noise will be the two different forcing functions used to drive each system. The predictive models are validated by being compared to experimental data. A parametric study is also performed in an attempt to optimize the cantilever beam system's power generation capability. / Master of Science

<p>Metamaterials have gained extensive attention in recent years due to their ability to exhibit material properties otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain using natural materials. Nonlinear and active metamaterials in particular exhibit great promise for exploring new effects and applications, from tunability to mixing. However, nonlinear and active metamaterials have been explored significantly less than linear metamaterials to this point and much work has focused on the fundamental physics of nonlinear metamaterials. Our aim is to further extend the knowledge of practical nonlinear metamaterials and to demonstrate how they can be transformed to real-world applications through the use of embedded devices. In this dissertation, we demonstrate a variety of ways that devices can be embedded within metamaterial unit cells to provide nonlinear and active effects. </p><p>Chapter 1 introduces the basic theory of metamaterials, background of existing work, and the current limitations of nonlinear and active metamaterial design. In Chapter 2, we present the design, simulation, fabrication, and verification of an RF limiter metamaterial. We show how a metamaterial can be designed using RF engineering principles to act as an effective limiter in a new topology, relying on nonlinear devices embedded within a metamaterial. Chapter 3 shows our design and demonstration of a power harvesting metamaterial. We design a nonlinear metamaterial towards a potential application, discussing how the selection of an appropriate embedded device provides our desired functionality. In Chapter 4 we show how nonlinear and active metamaterials can be used to realize phase conjugation, including demonstration of negative refraction and imaging through the use of these metamaterials. We also discuss design approaches to moving these metamaterials towards real-world applications. Chapter 5 discusses our work concerning metamaterials based on transistors. First we show that appropriate design of a transistor circuit allows us to tune the quality factor and resonant frequency of a metamaterial. We use this metamaterial for time-varying mixing, as well, demonstrating a mixing metamaterial that remains linear. We then illustrate how using transistors as nonlinear devices provides much greater design freedom for use with metamaterials. We show that the nonlinearity of a metamaterial can be dramatically enhanced through the use of transistors and even dynamically tuned, applying these nonlinear metamaterials to applications including phase conjugation and acoustoelectromagnetic modulation. In Chapter 6 we summarize the achievements of the presented research and directions for future work that build on the work described in this thesis.</p> / Dissertation

This thesis revisits the concept of ground vehicles active suspensions system from a power harvesting perspective. I introduce the two dimensions of freedom quarter vehicle model for calculations of vehicle dynamics as well as a road profile model based on PSD classifications based on International Organization for Standardization’s technical document, ISO 8608 “Mechanical vibration -- Road surface profiles -- Reporting of measured data”. I report the power harvesting potential of the conventional viscous fluid dampers for an extensive range of road profile roughness indices and vehicle speeds. I explain the problem of additional power harvesting from the regenerative electric damper operating in the "dead-zone" and introduce Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) DC-DC converter as a solution. I analyze the efficiency of this system by circuit level simulations in PSpice. / Graduate / 0540 / 0544 / farhang@uvic.ca

The research presented in this thesis uses the macro-fiber composite (MFC) actuator that was recently developed at the NASA Langley Research Center for two major themes, sensing and actuation for vibration control, and power harvesting. The MFC is constructed using piezofibers embedded in an epoxy matrix and coated with Kapton skin. The construction process of the MFC affords it vast advantages over the traditionally used piezoceramic material. The MFC is extremely flexible, allowing it to be bonded to structures that have curved surface without fear of accidental breakage or additional surface treatment as is the case with monolithic piezoceramic materials. Additionally the MFC uses interdigitated electrodes that capitalize on the higher d33 piezoelectric coupling coefficient that allow it to produce higher forces and strain than typical monolithic piezoceramic materials. The research presented in this thesis investigates some potential applications for the MFC as well as topics in power harvesting. This first study performed was to determine if the MFC is capable of being used as a sensor for structural vibration. The MFC was incorporated into a self-sensing circuit and used to provide collocated control of an aluminum beam. It was found that the MFC makes a very accurate sensor and was able to provide the beam with over 80% vibration suppression at its second resonant frequency. Following this work, the MFC was used as both a sensor and actuator to apply multiple-input-multiple-output vibration control of an inflated satellite component. The control system used a positive position feedback (PPF) controller and two pairs of sensors and actuators in order to provide global vibration suppression of an inflated torus. The experiments found that the MFC and control system was very effective at attenuating the vibration of the first mode but ineffective at higher modes. It was found the positioning of the sensors and actuators on the structure contributed heavily to the controller's performance at higher modes. A discussion of the reasons for the controller's ineffectiveness is supply and a solution using self-sensing techniques for collocated vibration suppression was investigated. Subsequent to the research in vibration sensing and control, the ability to use piezoelectric materials to convert ambient vibration into usable electrical energy was tested and quantified. First, a model of a power harvesting beam is developed using variational methods and is validated on a composite structure containing four separate piezoelectric wafers. It is shown that the model can accurately predict the power generated from the vibration of a cantilever beam regardless of the load resistance or excitation frequency. The damping effects of power harvesting on a structure are also demonstrated and discussed using the model. Next, the ability of the piezoelectric material to recharge a battery and a quantification of the power generated are investigated. After determining that the rechargeable battery is compatible with the power generated through the piezoelectric effect, the MFC was compared with the traditional monolithic PZT for use as a power harvesting material. It was found that the MFC produces a very low current, making it less efficient than the PZT material and unable to charge batteries because of their need for relatively large current. Due to the MFC being incapable of charging batteries, only the PZT was used to charge batteries and the charge times for several nickel metal hydride batteries ranging from 40 to 1000mAh are supplied. / Master of Science

Orientador: Jozue Vieira Filho / Resumo: Neste trabalho foram realizados estudos, análises, simulações e implementações de um sistema de power harvesting utilizando transdutores piezelétricos, com o objetivo de extrair a máxima potência. A fim de alcançar tal objetivo, o sistema mecânico e a interface elétrica foram analisados com foco na quantidade de potência extraída. Com os resultados básicos desses estudos, tem-se que o desempenho de tais sistemas depende da interação eletromecânica, da deformação, da frequência de excitação e da carga conectada. Com exceção do último, esses parâmetros não interferem no modelo tradicional de simulação no SPICE. Para aprimorar os resultados da simulação, foi proposta uma metodologia para a modelagem do sistema mecânico com a interface elétrica, implementada e avaliada em MATLAB/Simulink e em SPICE com VHDL-AMS. Além disso, um novo circuito eletrônico, denominado Conversor Direto CA-CC com Chaveamento Sincronizado - CDCS, foi projetado para maximizar a potência média extraída e reduzir sua dependência com a frequência de excitação e com a carga conectada. Os resultados das simulações foram comparados com dados experimentais para os circuitos eletrônicos retificador em ponte e SSHI em paralelo. A modelagem desenvolvida em SPICE com VHDL-AMS apresentou melhores resultados, pois permite uma modelagem mais precisa dos componentes eletrônicos sem comprometer o domínio mecânico. Comparado com três circuitos existentes na literatura (retificador em ponte, SSHI em paralelo e SECE), o cir... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this work studies, analysis, simulations and the implementation of power harvesting system using piezoelectric transducer were done aiming to extract its maximum power. In order to achieve this goal, the mechanical system and electrical interface were analyzed especially focused on the amount of power that can be able to extracted. The conclusion of these studies was that the system performance depends of the electromechanical interaction, deformation, excitation frequency and the connected load. Except for the latter, these parameters does not interfered in the standard model by SPICE. To improve the simulation results, a novel methodology for modeling the mechanical system with electrical interface was proposed. It was implemented and evaluated in MATLAB/Simulink and in SPICE with VHDL-AMS. In addition, a new electronic circuit, well know as Direct AC-DC Converter with Synchronous Switch (CDSS), was designed to improve the extract power and the response at the frequency of excitation and the connected load. The simulation results were compared with experimental data for the electronic circuits: bridge rectifier and P-SSHI. The SPICE with VHDL-AMS model offered the best results, since it allows accurate model for the electrical component without compromising the mechanical system. The performance of the proposed circuit was compared with three electronic circuits (bridge rectifier, P-SSHI and SECE). The results show that the proposed circuit presented the higher power ext... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Submitted by FLAVILENE DA SILVA SOUZA (flavilener3@gmail.com) on 2018-04-24T19:08:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_flavilene_final.pdf: 13353047 bytes, checksum: d43d4d8f0c658e67b155882a0640ae05 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Cristina Alexandra de Godoy null (cristina@adm.feis.unesp.br) on 2018-04-24T19:20:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_fs_dr_ilha.pdf: 13353047 bytes, checksum: d43d4d8f0c658e67b155882a0640ae05 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-24T19:20:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_fs_dr_ilha.pdf: 13353047 bytes, checksum: d43d4d8f0c658e67b155882a0640ae05 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho foram realizados estudos, análises, simulações e implementações de um sistema de power harvesting utilizando transdutores piezelétricos, com o objetivo de extrair a máxima potência. A fim de alcançar tal objetivo, o sistema mecânico e a interface elétrica foram analisados com foco na quantidade de potência extraída. Com os resultados básicos desses estudos, tem-se que o desempenho de tais sistemas depende da interação eletromecânica, da deformação, da frequência de excitação e da carga conectada. Com exceção do último, esses parâmetros não interferem no modelo tradicional de simulação no SPICE. Para aprimorar os resultados da simulação, foi proposta uma metodologia para a modelagem do sistema mecânico com a interface elétrica, implementada e avaliada em MATLAB/Simulink e em SPICE com VHDL-AMS. Além disso, um novo circuito eletrônico, denominado Conversor Direto CA-CC com Chaveamento Sincronizado - CDCS, foi projetado para maximizar a potência média extraída e reduzir sua dependência com a frequência de excitação e com a carga conectada. Os resultados das simulações foram comparados com dados experimentais para os circuitos eletrônicos retificador em ponte e SSHI em paralelo. A modelagem desenvolvida em SPICE com VHDL-AMS apresentou melhores resultados, pois permite uma modelagem mais precisa dos componentes eletrônicos sem comprometer o domínio mecânico. Comparado com três circuitos existentes na literatura (retificador em ponte, SSHI em paralelo e SECE), o circuito proposto obteve os maiores valores de potência extraída (102 µW) e de eficiência (70 %), além de apresentar resultados satisfatórios na faixa de operação da carga (1 kΩ - 1 MΩ) e largura de banda (6,0 Hz). / In this work studies, analysis, simulations and the implementation of power harvesting system using piezoelectric transducer were done aiming to extract its maximum power. In order to achieve this goal, the mechanical system and electrical interface were analyzed especially focused on the amount of power that can be able to extracted. The conclusion of these studies was that the system performance depends of the electromechanical interaction, deformation, excitation frequency and the connected load. Except for the latter, these parameters does not interfered in the standard model by SPICE. To improve the simulation results, a novel methodology for modeling the mechanical system with electrical interface was proposed. It was implemented and evaluated in MATLAB/Simulink and in SPICE with VHDL-AMS. In addition, a new electronic circuit, well know as Direct AC-DC Converter with Synchronous Switch (CDSS), was designed to improve the extract power and the response at the frequency of excitation and the connected load. The simulation results were compared with experimental data for the electronic circuits: bridge rectifier and P-SSHI. The SPICE with VHDL-AMS model offered the best results, since it allows accurate model for the electrical component without compromising the mechanical system. The performance of the proposed circuit was compared with three electronic circuits (bridge rectifier, P-SSHI and SECE). The results show that the proposed circuit presented the higher power extracted (102 μW) and of efficiency (70%). In addition, both the resistance range (1 kΩ - 1 MΩ) and the bandwidth (6,0 Hz) were improved. / CAPES: 99999.006504/2015-09

Procedure for site discovery, system design, and optimization of power harvesting systems is developed with an emphasis on application to air compressors. Limitations for the usage of infrared pyrometers is evaluated. A system of governing equations for thermoelectric generators is developed. A solution method for solving the system of equations is created in order to predict power output from the device. Payback analysis is proposed for determining economic viability. A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the power harvesting system payback with changing quantities and varieties of thermoelectric generators, as well as the back work put into cooling the thermoelectric generators. Experimental data is taken for laboratory simulation of a power harvesting system under varying resistive load and thermal conductances in order to confirm the working model. A power harvester is designed for and installed on a consumer grade portable air compressor. Experimental data is compared against the model's prediction. As a case study, a system is designed for a water-cooled power harvesting system. Thermoelectric generator power harvesters are found to be economically infeasible for typical installations at current energy prices. Changes in parameters which would increase economic feasibility of the power harvesting system are discussed.