1. Development of Small-Sized Motor-Driven Gyroscopic Power Generator Works Under Low-Frequency Vibration
- Author
-
Akira Yamashita, Akio Toyoshima, and Hiroshi Hosaka
- Subjects
Physics ,Vibration ,Generator (computer programming) ,law ,business.industry ,Low frequency vibration ,Electrical engineering ,Gyroscope ,business ,Energy harvesting ,law.invention ,Power (physics) - Abstract
In order to realize a small-sized energy harvester with high output, this study prototypes a small motor-driven gyroscopic power generator. Supplying energy to sensors and devices is the biggest problem for Internet of Things (IoT) systems. One solution is gyroscopic power generators, which are a type of vibrational generator that amplify the inertia force of weights by rotating them at high speed, and in doing so can obtain greater output than conventional generators that use simple vibration for the same mass weight. This paper reports on a motor-driven type gyroscopic generator in which the flywheel is spun with an embedded motor, and which is superior in applicability to random vibration generators. The generators of this type that have been studied thus far are very large and have been primarily used for wave power generation in the ocean. However, when the shape of this gyroscopic power generator type is miniaturized proportionally, the output per volume decreases in proportion to the fifth power of the dimension. This makes it difficult to maintain the power output while miniaturizing the generator size. In this research, the structure of the gyroscopic power generator is thoroughly refined and miniaturization is realized by making full use of the available space. By using a motor with high design freedom, the spindle motor and flywheel are unified. From this accomplishment, not only is the required space reduced, the number of mechanical parts and the friction loss are decreased as well. The prototype generator has a size of about 150 mm on its long side. When a swinging vibration of 50 degrees in amplitude and 2 Hz in frequency is applied, a net output of 0.104 W is obtained. This output power is sufficient to drive sensors and low power wide area (LPWA) radio circuits.
- Published
- 2019