Scaling and power density metrics of electromagnetic vibration energy harvesting devices

Abstract

A review of the vibration energy harvesting literature has been undertaken with the goal of establishing scaling laws for experimentally demonstrated harvesting devices based on electromagnetic transduction. Power density metrics are examined with respect to scaling length, mass, frequency and drive acceleration. Continuous improvements in demonstrated power density of harvesting devices over the past decade are noted. Scaling laws are developed from observations that appear to suggest an upper limit to the power density achievable with current harvesting techniques.