Modelling of double-pendulum based energy harvester for railway wagon

Abstract

Powering various electronic devices using mechanic energy harvester became ordinary solution for remotely installed ones. Recent installation of harvesters on surfaces with steady-state harmonic vibrations is well known. Harvesters, utilizing chaotic vibration for energy gaining, require define design and its dynamic parameters. Implementation of energy harvester on railroad cargo wagon for signaling and diagnostic information transfer requires special characteristics of such harvester. In such case, mostly vibrating surface in the cargo wagon is bogy, therefore vibration data for the harvester taken from real measurements of the bogy vibration on real railroad. In order to solve problem of harvester parameters, modelling using Simulink software performed. Dynamic model of harvester contains horizontal pendulum and electrical elements, serving of mechanical damper – electric energy transfer. Excitation of this system applied as kinematic excitement of pendulum pins, connected with harvester body. This model build using II type of Lagrange equation, pendulums built using special supporting springs, limiting pendulum active angles. Simulation of this model performed for 1 km of drive using measurements of newly build railway. Results of the modelling presented graphically and amount of gained energy evaluated by integrating resulting vibration. On basis of the results, conclusions are drawn and recommendations given.