Project NEHSTech (2011-2013)

"Nonlinear Energy Harvesting Solutions for Micro- and Nano- Technologies"

Grant :  FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF  

Project Goals
Results
Publications

Project Goals


This project intends to study mechanical and electrical non-linearities in MEMS electrostatic Vibration Energy Harvesters. The main objectif is to harvest energy from low-frequency mechanical excitations such as body mouvements with a device having a total volume below 0.5 cm^3. This is obtained by introdiucing a free minaiture ball inside the silicon MEMS in combination with elastic stoppers.

Concept of low-frequency MEMS VEH
Concept of the low frequency MEMS e-VEH.

Results

Pictures of a device of the first generation is shown below.

photo e-VEH
CAD drawing (a),  Microscope photographs (b,c) of the low frequency MEMS e-VEH.

Preliminary tests using an external DC source for biasing the device demonstrated a large bandwidth, even without the ball. With the ball, the bandwidth is increased both at high and low frequencies.

caracterisation of device
Voltage (a) and harvested power (b) at 0.3 g under sinusoidal frequency up- and down-sweeps.

Related publications

Conferences

 

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